Dverg means dwarf in Norwegian and the best birds today were both dwarves - Dwarf snipe otherwise known as Little Stint dvergsnipe was one of the first sightings of the day and Dwarf Woodpecker otherwise known as Lesser spotted Woodpecker dvergspett was one of the last birds seen.
Little Stints dvergsnipe
Much of the morning was spent looking for waders on the islands in the north west of Øygarden - quite a productive day was had doing this. A few islands were checked out on the way to Hernar where, although there were still a lot of birds about, there was not a "fall feeling" so we left after a brief check. Migrants new in included Dunnock jernspurv, Chaffinches bokfink and Redwing rødvingetrost. Otherwise "just" 50+ Twite bergirisk and the usual suspects.
Young Robin rødstrupe on Hernar
The islands produced most of the expected wader species and a couple of extras. The highlight were two Little Stints dvergsnipe which flew in together with several Ringed Plover sandlo. Little Stint is a species I previously considered quite a scarcity in Øygarden but in fact is quite regular - something I consider surprising as it is not normally considered a species associated with rocky shores.
Several each of Sanderling sandløper and Turnstone steinvender, around 15 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt (the first of the autumn), a dozen or so each of Dunlin myrsnipe and Ringed Plover sandlo, a couple of Knot polarsnipe, a Shelduck gravand and a lone Ruff brushane were among the other sightings.
It almost goes without saying that we saw the usual Black Guillemot teist, White-tailed Eagle havørn etc etc.
Dunlin myrsnipe
Herring Gulls gråmåke and a Commom Gull fiskemåke feeding on something at the surface. Both Great and Lesser Blacked Gulls svartbak og sildemåke were also doing the same thing - as were a lot of fish. Perhaps something was spawning?
Of more interest to the local birders (Øygardens entire population of resident birders were in the same place at the same time with the same plan, just in different boats), there was also a guy on the same mission as us - looking at and photographing waders on islands but who is he??? ID required as we did not recognise either the boat or the person (he has photo-bombed the gull picture above)
Øygarden's other birder was predictably enough on the same mission as us...:)
Jay nøtteskrike at Tjeldstø - probably a migrating / irrupting bird as this species is not often seen at Tjeldstø and although a little early the timing is good....
Knot polarsnipe
One of a few LBBG sildemåke seen today
The first Purple Sands fjæreplytt of the autumn.
Ruff brushane - a common enough autumn migrant in Øygarden but not often they land on the offshore islans
A few of the Sanderling sandløper seen today
Shelduck gravand
urnstone steinvender
Back ashore in the late morning I checked Tjeldstø where over 50 Golden Plover heilo were in the reserve along with a couple of Ruff brushane. A Jay nøtteskrike put in an appearance - an irreuglar autumn visitor at this locality and five Goldfinch stillits flew over.
After this fantastic morning out I went home to get on with stuff but headed out again after a tip-off to see a Lesser spotted Woodpecker dvergspett at Hatten.
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