Tjeldstø 07 November 2010

Herring Gull gråmåke
Herring Gull gråmåke

Herring Gull gråmåke

Herring Gulls gråmåke and Great Black-backed Gulls svartbak fighting over scraps

Common Scoter svartand

Fishing not birding today. Several Cod, a few Haddock, a Whiting, Gunard and a few other species caught today.

Several White-tailed Eagle havørn, plenty of gulls and a steady passage of Starling stær heading south.

Skogsøy 06 November 2010

White-tailed Eagle havørn

After a showery start the weather turned out very nicely. However, little passing over the sea and most of the action was on the way out with highlights being three Pine Grosbeak konglebit, 100+ Mealy Redpoll gråsisik and 12+ Bullfinch dompap. An absolute minimum of three White-tailed Eagle havørn knocking about too.

Passage of interest was limited to a couple of Great Northern Diver islom, a few Little Auk alkekonge and a Velvet Scoter sjøorre.

Øygarden 05 November 2010 Rosefinch again

Common Rosefinch rosenfink, Hjelme
Roadside Grey Heron gråhegre

One of two adult White-tailed Eagle havørn at Hellesøy

A Lapland Bunting lappspurv and two Jackdaw kaie flying over at Breivik were the best birds here. Also Bullfinch dompap giving the eastern "trumpet" call.

Herdlevær was relatively quiet with just Bullfinch dompap and a Treecreeper trekryper of note.

The Common Rosefinch rosenfink was still at Hjelme. Latest ever observation in Norway?

A lot of stuff has obviously moved on in the good conditions - no sign of the geese and thrush numbers have dropped appreciably.

Skogsøy 04 November 2010

Diver lom just starting moult to winter plumage. Large pale beak, pale face and very pot-bellied look....

Here the bird is showing the "no-billed diver" look

Great Black-backed Gull svartbakOn a totally different note - one of the world's largest rock dumpers, Simon Stevin also headed south today

Strong onshore winds meant that Skogsøy was the obvious choice today. However, the wind was too strong for any real movements.

A passage of adult Kittiwakes krykkje heading south were the mainstay but over 20 Little Auk alkekonge also passed along with a Great Northern Diver islom heading north and another large diver lom heading south.

The later bird I did not see in the scope or with binoculars but only through the camera - something that meant I did not "get" the jizz. The large pale bill, pot-bellied look and exposed eye in the white of the face all point towards White-billed Diver gulnebblom but the dark base to the bill and the very dark neck point towards Great Northern islom. Presumably an adult bird that has just started its moult into winter plumage.

A few White-tailed Eagle havørn knocking about along with most of the usual suspects. A Ring Ousel ringtrost on the way back home was a nice bonus bird. Once again Otters very vocal - otters have been very obvious and seen at least daily recently.

Øygarden 03 November - Common Rosefinch

First year Common Rosefinch rosenfink

Rosefinch rosenfink together with a Brambling bjørkefink

Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås at Breivik

Nuthatch spettmeis - not exactly an everday sight for me in Øygarden

Finally managed more than just a quick dash out!
Despite the weather plenty to see almost everywhere but it was the last stop that really produced the goods in the form of a Common Rosefinch rosenfink at Hjelme. Quite an unseasonal find. A Nuthatch spettmeis and a few Bullfinch dompap also seen here.

Started the day at Breivik where best bird was a Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin but there were hundreds of thrushes in the area too. The Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås was still there with the Greylags grågås,

Plenty of birds but not much of interest at Herdlevær where best birds were three Lapwing vipe and a Skylark sanglerke.

At least 200 Redwing rødvingetrost, 100 Fieldfare gråtrost, 30 Chaffinch bokfink, 10 Tree Sparrow pilfink, 80+ Mallard stokkand, three Teal krikkand and five Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Tjeldstø.

Sæle produced little other than three Blackcap munk and a few Bullfinch dompap.

Øygarden 02 November

Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Tjeldstø

Wet and windy again.

A quick look at Solberg produced a couple of Lapwing vipe resting on the shore and seven Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt. A single Razorbill alke fed in the bay.

At Tjeldstø a Yellowhammer gulspurv and a Blackcap munk turned up in th garden (both typical late autumn migrants) and a couple of late Woodpigeon ringdue flew over.

Tjeldstø 01 November - PINE GROSBEAK!

Still bogged down with domestic chores and spent a day of wonderful weather working on the house.
A light passage of 20+ Bullfinch dompap heading north in small flocks was interupted by an altogether different call so I grabbed my binoculars and confirmed a single Pine Grosbeak konglebit flying over. A new species for Øygarden and a most welcome house tick!

Only one Waxwing sidensvans flew over today.

Solberg 31 October

Above and below Fieldfare gråtrost at Breivik

A flying visit to Solberg proved that the day should have been spent at Skogsøy. Obviously a lot of stuff on the move....

In less than half an hour two Great Northern Diver islom went north and nine Red-throated Diver smålom flew south along with over 20 Kittiwake krykkje, a Gannet havsule, Long-tailed Ducks havelle and Common Scoter svartand.

Two White-tailed Eagle havørn and a flock of over 200 Fieldfare gråtrost also seen.

The Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås was still with Greylags grågås at Breivik. A couple of hundred Fieldfare gråtrost Starling stær also feeding in the area.

At Tjeldstø a single Lapwing vipe and 20+ Waxwing sidensvans were seen from the house.

Hjelme 30 October 2010

Colour ringed adult White-tailed Eagle havørn

At Hjelme West couple of Red-throated Diver smålom, 40+ Common Scoter svartand, a Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, a White-tailed Eagle havørn and a few Long-tailed Duck havelle were all that was to be seen birdwise. At least three Otters fed here.

At Hjelme a Water Rail vannrikse gave brief views and an adult White-tailed Eagle havørn flew over. A small falcon remained unidentified.

Øygarden 29 October 2010

Gale force winds and heavy rain made things difficult. At Tjeldstø a Treecreeper trekryper was the best bird though at least 30 Waxwing sidensvans just outside the garden.

At Solberg a very vocal Otter was the first I've seen for a while, otherwise just a White-tailed Eagle havørn, a Gannet havsule and the usual.

Øygarden 28 October 2010

Waxwings sidensvans at Oen
Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås at Breivik

Red-throated Diver smålom at Herdlevær

One of three White-tailed Eagle havørn seen at Herdlevær - this one with a fish

Still large (record?) numbers of Waxwing sidensvans about with flocks "everywhere". This is the peak time to see this species in Øygarden but normally it is migrating birds that are seen. This year the flocks have stopped to feed on whatever berries they can find - often juniper. Today they were also feeding on insects. Today 150 were at Oen and 300 at Tjeldstø.

At Herldevær the best sightings were a Red-throated Diver smålom on the sea, a Lapwing vipe and two Black-headed Gulls hettemåke.

The Barncale Goose hvitkinngås remains with Greylags grågås at Breivik.

The wet weather has meant that Mallard stokkand numbers are high at Tjeldstø with approximately 90 birds present. Good numbers of Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin and Fieldfare gråtrost too.

Øygarden 26 October 2010

Waxwing sidensvans eating juniper berries

Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås together with Greylags grågås

Still almost impossible to get out and about.

However, I just had to stop the car and take some pictures of a flock of roadside Waxwings sidensvans. At Rong the flock I saw numbered at least 200 but several other flocks seen elsewhere.

At Breivik a single Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås was seen with Greylags grågås.

Tjeldstø 21 October 2010

Tufted Duck toppand
Female Tufted Duck toppand showing very dark upperparts

Female Tufted Duck toppand

Tufted duck toppand. Left hand bird showing much white on the face but not over the top of the bill

Inside working all day but managed a very brief stroll out as the light was fading. Rather frustrating as large flocks of thrushes etc were passing throughout the day.

A flock of six Tufted Duck toppand on Rotevatnet and the female Common Scoter svartand on Husvatnet were the only sightings of interest. One of Tufted Duck toppand, probably a first year female, looked rather like a Scaup bergand but closer views revealled the hint of a tuft on the back of the head and the upperparts were rather too dark for this species.

Skogsøy 20 October 2010

Bird of the day in an Øygarden context - one of three Treecreeper trekryper seen today
Sparrowhawks spurvehauk

Small part of a Fieldfare gråtrost flock

Waxwing sidensvans are everywhere at the moment

Dashed out for a short seawatch which was produced relatively few birds - highlights being two Great Northern Diver islom heading north. Small numbers of Long-tailed Duck havelle, Velvet Scoter sjøorre and Common Scoter svartand on the move.

It was the walk out that was the most productive with a few small flocks of Waxwing sidensvans, a few large flocks of Fieldfare gråtrost totalling approximately 1000 birds - several hundred of which were feeding and resting in the heather. Other notable sightings included my first Treecreeper trekryper in Øygarden this year, a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett, a Jay nøtteskrike, a Lapland Bunting lappspurv, several Bullfinch dompap and at least four Sparrowhawk spurvehauk. Also plenty of Brambling bjørkefink and Mealy Redpoll gråsisik about.

At Herdlevær good numbers of Great Tit kjøttmeis and Blue Tit blåmeis were passing through. A couple more Treecreepers trekryper, a Chiff-chaff gransanger and a Blackcap munk were also present here.

Back home whilst changing over to winter tyres a flock of 15 Waxwing sidensvans landed briefly in the garden and a Lapland Bunting lappspurv flew over.

Øygarden 19 October 2010

Barely out and about.

At Solberg a single Gannet havsule and a Kittiwake krykkje battled north into gale force winds but generally little to see.

Tjeldstø was marginally better with a Water Rail vannrikse calling from beside Husvatnet, a White-tailed Eagle havørn and a flock of almost 60 Mallrd stokkand feeding in a flooded field.

Øygarden 18 October 2010

Wheatear steinskvett at Breivik
There are three Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin visible in this picture!

Common Scoter svartand on Husvatnet

Strong winds and rain made things difficult. A Wheatear steinskvett at Breivik was a rather late late sighting.

At Tjeldstø the best bird was a Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin. A female Common Scoter svartand on Husvatnet was an unusual freshwater sighting.

Tjeldstø 16 October 2010

Waxwing sidensvans taken through the sitting room window

Not out at all but a few flocks of Waxwing sidensvans seen, including around 20 that landed in the garden. Bullfinches dompap also heard flying over - first this year at Tjeldstø.

Obviously a good migration day with flocks of various finches and Woodpigeon ringdue also seen.

Hernar 15 October 2010

Blackcap munk
Female Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett

One of 12 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt seen at "Hjelme West" on the way home

Part of a large flock of Redpoll brunsisik

Waxwings sidensvans

LOADS of birds today with plenty to see except the hoped for rarity. At least 200 Redpoll brunsisik several of which were Mealy Redpoll gråsisik and one with a very white rump. Extremely restless these birds never settled for long. A minimum of around 30 Waxwing sidensvans, a Ring Ousel ringtrost, a Water Rail vannrikse, a Bullfinch dompap, Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett were the best of the sightings.
A few Chiff-chaff gransanger, a Blackcap munk, Sparrowhawk spurvehauk, three White-tailed Eagle havørn, migrating Skylark sanglerke and Reed Bunting sivspurv were among the other species noted. Typically foe such weather conditions there were good numbers of Blue tit blåmeis moving through with smaller numbers of Coal tit svartmeis. Plenty of Wrens gjerdesmett passing through - a relief to see that some have survived the previous winter.

Tjeldstø 14 October 2010

Not out at all but a flock of 25 Waxwing flew over whilst I was running some errands. Obviously quite a lot of stuff on the move.