Hernar 27 April 2026 - Twite and the usual suspects

 Better late than never! The first trip to Hernar, again because I could, rather than the conditions.

Visiting after two days of northerlies was not the best decision but there was plenty to see even though there was nothing special to be seen. Over 40 species seen inlcuding my first local Twite bergirisk of the year. It was very much the usual suspects with several White-tailed Eagle havørn, at least five Chiff-chaff gransanger, a couple of Skylark sanglerke and a decent movement of Common Gulls fiskemåke up the fjord.

Chiff-chaff gransanger

Mergansers siland

Robin rødstrupe

Skogsøy 25-26 April 2026 - Let the games begin!

 A northerly gale on 25th wasn't the best forecast but I spent a few "late" hours at Skogsøy just because I could. The winds were just too strong and not surprisingly there was not a lot passing. 

Perhaps surprisingly several Hooded Crows kråke headed north west out to sea - why on earth they would choose to set out over the sea under such conditions is anybody's guess. Similarly it was surprising to see a White-tailed Eagle havørn heading north a long way out and low down over the waves.

Red throated Diver smålom N 19

Northern Gannet havsule N 14, S 3

Great Cormorant storskarv N 1

Eurasian Shag toppskarv N 8, S 5

Long tailed duck havelle N 5

Common Scoter svartand N 3

Merganser siland N 2

Common Gull fiskemåke N 5

Black-legged Kittiwake krykkje N 1

Common Guillemot lomvi N 5

Razorbill alke N 2

Gannets havsule battling into the gale force winds

Red-throated Divers smålom migrating in strong winds

I was back the following day under better conditions and there was somewhat more to see.

The morning started well in a frustrating way - the first birds I saw were a 2cy White-billed Diver gulnebblom side by side with a 2cy Great Northern Diver islom in decent photo range - nothing short of a dream photo. However, my up to this point trusty point and pray refused to start. After over half and hour of fiddling with it I finally managed to get it going but there is obviously something very wrong with it....

In an Øygarden context the best bird was a Short-eared Owl jordugle seen coming in off the sea from at least a couple of km out.

Red throated Diver smålom N 82

Great Northern Diver islom N 1 (2cy)

White Billed Diver gulnebblom N 2 (1ad, 1 2cy)

Northern Gannet havsule N 25,  S 2

Great Cormorant storskarv N 17, S 1

Eurasian Shag toppskarv N 62, S 36

Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås N 41

Eider aærfugl N 2

Long tailed duck havelle N 7

Common Scoter svartand N 3

Merganser siland N 8

Oystercatcher tjeld N 36, S 4

Whimbrel småspove N 4

Black headed Gull hettemåke N 1

Common Gull fiskemåke N 80

Razorbill alke N 12

Black Guillemot teist N 2

Atlantic Puffin lunde N 1

Auk N 16

Gannet havsule

Not a bad result from the point and pray:)

Oystercatcher tjeld

Red-throated Diver smålom

Shag toppskarv

In the evening a roding Woodcock rugde from my terrace was nice to see.