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.