Øygarden 02-07 April 2026 - Happy Easter:)

A week back home which included a few days off around Easter was quite productive even though I took things pretty easy - normally I would have done more at Skogsøy but time just did not permit.

On 2nd April the female aythya that has been here and there in northern Øygarden since early February allowed for some better views and finally swung me over to Scaup bergand despite seeming to have rather a lot of black on the beak.

2cy female Scaup bergand

The usual round at Herdlevær gave White Wagtail linerle, Red-throated Diver smålom, White-tailed Eagles havørn, a Meadow Pipit heipiplerke and a variety of other migrants. Tjeldstø produced another Red-throated Diver smålom, some Gannets havsule feeding in the fjord and the usual. My first Chiff-chaff gransanger of the year fed at Sture.

In the afternoon a Pinkfoot kortnebbgås and an albifrons Whitefront tundragås were reported, I managed to hear the former among Greylags grågås and see the latter briefly in flight.

I started the 3rd April at Hjelme where a Chiff-chaff gransanger and a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett were the best sightings.

Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett

At Sæle a Red necked Grebe gråstrupedykker on the sea was probably the same bird that has been reported on and off at this locality previously. Small numbers of Long-tailed Duck havelle, a Common Scoter svartand, Black Guillemot teist and singles of both Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke and Meadow Pipit heipiplerke fed in the area.

Next stop was Tjeldstø where the Scaup bergand showed quite well again. A rarer sightig for northern Øygarden were two of last year's Mute Swans knoppsvane - almost certainly of urban origin as they swam straight over to me when I got out of the car. Several Teal krikkand, a couple of White Wagtails linerle and a Meadow Pipit heipiplerke were indications that migration is picking up.

Breivik proved quite productive with the first Jackdaw kaie of the year, a pair of Stonechat svartstrupe and the first two Linnets tornirisk of the year.

Common Gulls fiskemåke feeding at Breivik

The first Linnets tornirisk of 2026

Saturday 4th April was quite social as I bumped into a number of other birders out and about. Although it was a nice morning out and about nothing special was seen. The female Scaup bergand and the two young Mute Swans knoppsvane remained at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø.

Crested Tit toppmeis photographed at a feeding station

The 5th produced a flurry of new arrivals starting with a Dunnock jernspurv in my garden. Numbers of singing Song Thrush måltrost and Redwing rødvingetrost increased too.

At Husvatnet, Tjeldstø the first Redshank rødstilk of the year put in an appearance. Breivik was quite good with a nice Ring Ousel ringtrost and the albifrons Whitefront tundragås as the best observations. The Stonechat svartstrupe pair at Kollsnes showed well too:)

Redshank rødstilk at Husvatnet

Ring Ousel ringtrost at Breivik

Stonechats svartstrupe at Kollsnes

Albifrons Whitefront tundragås at Breivik

The two Mute Swans knoppsvane had moved to Dåvøy and it was here that I noticed they were colour ringed. Both birds were ringed last autumn further south in Øygarden at Stølsneset, Ågotnes - so these Easter tourists had not moved very far from their ringing site.

Mute Swans knoppsvane at Dåvøy

I actually left Øygarden on 7th April and did a guding trip at Herdla. There was plenty to be seen here including White-tailed Eagles havørn, a few Pinkfeet kortnebbgås, a Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås, a couple of Golden Plover heilo and a Pied Wagtail svartryggerle along with good numbers of Lapwing vipe, Ringed Plover sandlo, Meadow Pipits heipiplerke and the usual.

A Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Ådnevika was undoubtedly a new arrival as it has been a while since the overwintering birds have shown. On the way home the albifrons Whitefront tundragås showed well at Breivik.

Albifrons Whitefront tundragås

Curlews storspove also returned during this period and it was lovely to hear them displaying at several localities in northern Øygarden.

Oslo 17.03-22.03.2026 - Spring in the city

Another week where it was difficult to get out, but this time in Oslo.

On 17th I spent 15 minutes in the Botanical Gardens and the gardens were full of life with lots of birds present, many of them new arrivals for me. Some Hawfinch kjernebiter remained but Chaffinches bokfink had arrived and were singing as were Starling stær and Woodpigeon ringdue.

Chaffinch bokfink

Hawfinch kjernebiter

Woodpigeon ringdue

On 21st I headed into the gardens again before heading down to catch the ferry to Gressholmen. The gardens held at least a couple of Stock Dove skogdue as the best sighting, along with Great Spotted Woodpecker flaggspett and others.

Stock Dove skogdue in the Botanic Gardens - I'd have been very pleased to get shots like these of this species in Øygarden where they are rather scarce migrant.

The trip to Gressholmen was quite suceessful with a few decent flocks of Pinkfeet kortnebbgås heading north. A couple of Goshawk hønsegauk, a few Shelduck gravand, five Ringed Plover sandlo, more Stock Dove skogdue, two Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt and plenty more to see. Oystercatcher tjeld, Greylag Goose grågås and Barnacle Goose hvittkingås were also the first I've seen in Oslo this year. A big increase in Black-headed Gull hettemåke and Common Gull fiskemåke numbers since last time and several Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke too. A great morning out!

The first of a few flocks of Pinkfeet kortnebbgås that headed north

Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt

On 22nd I visited Østensjøvatnet which was amazingly still almost totally frozen, though obviously thawing around the edges. Highlights here were my first singing Reed Bunting sivpsurv of the year, some Great Crested Grebes toppdykker, a couple of Pintail sjtertand, a good selection of gulls out on the ice, over 20 Coot sothøne and most of the usual suspects.

Lots of Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke, Common Gulls fiskemåke and Black-headed Gulls hettemåke at Ostensjøvatnet.

One of at least three Great-crested Grebes toppdykker present

One of two Pintail stjertand present, the other had "bling"

Back home in the city centre a Whooper sangsvane flew over.

Øygarden 09.03-14.03.2026 - More spring arrivals

A week with quite a bit of wind and rain and a lot of time sitting with my laptop.

Nevertheless, a number of new arrivals were seen.

On 9th March I only left the house just before it got dark but a male Teal krikkand, the first of the year locally for me, turned up on the sea in front of my house during the morning. Otherwise just a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn and the usual. There was also an obvious arrival of Blackbirds svarttrost with larger numbers than usual at various places.

Coal Tit svartmeis in the garden

Teal krikkand at Nautnes

The following day I had to head to Straume on an errand and had the first two Woodpigeon ringdue of the year flying over at Solsvik whilst waiting for a traffic light. After work I headed to Hjelme where a nice female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle saved the day.

Female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle, Hjelme

On 11th March I got out to do a few  drive-bys which turned out quite productive. A Little Grebe dvergdykker was still at Dåvøy - it has been a good winter for this species here with up to three present simultaneously. Heron gråhegre numbers jumped to 42 here. A couple of Pied Wagtails svartryggerle were at Tjeldstø with another bird that I didn't quite make out, despite looking I never managed to get further views, a Woodpigeon ringdue was in the same place. Lapwings vipe have started to get onto their territories out in the reserve which is a good sign of things to come....

A male Stonechat svartstrupe at Breivik was a nice observation and the female Tufted Duck toppand remained on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø without the male that has been present recently.

Last stop was Hjelme where the female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle remained and three Mistle Thrush duetrost finally gave good enough views to clinch them. I strongly suspect I have seen two others between late February and now but they have always been too far off / too brief.

Herring Gulls gråmåke at Dåvøy

Little Grebe dverdykker at Dåvøy

One of three Mistle Thrush duetrost at Hjelme

The female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle was still at Hjelme

On 12th March I was stuck inside all day but the first Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke of the year from the terrace turned up during one of the downpours.

The next day I spent a couple of hours out and about in the afternoon Gannets havsule heading down the fjord was the main event, although a migrant Black-headed Gull hettemåke turned up at Breivik. Hjelme was quiet with just a few presumably newly arrived Redwing rødvingetrost of interest.

Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Breivik

Gannet havsule at Tjeldstø

Female Tufted Duck toppand at Tjeldstø

On 14th March I did Skogsøy, more to test that I still can do it than any other reason. Turns out I can and I even managed to jog a fair bit of the way home. Birdwise nothing to shout about as predicted under the current conditions. Small numbers of auks, a movement of Gannets havsule and a couple of Kittiwake krykkje were all that was seen here.

The way home was rather more productive with Mistle Thrush duetrost and a Grey Wagtail vintererle at Tjeldstø as the best finds. Hjelme held four species of thrush and a (the?) Pied Wagtail svartryggerle.

Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Breivik

Øygarden 07-08 March 2026 - Grey-headed Woodpeckers in the mood?

Having been away all week with a work thing I spent most of 7th March out and about. The day started calm and foggy - so no good for sewatching. I headed to Hjelme where I frustratingly had what was probably the second Mistle Thrush duetrost of the year. But a pair of Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett seemingly inpsecting potential nest sites was a welcome distraction. Let's hope they stay:)

A few hours out and about with #2 daughter gave the first Song Thrush måltrost of the year at Tjeldstø, the first Lapwings vipe at Kollsnes and Tjeldstø and a nice selection of the usual suspects. On my way home three female Stonechat svartstrupe at Kollsnes were nice to see, although far from as sensational as the ongoing influx in the east of Norway where this species is rather more uncommon.

Male and female Grey-headed Woodpeckers gråspett

This video is worth watching to the end. Then it becomes understandable why the woodpecker seemed to be just staring at the pole for no good reason:)

Lapwings vipe at Kollsnes

Otherwise a noticable increase in the number of Greylags grågås, Oystercatcher tjeld and Starling stær and small numbers of Fieldfare gråtrost around. A look at the sea at Sæle gave 42 Long-tailed Duck havelle, a Velvet Scoter sjøorre, 11 Common Scoter svartand and several Black Guillemot teist, now starting to turn black.

On 8th March I decided to give Skogsøy a go but the visiblity was too poor for any meanigful seawatching. A Shelduck gravand was the only migrant of note. A Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke was back at the usual breeding spot and another early Song Thrush måltrost sang here too.

The drive to Skogsøy before the sun came up gave Tawny Owl kattugle and quite a lot of birdsong - largely Robins rødstrupe and Blackbirds svarttrost but also Wren gjerdesmett giving it a go.

I popped in at a few places on the way home - some more signs of spring without anything special, Chaffinch bokfink at places I haven't seen them at during the winter, a couple of migrating Skylark sanglerke at Hjelme.

Skylarks sanglerke at Hjelme

Øygarden 23.02-01.03.2026 - Some more signs of spring

Milder conditions for the most part has led to something of a thaw, but all the lakes remain more or less completely frozen. 

During the week I did not manage to get out in any meaningful way but managed a few drive-bys. Small numbers of Starling stær and Oystercatchers tjeld arrived here and there.

Starlings stær at Tjeldstø, 24.02. Small flocks turned up at various localities during the week

Merganser siland from my terrace

Oystercatcher tjeld at Dåvøy

Not sure what it was eating but seemed to be the contents of a large shell

Oystercatcher tjeld at Herdlevær

Water Rail vannriske still hanging on - though conditions must surely be improving for this species

On Saturday 28th I did Herdlevær in fantastic weather, here the highlight was the first Skylark sanglerke of the year. A couple of Great Northern Divers islom fed, a minimum of four White-tailed Eagles havørn were seen and a few Oystercatcher tjeld and couple of Greylag grågås added to the feeling of spring.  Despite the lack of wind there was a heavy swell running which kept passing birds hidden most of the time. The Tawny Owl kattugle at Skjold continued to sing in the evening.

Skylark sanglerke at Herdlevær

I covered Breivik afterwards but nothing of note seen there

Another sign of spring:)

The next day I spent a couple of hours seawatching at Skogsøy, 169 Oystercatcher tjeld headed north - all of them flying high in the glorious calm and sunny conditions, there was a light but obvious passage of auks and Common Gulls fiskemåke too. Otherwise just small numbers of various duck and a Great Northern Diver islom heading south. Stationary birds included a flock of 35 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, a Whooper Swan sangsvane , two White-tailed Eagles havørn bird of the day - a Slavonian Grebe horndykker busily feeding in the bay.

A stop at Tjeldstø on the way home gave a Red-throated Diver smålom on the sea and 22 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt resting on one of the islands.

A Stonechat svartstrupe was reported at Kollsnes but I did not manage to relocate it during an afternoon visit.