Skogsøy 26 February 2007

Wet, windy and foggy. The only movement over the sea were several Gannets havsule and a single Kittiwake krykkje.

Best bird was a Woodcock rugde flushed in the woods.

Alvheim 25 February 2008

2cy Glaucous Gull polarmåke (above and below)


2cy Iceland Gull grønlandsmåke (ISO 800)
Immature White-tailed Eagle havørn

A superb day, despite several heavy showers. A concentration of gulls around a herring holding pen provided most of the interest with a second year Iceland Gull grønlandsmåke and a second year Glaucous Gull polarmåke present. A few dead gulls in the area proved that the three immature White-tailed Eagles havørn have also been making the most of this gull flock.

Another bird of note was a female Black Grouse orrfugl.

Tjeldstø 24 February 2008

Not out birding at all but a flock of 18 Starling stær on the telephone wires outside my house were new arrivals.

Alvheim 23 February 2008 - Seal

Little about birdwise other than a few distant White-tailed Eagles havørn. A Grey Seal, not an everyday sight in Øygarden, struggling with a Cod attracted the attentions of the local gulls.

A couple of Starling stær at Tjeldstø were new arrivals - landing on my roof and immediately bursting into song. A lone Greylag grågås on Husvatnet was another sign of spring.

Øygarden 22 February 2008

Red breasted Merganser siland fishing at Tjeldstø

Willow Tit granmeis at Hjelme

Bird of the day was a Merlin dvergfalk seen flying over the road at Nautnes. Otherwise good numbers of seaduck at Solberg having been forced inshore due to the mountainous seas. A few Velvet Scoter sjøorre were among the Eiders ærfugl and Long-tailed Ducks havelle here.

A Sparrowhawk spurvhauk at Tjeldstø was the first there for some time. A few flocks of Crossbill sp korsnebb still in the area too.

Some Willow Tits granmeis from last autumn's invasion still remain - a small flock fed beside the road at Hjelme.

Tjeldstø 20 February 2008 - Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull grønlandsmåke (2cy) at Tjeldstø

Fishing rather than birding today but the best catch was without doubt a 2cy Iceland Gull grønlandsmåke - this bird has been seen in the same place earlier in the month and may even be the bird first seen at the end of December. It looks as if this could be a repeat performance of last winter when a 2cy bird overwintered until April....

Click above picture for larger image

Hjelme Vest 19 February 2008

A very brief visit produced a Great Northern Diver islom on the sea, a Black guillemot teist , 10+ Purple Sandipiper fjæreplytt.and at least two White-tailed Eagle havørn. An adult Gannet havsule also passed by very close.

Tjeldstø 18 February 2008

Record shot of a female Bullfinch dompap taken one-handed through the sitting room window whilst talking on the phone

Best birds in a Tjeldstø / Øygarden context on this dull, wet but calm and mild day were a couple of Bullfinch dompap in my garden. A flock of 30+ Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt and a couple of Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke also seen at Tjeldstø.

A brief look at Solberg produced little other than five Velvet Scoter sjøorre on the sea together with the usual seaduck. Obvious northbound movement of large gulls with flocks passing more or less continuously.

Skogsøy 16 February 2008

Common Scoters svartand at Skogsøy today
Lapwing vipe at Dåvøy

An uncharacteristically quiet day at Skogsøy with little of interest, just a Little Auk alkekonge and a White-tailed Eagle havørn or two.

At Dåvøy the first Lapwing vipe of the spring flew in from the west.....

Tjeldstø 14 February 2008

Two Goldfinch stillits at Tjeldstø

Mink at Dåvøy

Highlights on a bright but rather cold and windy day were three-four Goldfinch stillits at Tjeldstø where there were also at least six Starling stær.

No sign of the male Scaup bergand that has been reported recently at Dåvøy. Plenty of Merganser siland and Goldeneye kvinand there - some of them had a mild panic attack when a mink swam past them.

The flock of 36 Greylag grågås remains at Breivik.