Øygarden 26-28 February 2023 - Spring and Northern Lights

Calm and sunny throughout during this lightening visit back home. No birding as such this time around but picked up the first Mistle Thrush duetrost of the year on my way home from the airport.

A flock of four resting Oystercatcher tjeld at Nautnes on 27 February were the first I have seen from the terrace this year. A single bird the following day looked like it is one of the birds that will stay for a breeding attempt. Blackbird svarttrost and Robin rødstrupe also heard singing from the terrace.

Greylags grågås a bit more obvious now with up to seven on Husvatnet and small flocks elsewhere. 

The single Fieldfare gråtrost at Oen was again back in its holly tree.

Fieldfare gråtrost

The Whoopers sangsvane with young are still around and still having to fight for their feeding rights. Often they choose to feed on other lakes than the adults without young but building activity has scared them off from their usual haunt this winter.

The Northern Lights put on a fantastic display on both 27 and 28 Februry and I found it a lot easier to photograph with my latest point and pray:) Didn't take long to find some settings that worked, no frantic changing of lenses and desparate attempts to remember settings:)

Using the self timer and a shutter speed of a few seconds produced quite nice results:)

One of the first attempts with shutter speed way too long....

Then a few more shots from 28 February:

A lot more crocuses in flower now - this with the arrival of Oystercatcher tjeld and a Mistle Thrush duetrost are among the first signs that spring is really on the way