Skogsøy 16 December - oiled again!

Oiled Great Black-backed Gull svartbak
Oiled Herring Gull gråmåke
Heavily oiled Gannet havsule

Spent an hour seawatching at Skogsøy and, as anticipated, the first victims from the recent oil spill at Statfjord were in evidence. A Great Black-backed Gull svartbak, a Herring Gull gråmåke and a heavily oiled Northern Gannet havsule were all seen.

Tragic to have the same region hit by oil twice within the same year - no time for the memories of the Server disaster to fade.

Other than the somewhat predictable oiled birds there were a few birds of interest about including a Red-throated Diver smålom south (late), 17 Little Auk alkekonge also heading south, a Curlew storspove, a Woodcock rugde and the usual selection of seaduck - repeatedly flushed by at least one colour-ringed White-tailed Eagle havørn.

Common Scoter svartand (click on lower picture for larger image)

Colour ringed White-tailed Eagle havørn - causing panic amoung the ducks

Long-tailed Ducks havelle - click for larger image

On the way home a flock of 34 Greylags grågås at Breivik were a surprise find - a very large flock for December.

Part of a flock of Greylags grågås at Breivik, click for larger image

Øygarden 14 December 2007 - Black Redstart

Black Redstart svartrødstjert at Sture

Temperatures above freezing, little wind and very little light. Star bird was a Black Redstart svartrødstjert at Sture. This is stretching the definition of late autumn migrant a bit far. Also at Sture at least one Goldfinch stillits.


At "Hjelme Vest" the usual winter fare included a Great Northern Diver islom on the sea, a Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker, a Curlew storspove, a Black Guillemot teist and a flock of 25 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt.

Øygarden 13 December 2007

Red-breasted Merganser siland with snake pipefish havnål

Great to be back in "costa del Øygarden". Spent a couple of hours checking out a few places. At Solberg the best bird was a Great Northern Diver islom - and for the first time I watched this species struggling to swallow pipefish havnål. Other stuff here included a couple of immature White-tailed Eagle havørn and a small flock of Long-tailed Duck havelle. A male Red-breasted Merganser siland swallowed a pipefish, coughed it up again and swallowed it for a second time.

At Alvheim a Sparrowhawk spurvhauk, a Velvet Scotet sjøorre and a couple of Purple Sandpiper fjærelplytt were seen along with the usual suspects.

Tjeldstø 13 November 2007

Clear and cold today. Not bad at all for mid-November with a number of latish migrants seen including four Skylark sanglerke, a Song Thrush måltrost, a Blackcap munk and 30 Starling stær. Several Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin out in the reserve , a Little Auk alkekonge and a Great sptted Woodpecker flagspett were other birds of note.

Hellesøy 25 October 2007 - Grey-headed Woodpecker

Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett investigating boat shed, Hellesøy
Entanglement in fishing gear claims more victims than oil spills......

A stroll around Hellesøy was quite productive - the highlights were again were a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett and a flock of 17 Waxwings sidensvans. This is the peak season for both of these species. For more details see this page. The only other species of interest here other than the continued passage of Fieldfare gråtrost and Redwing rødvingtrost was a flock of 10 Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis.

At Sæle another flock of Waxwing sidensvans was seen along with two Blackcap munk.

The first Woodcock rugde of the autumn flew over my house at dawn....

Tjeldstø 24 October - a good day

One of the many Starling stær at Tjeldstø today
Goldcrest fuglekonge

Plenty about today with highlights being a Lapland Bunting lappspurv, a flock of 12 Waxwing sidensvans and a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett. The supporting cast included two Goldfinch stillits, 10 Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flaggspett and several Skylark sanglerke.

Good numbers of Fieldfare gråtrost both in the fields and on direct migration along with smaller numbers of Redwing rødvingtrost, Blackbird svarttrost, Starling stær and a couple of late(ish) Song Thrush måltrost. Small flocks of Crossbill korsnebb still very obvious, several Twite bergirisk and a few Brambling bjørkefink were also noted.

Throw in a Sparrowhawk spurvhauk and a White-tailed Eagle havørn and it was all in all not too bad....

Øygarden 20 October 2007

Chiff-chaff gransanger at Tjeldstø
Probable Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb, Sæle
Common Redpoll gråsisik, Hjelme
White-tailed Eagle havørn, Hjelme

Checked out a few localities starting at Herdlevær where large numbers of Blue Tit blåmeis and several Willow Tit granmeis were still present. The best birds here were the firtst Long-tailed Duck havelle of the autumn - a flock of around 30 sat on the sea.

Flocks of crossbills were seen everywhere - largely Common Crossbill grankorsnebb but a flock at Sæle looked very much like Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb. At Sæle there were at least three Blackcap munk feeding on elderberries. One Nuthatch spettmeis also present.

At Hjelme a large flock (at least 150) of Common Redpoll gråsisik fed in the pines - one of several flocks seen today. Also at Hjeme a White-tailed Eagle havørn and a Sparrowhawk spurvhauk were two of three raptor species seen during the day - a Goshawk hønsehauk at Tjeldstø being the third. A Chiff-chaff gransanger fed in a garden at Tjeldstø.

Øygarden 09 October 2007

Very pale Lesser Whitethroat møller - possibly of the eastern (Asian) form minula

Jay nøtteskrike at Hjelme - only lone individuals now being seen

The first Little Grebe dvergdykker of the autumn at Sæle today

The Blue Tit blåmeis invasion continues....

Part of a flock of 60+ Fieldfare gråtrost on their way south

Yet another wonderful day in glorious weather. The number of migrants around continues to drop - migrating is no problem with clear skies and light winds!

Started the day at Herdlevær where the Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger remains. Today, however, this may not have been the best bird - a Lesser Whitethroat møller which seemed to me to be of the eastern form minula was present in juniper scrub to the north of "village". Other birds of note included a Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin and a late Willow Warbler løvsanger.

Migrants included some largish flocks of Fieldfare gråtrost heading south and Common Crossbills grankorsnebb heading north.

Sæle was much quieter with the best bird here being an early Little Grebe dvergdykker. A female Blackcap munk feeding on elderberries and a small flock of Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis were also present.

At Hjelme a Jay nøtteskrike and a Nuthatch spettmeis were possibly the last of the recent irruption - lingering on in one of the few suitable habitats for these species in Øygarden. However, there are still huge flocks of Blue Tit blåmeis on the move - the largest flock today contained at least 50 birds!

Øygarden 08 October 2007

Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger, Herdlevær. Click image for larger version

Willow Tit granmeis

Great Spotted Woodpecker flaggspett at Tjeldstø (click on image for larger version)

North westerly winds and a succesion of showers meant things didn't look too promising. However, this was far from the truth as a few hours birding produced some good birds.

Started off at Tjeldstø where a newly arrived Great Spotted Woodpecker flaggspett showed quite well. Other birds included Jay nøtteskrike, small numbers of Crossbill grankorsnebb, a Sparrowhawk spurvhauk and plenty of Redwing rødvingtrost in the fields.

Moving on to Herdlevær the undoubted highlight was a Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger which may have been a new bird as the area has been searched at least twice without result since the last one....other stuff included a Peregrine vandrefalk and a huge flock of Blue Tit blåmeis - numbering at least 60. Some of the irrupting Willow Tit granmeis are still about but numbers have dropped considerably with no large flocks present.

Øygarden 06 October 2007

A short stroll at Tjeldstø produced a few of the recent irruptive migrants including a Jay nøtteskrike and a Nuthatch spettmeis. Otherwise just a few Wigeon brunnakke and a couple of Lapwing vipe.

A quick look at Herdlevær produced a cracking Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger which called a few times. However, generally fewer birds around here than of late....

Herdlevær 02 October 2007

One of many Goldcrest fuglekonge at Herdlevær
Two migrating Nuthatch spettmeis

Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin going to ground...

Generally not as much about as the previous visit but far from dead. Best bird was a Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin. Other stuff on the move included a few Nuthatch spettmeis, a small flock of Brambling bjørkefink and most of the usual suspects including a Sparrowhawk spurvhauk.

Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett reported near Kollsnes.

Small numbers of Crossbill korsnebb and Twite bergerisk flying over at Tjeldstø

Hellesøy 01 October 2007

Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis - damn that leaf!

One of four Twite bergirisk today

The highlight of a short afternoon stroll at Hellesøy was a nice flock of Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis, unfortunately rather difficult to photograph. A small flock of Twite bergirisk were also present.

Other stuff included small numbers of Willow Tit granmeis also on the move, a small flock of Velvet Scoter sjøorre and a couple of Curlew storspove.

Herdlevær 30 September 2007

Record shot of Grey Wagtail vintererle at Breivik

Great weather once agai, although overcast at times. Plenty of activity today with highlights being a couple of Lapland Bunting lappspurv, a Shoveler skjeand and a flock of Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis.

Peregrine vandrefalk, a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn and large flocks of Willow granmeis and Blue Tit blåmeis moving through.

A Grey Wagtail vinterle at Breivik was another decent bird.

Skogsøy 29 September 2007

Willow Tit granmeis

The third day of calm and sunny (almost wrote "nice" there!) weather in a row so therefore not much activity over the sea, just a Pinkfoot kortnebbgås, couple of Great Northern Diver islom and several Velvet Scoter sjøorre heading south.

Willow Tit granmeis still very much in evidence.

Tjeldstø 28 September 2007

Not out birding and therefore managed to clinch species #150 from the house in the form of a Nuthatch spettmeis - thanks to the current movement of otherwise mundane woodland birds that are uncommon out here at the coast.

Other stuff included a flcok of 17 Jays nøtteskrike flying over the garden, 15+ Willow tit granmeis moving through and a flock of at least 12 Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis.

Other migrants included a couple of flocks of Skylark sanglerke, a few Red-throated Diver smålom and at least one Snow Bunting snøspurv. All without leaving the house...

Øygarden 27 September 2007

Black-throated Diver storlom
Black-throated Diver storlom (right hand bird) - click picture for slightly larger image

The head and beak shape along with the bigger feet are good ID clues

Eurasian Teal krikkand "hitching a ride" among a flock of Cormorant

Started the day in FANTASTIC weather at Skogsøy. Higlight here was a good passage of Cormorants storskarv with 760 in two hours and another 200+ whilst I made my way back to the car. Unfortunately an idiotic camera setting mistake meant that even the best pictures were little more than record shots....

Good birds included three Great Northern Diver islom heading north, including an adult still in breeding plumage. Several Red-throated Diver smålom and a single Black-throated Diver storlom (uncommon out here at the coast).


Fifteen Barnacle Geese hvitkingås joined a migrating flock of Cormorant whilst a pale-bellied Brent Goose ringgås decided to go it alone. A single Black Guillemot teist was the first for a while.


Pick of the passerines was a Nuthatch spettmeis - a Skogsøy first for me! Thus continuing the trend of "unusual" woodland birds currenlty on the move, Willow tits granmeis and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flaggspett were also seen. More conventioanally interesting species included Grey Wagtail vinterle, a small flock of Twite bergerisk (a species becoming rarer and rarer each year....) and some small flocks of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb.

Back at Tjeldstø five Jay nøtteskrike headed over the house....along with the much more usual White-tailed Eagle havørn.

Skogsøy 25 September 2007

Some impressive waves today....(click for larger version)

Herring Gull gråmake with pipefish havnål

Gannet havsule battling against the wind

Crap picture of two Pale-bellied Brents ringgås

Extremely difficult conditions today with a southerly gale whipping up salt spray which coated lenses and everything else too....

A few hours in the middle of the day produced 5 Red-throated Diver smålom heading south, a Great Skua storjo, two hrota (Pale-bellied) Brent Geese ringgås, a couple of Northern Fulmar havhest and about 40 Gannets havsule.

The only passeriens of interest were some Willow Tit granmeis - not a common species at Skogsøy and the first I have seen there for at least a couple of years....these birds are obviously on the move.

The best birds were probably two that got away - a99% certain Sabine's Gull and an interesting dark tern.

Tjeldstø 24 September 2007

Hopes were not high today - southerly gales and heavy rain made condtions rather difficult. However, never one to give up just because of the weather went out anyway. Nothing major, but a Peregrine vandrefalk saved the day and the first Sparrowhawk spurvhauk and Tufted Duck toppand of the autumn put in an appearance.

Plenty of Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin out in the reserve. Otherwise flocks of Redwings rødvingtrost, Fieldfare gråtrost and Blackbird svarttrost obviously wanting to be on the move....

Øygarden 22 September 2007

Woodpigeon ringdue feeding on unripe Elderberries

Just back from a flying visit to Falsterbo and no time for birding at all. However, obvious that things are happening with a number of unusual species seen during various activities I was invloved in during the day: at least one Jay notteskrike at Tjeldstø, a Nuthatch spettmeis (remarkably the first I have seen in Øygarden) near Nautnes and a few Willow Tit granmeis (not normally a common bird over much/most of Øygarden) near Rong.

Øygarden 17 September 2007

No birding recently but a flock of 34 Brent geese ringgås and three Velvet Scoter sjøorre heading south down Hjeltefjord indicated that things were on the move.

And indeed they were - a report of a Great Shearwater storlire from Svellingen had me out the door in no time. Hardly surprisingly no more passed during the half hour I managed in the field, but a Great Skua storjo, another 32 Brent Geese ringgås and a couple of Red-throated Diver smålom were worth the drive. Other species reported at Svellingen earlier in the day included a few Great Northern Diver islom and an Arctic Skua tyvjo.

Skogsøy 09 September 2007

Otters oter


Northern Gannet havsule

Highlight today was a family party of four otters oter which I just about managed to take a few pictures of.

Birdwise it was fairly quiet with the best bird being a Sooty Shearwater grålire heading north, there were a few other species of interest including a Shelduck gravand, a Great Skua storjo, the first few Red-throated Diver smålom of the autumn and waders including a couple of Turnstone steinvender and a Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove.

A Kestrel tårnfalk was also the first of the autumn.

Seawatching from Svellingen produced another Sooty Shearwater grålire later in the day, a Little Gull dvergmåke, 3-4 Arctic Skua tyvjo, a couple of Great Northern Divers islom and at least 60 "commic" tern.

Skogsøy 02 September 2007

Strong onshore winds and a succession of heavy showers made seawatching somewhat difficult.
A few hours in the middle of the day produced almost 60 Northern Fulmar havhest and around 80 Northern Gannet havsule heading north.

Other than that just a few Great Skua storjo knocking about and 26 Ruddy Turnstone steinvender flew south.

Tjeldstø 30-31 August 2007

Not birding at all but a Whimbrel småspove flew over on the evening of 30 August and Merlin dvergfalk sat on a neighbours tree on 31 August.