Tjeldstø 30 December 2008

Goldfinch stillits

A short stroll at Tjeldstø today produced a number of species that would be "useful" on the forthcoming New Year's bird race. These included about 15 Goldfinch stillits, a couple of Redwing rødvingetrost, a Snipe enkeltbekkasin and a hunting Peregrine vandrefalk.

There was also a flock of nine Fieldfare gråtrost, plenty of fresh signs of geese (just the geese themselves were missing...), at least one White-tailed Eagle havørn and most of the usual stuff.

Tjeldstø 29 December

A few minutes out with the dog as the light went produced a couple of Goldfinch stillits, a female Teal krikkand and some very fresh signs of geese.

Hjelme Vest 28 December 2008

Common Crossbills grankorsnebb

Highlights were a Great Northern Diver islom on the sea and a flock of at least 37 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt. A Woodcock rugde flushed in the woods was the first for some time.

Plenty of other stuff about too including at least four White-tailed Eagle havørn, 90+ Long-tailed Duck havelle, a Velvet Scoter sjøorre, a Black Guillemot teist and a Razorbill alke. An Otter oter fished close to shore.

Still a fair number of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb about - including one that must be the largest billed Common Crossbill I have ever seen!

Common Crossbill grankorsnebb with enormous bill

Heggøy / Solberg 27 December 2008

Male Scaup bergand with Goldeneye kvinand

Just a quick dash out in the afternoon produced the long-staying male Scaup bergand still on the sea at Heggøy along with the usual selection of Red-breasted Mergansers siland and Goldeneye kvinand.

At Solberg things were fairly quiet with a flock of at least 40 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt as the highlight. A small flock of 15 Long-tailed Duck havelle also on the sea here.

Solberg 25 December 2008

Red-throated Diver smålom
White-tailed Eagle havørn

Best bird was an unseasonal Red-throated Diver smålom on the sea but generally quiet with few birds about although a Razorbill alke also fed in the bay and a White-tailed Eagle havørn gave good views.

At Alvheim it was even queiter with the only bird of note being a Peregrine vandrefalk preening itself on one of the offshore islands.

Øygarden 24 December 2008

Fieldfare gråstrost
Coal Tit svartmeis

Thrushes were around in good numbers today with 35 Fieldfare gråtrost and three Redwing rødvingetrost at Breivik where there were also at least 15 Starling stær.

At Tjeldstø several more Fieldfare gråstrost and a few more Redwing rødvingetrost were present. A Coal tit svartemis at the feeders obviously had something wrong with one of it's eyes.

Tjeldstø 23 December 2008

The only bird of note during a ten minute walk was a Goshawk hønsehauk over the nature reserve.

Øygarden 05 December 2008

Male and female Scaup bergand
Female Scaup bergand

Greylags grågås

Went to Heggøy look for the male Scaup bergand that has been reported recently - and found a pair feeding in a sheltered bay.

After that things went downhill fast. At Hjelme West there were four White-tailed Eagles havørn, a Little Auk alkekonge, a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and a flock of 60 Long-tailed Duck havelle - the biggest flock I've seen thus far this winter.

At Tjeldstø a Snipe enkeltbekkasin flew over the garden and a flock of 11 Greylags grågås fed in one of the fields.

Tjeldstø 03 December 2008 - Two-barred Crossbill

Barely out of the house, but as always something to be seen. A flock of 10 Two-barred Crossbill båndkornebb being the highlight. A couple of Goldfinch stillits came in at second place.

Otherwise the female Teal krikkand remains and a small flock of Fieldfare gråtrost present.

Tjeldstø 02 December

Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke

Fantastic weather again, typically busy with other stuff so yet again it was a short trip out. The most unusual sighting was a female Common Scoter svartand on Rotevatnet - the first time I have seen this otherwise numerous species on freshwater in Øygarden.

Finally managed some half decent views (and consequently pictures...) of at least one of the Rock Pipits skjærpiperke in the area.

Tjeldstø 01 December

Barely out but during various errands had a Waxwing sidensvans fly over and a couple each of Fieldfare gråtrost and Brambling bjørkefink in the garden alongside the usual flock around 15 Chaffinch bokfink, eight Tree Sparrow pilfink and 20+ Greenfinch grønnfink.

A quick look at Solberg produced little other than a flock of 20 Long-tailed Duck havelle on the sea, a huge Goshawk hønsehauk and an Otter oter.

Tjeldstø 29 November - Geese

Juvenile Greenland Whitefront tundragås

Rather pale and lightly marked Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke (with a yellow bill)

Female Teal krikkand

A juvenile Greenland Whitefront tundragås with small flock of Greylags grågås feeding in one of the fields and a larger flock of 34 Greylags grågås out in the reserve were today's highlight.

The female Teal krikkand still present on Husvatnet

Robin rødstrupe