Friday, February 10, 2023

Øygarden 04.02- 10.02.2023 - Work stops play

Generally rather quie, although this probably has more to do with not doing much birdin.

On Saturday 04 February there was just a brief trip out which included a visit to Solberg. Several flocks of distant birds headed north, probably ducks but could have been auks. Some Eider ærfugl, a Gannet havsule, a Kittiwake krykkje and a White-tailed Eagle havørn were among the species actually identified.

Sunday 05 February was just wall to wall fantastic weather and I did my usual Herdlevær round late and lazy with my youngest. Met more birders than I saw birds which in a way was nice. Just a few new species for this locality for the year - a couple of Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, a Common Gull fiskemåke, a Black Guillemot teist and a Tree Sparrow pilfink. Lovely walk though:) And we did see an Otter (as usual).

Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke at Herdlevær

Otter making it almost tempting to go for a swim:)

On 06 February I didn't really leave the house but clocked up a Great Northern Diver islom heading south in addition to the usual White-tailed Eagles havørn.

The following day was much of the same but a nice Peregrine vandrefalk over the terrace saved the day.

On Wednesday there was no birding to speak of yet again but a Collared Dove tyrkedue put in a brief surprise visit to the garden.

On 09 February I actually left the house. A short stop at Solberg gave 11 Long-tailed Duck havelle, no doubt forced inshore due to the stormy weather and a Curlew storspove fed on the shore there. A flock of 16 Starling stær at Breivik was the biggest flock of the year and a probable indication of some movement. Further north at Hellesøy where I ate my lunch a couple of windblown Kittiwakes krykkje seemed to be finding enough to eat.

Heron gråhegre at Tjeldstø












Kittiwakes krykkje at Hellesøy


Shag toppskarv

Kittiwake krykkje feeding at Hellesøy


On Friday the winds were strong and there was sleet and rain in the air. Not that it made much of a difference as I had to go into town for a course. I stopped at Kårtveitpollen on the way home and saw the long staying Moorehen sivhøne which I haven't bothered with until today (and doesn't really count anyway as this was in the new Øygarden rather than the old one where I tend to go birding). At least 70 Mallard stokkand and several Mute Swan knoppsvane present here too.

Moorehen sivhøne - a scarce but more or less annual winter visitor in Øygarden


Another lunch break at Hellesøy gave just a second year Black Guillemot teist and a Common Gull fiskemåke of note.

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