Øygarden 23-26 March 2022 - Common Gulls on the move

First some more pics of the Common Seal steinkobbe from 22 March - in the evening it turned up just off my terrace and it would have been rude not to take some more pictures😀

On 23 March a late and lazy stroll at Herdlevær produced little in the way of new migrants, although a flock of 20 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt was the largest flock at this location so far this year.  A minimum of five White-tailed Eagles havørn hanging around - none of them adult.

On the way home a flock of 80 Starling stær at Breivik and a Lesser Black-backed Gull sildemåke at Tjeldstø were the best of the sightings. Husvatnet also held a flock of seven Teal krikkand.

A quick look at Tjeldstø on the morning of 24 March showed that at least a couple of Curlew storspove and a pair of Lapwing vipe were displaying over the freshly burnt heather. A couple of Jays nøtteskrike also put in an appearance here.

Friday 25 March was a bit wet and work commitments meant there was no chance of an outing. A Guillemot lomvi turned up off my terrace. Curlews storspove continue to arrive along with other migrants such as Meadow Pipits heipiplerke.

Guillemot lomvi from the terrace

My usual route at Herdlevær on 26 March was cool in the northerly breeze but sunny (like every day this week with the exception of Friday). A couple of Meadow Pipit heipiplerke were the only new passerines in, a Chiff-chaff gransanger spent most of its time feeding on the ground and a Ringed Plover sandlo flew over.  A few each of Red-throated Diver smålom (including one in breeding plumage) and Guillemots lomvi were on the sea.

Chiff-chaff gransanger feeding on the ground

Some of the almost 200 Common Gull fskemåke that passed in the course of an hour.

Severla more flocks were seen passing before I started counting

I sat for an hour with my scope and had almost 200 Common Gull fiskemåke head north along with several Guillemot lomvi, a small flock of Curlew storspove, a few flocks of Oystercatcher tjeld, three Long-tailed Duck havelle and several Kittiwake krykkje. There was also a light passage of Shags toppskarv heading south.

I then covered Breivik where the best birds were another relatively early Linnet tornirisk, three Pinkfeet kortnebbgås spooked by three White-tailed Eagles havørn and a singing Common Crossbill grankorsnebb - the first I have seen for a while and seemingly a second year male.

Common Crossbill grankorsnebb

Mallards stokkand are now settling down in suitable places...

Three Pinkfeet kortnebbgås with a couple of Greylag grågås

...the Pinkfeet came right overhead:)

Woodpigeons ringdue also fleeing the eagles

On the way home a flock of eight White-tailed Eagles havørn contained just one adult