Tjeldstø and Breivik 30 January 2020 - Spring

Cool SE breeze and overcast, some light drizzle

Brambling bjørkefink and Chaffinch bokfink

Just part of a mixed flock of Bramblings and Chaffinch at Tjeldstø, with a single Fieldfare gråtrost sneaking into shot.

At Tjeldstø there was a good flock of 44 Fieldfare gråtrost feeding in the fields  - with them a lone Redwing rødvingetrost and a couple of Starling stær. Also here, and also feeding on the ground, were at least 40 Brambling bjørkefink and around 30 Chaffinch bokfink - good sized flocks for both species out here in winter. Such flocks feeding on the ground are more often associated with spring arrivals.

The first Lapwing vipe of the year

Breivik only heightened the sense of spring with the first Lapwing vipe of the year and a flock of eight Starling stær indicating an arrival from somewhere. A single Snipe enkeltbekkasin was more expected along with White-tailed Eagle havørn, Raven ravn etc.

Øygarden 29 January 2020 - Back west again

Calm, mild with drizzle in the morning.

Spent an hour or two at Hjelme - an underrated spot that does not really get the attention it deserves but has produced some interesting birds over the years. There were no real surprises today but a nice female Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett showed well. Jay nøtteskrike, 50 Brambling bjørkefink, 20+ Chaffinch bokfink, several Crested Tits toppmeis, a pair of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb and a flock of four pipits which I did not manage to identify with certainty were among the other species seen there. And White-tailed Eagle havørn.

After that a short look at the sea at Hellesøy produced, among other things, six Velvet Scoter sjørre, 9 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, two Black Guillemots teist and four Long-tailed Ducks havelle. And White-tailed Eagles havørn.

Male Common Crossbill grankorsnebb

Female Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett

On the way home from Oslo yesterday I had some stuff to do in town and ended up running for a bus. However, I just had to stop and look at a second year Glaucous Gull polarmåke that was sitting around in a city centre park.

I have been puzzling over why I have seen no white-winged gulls this winter out in Øygarden - despite there being some reasonable gull flocks here and there.

Second year Glaucous Gull polarmåke in Bergen city centre

Oslo 26 January 2016 - GGO

A week in Oslo was spent largely not out and about but managed a few walks. Highlight was on 26 January where we stumbled over a real cracker - although I knew they were in the area it was still magic to find it - away from the crowds of photographers. Great Grey Owl lappugle really is one of those dream birds.

Hunting Great Grey Owl lappugle

More pictures of this bird here

A small celebration was called for on the way home. Surely better than the Norwegian tradition of eating gullbrød (which I think is a chocolate covered marzipan bar) under such circumstances.

A special thank you to my better half for needing to find a secluded spot in the woods😃

Oslo Birder looking more like Urban Birder - studying two Pine Grosbeaks

Pine Grosbeaks konglebit cropped from a picture taken with my phone

On 27 January I was out in rather wet conditions with Oslo Birder (though he might also have a claim to the title of Urban Birder) to have another go for GGO but were not successful, though we did pick up a couple of Pine Grosbeaks konglebit in rather urban conditions.

Øygarden 20-22 January - YLG

On 20 January I was not really out but found the "yellow-legged" gull at Dåvøy again. Having discussed this bird recently with other birders I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that it is a real Yellow-legged Gull gulbeinmåke.

The beak looks massive, bulky and with a prominent gonys. The red spot bleeds over to the upper mandible.

Rather round headed, red orbital ring and eye seems to be a shade darker than the Herring Gulls

All white tip on P10 can be a feature of birds from parts of the Med. Obvious black band on P5

The small size is obvious here in comparison to the local HGs.

A quick look through this blog shows that this bird is most likely a bird that has been seen repeatedly over several years:

Some examples

2014

2015 (Jan)

2016 (Jan)

2017 (Jan)

2017 (June)

2018

2019

2019 (Feb)

The fact that P10 can be white on YLG is shown here on gull research. I think I need to dig up some of my YLG shots from the Mediterranean🙂

On 21 Janaury a flock of 19 Common Scoter svartand on the east side of Blomøy was one of the largest flocks reported in the county thus far this year. When exactly did things get this bad?? Seaduck numbers seem to heading just one way - and it is the wrong way.

A short seawatch at Skogsøy on 22 January produced a Gannet havsule, several Kittiwake krykkje and finally some auks - though they were too far off to be specifically identified they were guillebills alke/lomvi. On the sea small numbers of Eider ærfugl and singles of Black Guillemot teist and Long-tailed Duck havelle. Best bird here was a fly over Snow Bunting snøspurv (first for Hordaland this year). Good numbers of Siskin grønnsisik too about with a single flock of 120 flying over.

Øygarden 11-18 January 2020 - Back to work

Much less time out and about this week as work required some attention.

The first Dipper fossekall of the year turned up at Husvatnet on 14 January.

Other than that there was not much of note before 17 January when I birded an area I rarely cover. I had a couple of species in mind, neither of which showed and neither would have required a telescope.

Record shot of four Turnstone steinvender together with a Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt

However, a feeding flock of gulls definitely required a scope and will need to be checked at the first opportunity. Among the Herring Gull gråmåke dominated flock a single Black-headed Gull hettemåke and a few Common Gulls fiskemåke were both new for me in Øygarden this year. The best sighting was a flock of four Turnstone steinvender resting on a nearby rock along with around 15 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt.

On my way back to the car the first local Woodpigeon ringdue of the year flew over.

Mistle Thrush duetrost

White-tailed Eagle havørn over the house - I actually took this picture only because I was carrying my camera from the car into the house when it flew over.

On 18 January I quickly refound the Mistle Thrush duetrost that was reported there yesterday - the first ever January record for the area despite there being a couple of historical December sightings.

Another Mute Swan knoppsvane turned up on 18 January to join the two long staying birds on Husvatnet.

Still plenty of finch flocks about - Brambling bjørkefink have been the most numerous to date but on 18 January a flock of 30 Chaffinch bokfink showed up - a very good midwinter flock around here.

Hjelme Vest, Dåvøy & Hatten 10 January 2020 - Calm weather clean up

Calm and sunny with a touch of frost.

I spent some time out and about trying to make the most of the cracking weather attempting to pick some of the "missing" species that I knew had to be around. This was largely successful with five more new for the Øygarden 2020 list.

First stop was Hjelme Vest, although a number of the hoped for target species failed to show. At least six Black Guillemots teist, 35 Long-tailed Duck havelle, a Curlew storspove and the first Gannet havsule of the year were the best of the sightings over the sea. No other auks, no divers and no grebes....

The woods were more productive too with the usual Crested Tits toppmeis along with Brambling bjørkefink and Redpoll gråsisik.

Next up was Dåvøy where the hoped for / expected Slavonian (Horned) Grebe horndykker showed. A Common Crossbill grankorsnebb flew over and there were 41 Grey Heron gråhegre at the roost.

A male and presumed female Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb

Female Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb

On the way home I popped in at Hatten where birds of the day were a flock of seven Two-barred Crossbill bånkorsnebb. A Jay nøtteskrike put in an appearance along with a selection of the usual woodland suspects.

Skogsøy 09 January - Calmer conditions but no movement

Calmer conditions today and I was hoping for some kind of movement of birds displaced by the recent heavy winds. There was very little passing in the short time I sat there.

The walk in and out proved slightly more productive with a single Great Northern Diver islom heading north, four Mealy Redpoll gråsisik and a flock of around 60 Siskin grønnsisik.

Other than that it was the usual suspects including a few White-tailed Eagles havørn

Herdlevær 08 January 2020 - Unexpected auk

Still gale force winds but more from the west today. Mostly sunny but a few heavy sleet/hail showers.

The best birds were seen from the car at Skogsøy just before I got to Herdlevær with a Puffin lunde feeding in one of the channels. It was very closed but managed to disappear in the 45 seconds it took me to back up and get out of the car. This is normally a spring/summer bird out here and not often seen in January (perhaps not even annual). A solitary Starling stær was the first of the year too.

Herdlevær was very quiet with just a couple of White-tailed Eagles havørn and a Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke of any interest.

Hjelme Vest 07 January 2019 - Visibility pays off

The gale force winds continue but today much clearer and no rain - which meant there was enough visibility to give the sea another go.

Before I left I spent a couple of hours on a Skype call with work and had a massive Goshawk hønsehauk fly over the house - surely a female. Other birds seen during the call were a couple of White-tailed Eagles havørn and a Raven ravn or two. No bad start to the day.

Close inspection of this photo should reveal the White-billed Diver....

Obscene levels of cropping give this kind of image

Actually out and about the highlight was a cracking 2cy White-billed Diver gulnebblom. Although it gave excellent views in the scope it proved impossible to phone scope (no adaptor and too much movement). This bird looked very similar to the one I saw in the same place on 25 December. Although relatively regular locally in small numbers in the winter it is much less predictable at this time of year than during the spring passage and anyway is always a good bird to see.

Around 25 Long-tailed Duck havelle, a Black Guillemot teist and a couple of Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt were among the other sightings along with the obligatory White-tailed Eagle havørn.

Dåvøy 06 January 2020 - Yellow legs.....

Near gale force southerly winds again but little rain. Little in the way of visibility so fairly hard going again today

Obviously darker than Herring Gull gråmåke (pro YLG feature)

Red spot on bill bleeding over to upper mandible - another pro YLG feature

Unfortunately the bird was spooked (possibly by Whooper Swans) before I managed to document the open wings...

This is the time of year those troublesome yellow-legged gulls turn up. Today a (the?) yellow legged gull turned up at Dåvøy - a regular spot for this to happen. It could potentially be a Yellow-legged Gull gulbeinmåke as it shows a number of pro YLG features - darker grey mantle, red eye ring, powerful bill with pronounced gonydal angle, red bill spot bleeding over to upper mandible, yellow legs, darker yellow eye and all white head. It was spooked by something before I managed to see the open wing properly - P10 looks to be all white (not good for YLG) but P5 does appear to be black (good for YLG). Or it could just be an omissus type Herring Gull gråmåke - hopefully some better shots of the wings will point ID in the right direction. The advanced moult (i.e. no streaking on the head) is obviously another pointer to YLG.

Red-breasted Merganser siland at Dåvøy

Also at Dåvøy the Grey Heron gråhegre roost numbered 46 birds which is a decent count.

A Peregrine vandrefalk hunted at Tjeldstø.

Willow Tit granmeis

The only definitely identified new for the year today were a couple of Willow Tit granmeis - although common enough inland it is not a common bird locally except during "invasion" years. In 2019 there were only three records of this species in Øygarden - none of which I managed to see.

Oslo 31 December 2019 - Downtown birding

Although it is not exactly a secret that I am not a fan of birding in the parks of Oslo they are a good and easy way of getting up close and personal with a number of species.

Priority today was buying beer but I managed half an hour in the Botanical Garden at Tøyen. The park contains a wide variety of berry and seed bearing trees and is currently full of birds - many of which are relatively tame and easy to get close to.

Hawfinch kjernebiter

Waxwing sidensvans

Even though I was armed with just a simple point and pray superzoom it was straightforward to take pictures of some of the park's inhabitants.

Birds from my point of view were at least seven Hawfinch kjernebiter and the same number of Waxwing sidensvans.

Øygarden 05 January 2020 - Wash out

Heavy rain and strong southerly winds.

Although the winds were not as strong as yesterday the conditions were much worse with not much in the way of visibility.

I started at Hjelme West but there was not really the visibility to cover the best areas in the scope. Most of the target species were therefore not seen and I had to make do with a male Velvet Scoter sjøorre and a fly-by Curlew storspove.

Tjeldstø produced another local new for the year in the form of Siskin grønnsisik and a few Common Scoter svartand on the sea. The two Mute Swans knoppsvane were still present on Husvatnet.

Other species noted included the first Greenfinch grønnfink I've seen in Øygarden this year (they are rather scarcer than usual this winter), a couple of Redwing rødvingetrost and several White-tailed Eagles havørn.

A few Otters seen at various places including from my terrace.

Skogsøy and Tjeldstø 04 January 2020 - Skogsøy blow out

Near gale force north westerly winds with some sleet / hail showers.

Given yesterday's Kittiwake at Nautnes I hoped that the winds might produce something at Skogsøy. I did not sit out there very long but there was almost nothing passing and it was one of the most disappointing Skogsøy trips ever. A few White-tailed Eagles havørn were present and being only the second day I have been in Øygarden there were a few local year ticks in the form of Eider ærfugl, Coal Tit svartmeis, Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, Goldcrest fuglekonge and Goldeneye kvinand.

Mute Swans knoppsvane at Tjeldstø - a local rarity.

On the way home I spent some time at Tjeldstø which was MUCH better with two Mute Swans knoppsvane as the best sighting - similar to last year's winter sighting. This is only the sixth record of this species here although it seems like it is becoming more regular. Other sightings included a Woodcock rugde, a Snipe enkeltbekkasin, six Redwing rødvingetrost, a Fieldfare gråtrost, Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke and a Tree Sparrow pilfink.

Dying Robin rødstrupe at Solberg. The puffy eye may indicate some kind of disease

I also popped in at Solberg where the lack of sea duck was once again noticable. Only one Common Scoter svartand was present. A dying Robin rødstrupe sat in the path here, the puffy eye probably indicates some kind of disease. Of more interest was a hunting Peregrine vandrefalk and the 11th White-tailed Eagle havørn of the day.

Mother-of-pearl clouds perlemorskyer (polar strasospheric clouds)

Another observation of interest were polar stratospheric clouds - so called mother-of-pearl clouds (perlemorskyer) - particularly obvious as I left the house before the sun came up.

Nautnes & Tjeldstø 03 Janaury 2020 - First bird photo of the year

Very strong westerly winds with some showers.

The first bird I saw in Øygarden in 2020 was rather fittingly a White-tailed Eagle havørn flying over the road as I drove over the bridge at Toftøy.

2cy Kittiwake krykkje - photo taken from my terrace

I returned home in the early afternoon and the first bird I saw from my terrace was a storm blown Kittiwake krykkje. Not often they come so close to my house!

After that I had a quick look around in combination with a trip to the shops. Disturbingly a dead Whooper Swan sangsvane lay under the power lines that cross the nature reserve at Tjeldstø - it was being fed on by an adult White-tailed Eagle havørn and some Hooded Crows kråke. This dead swan was not there when I left just before New Year and it is not unreasonable to imagine that it was panicked on New Years eve and collided with the power lines in the dark.

Other species noted included a Peregrine vandrefalk flying over the shops, a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and small numbers of Brambling bjørkefink.