Tjeldstø 18 February 2013 - more signs of spring?

Calm, foggy and wet.

A quick walk at Dåvøy produced a single Snipe enkeltbekkasin and virtually nothing else.

Back at Tjeldstø a flock of four Starling stær had joined yesterday's flock of Fieldfare gråtrost and as I returned home the first Greylag grågås of the year flew over calling - a real sound of spring.

Herdlevær 17 February 2013

Strong southerlies with rain.

The change in the weather seems to have prompted some movement - small numbers of Starling stær seen at a few localities - perhaps early migrants. Little of interest seen at Herdlevær today though I did find a dead Whooper sangsvane - obviously eaten by the local eagles and Ravens ravn.

Fieldfare gråstrost at Tjeldstø

A flock of 12 Fieldfare gråtrost fed in fields at Tjeldstø.

Hjelme Vest 12 February 2014 - more SEAPOP and an Øygarden "mega"

Calm, sunny and cold again.

Counting seabirds at a couple of the localities used for population monitoring again.

Hjelme Vest produced a massive five Curlew storspove - something that may indicate some kind of early spring movement. A Woodpigeon ringdue also flew in off the sea here. Otherwise it was situation normal - a Great Northern Diver islom, Black Guillemots teist and a couple of Velvet Scoter sjøorre in addition to the more numerous species. Two flocks of Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt complimented yesterday's good showing.

Solberg was very quiet with little on the sea - at least four Otters seen here though. A small flock of Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt fed here too.

Øygarden 11 February 2103, SEAPOP and the first Puffin of the year

Calm, sunny and freezing.

The annual SEAPOP count of overwintering seabirds was held today - covering the same route as previous years. As usual this was a great day out in a small boat and there was plenty to see.

Highlights were the first Puffins lunde of the year, a couple of Curlew storspove, a flock of eight Turnstone steinvender, several flocks of Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt and plenty of the usual suspects.

Good numbers of Black Guillemot teist seen today

 Eiders ærfugl

Guillemot lomvi

Puffin lunde

Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt

This must be the Purple sand with the shortest bill I have ever seen.....

Turnstones steinvender

Above and below: two different White-tailed Eagles havørn with fish

Most frustratingly a scoter with white on the back of the head / neck flew up and disappeared. Would have been good to nail that one.....

Dåvøy 05 February 2013

Reasonably calm and verging on sunny.

A quick check at Dåvøy was all there was time for today but this turned up a Snipe enkeltbekkasin, the wintering Slav Grebe horndykker and a Peregrine vandrefalk as best birds.

Solberg 04 February 2013 - Glaucous

Wet and windy most of the day.

The last few days have had a definite Glaucous Gull polarmåke feel to them and sure enough today a second year bird showed briefly among other gulls at Solberg. Otherwise rather quiet - seems like the seaduck may have moved to more sheltered areas.

A Goshawk hønsehauk buzzed the Hoodies kråke at Tjeldstø where two Whoopers sangsvane fed in a small area of open fresh water. Looks like it will be freezing again before the lakes have even thawed.....

Skogsøy 02 February 2013

Northerly gale but mostly sunny. Extremely treacherous underfoot.

Herring Gull gråmåke

Gannets havsule

Sat out at Skogsøy for almost two hours without seeing anything very special. However, there was some definite movement with over 30 Gannets havsule, 30 Kittiwake krykkje, 13 Razorbill alke, a Little Auk alkekonge and a couple of Velvet Scoter sjøorre heading north. At least one Guillemot lomvi flew south but several of the other southbound auks may well also have been this species.

Great-crested Grebe toppdykker

At Herdlevær the Great-crested Grebe toppdykker showed itself well again - and predictably attracted the attention of the county's fantatic year listers. A Whooper Swan sangsvane was an unusual bird to see on the sea here....