Øygarden 11-20 August 2023 - Dog sitting

 Another slight improvement in the amount of time spent out and about - from 17.08 onwards this was largely due to looking after a lovely Border Collie which meant I had to go out:)

On 11 August there was no trip out but Dunnocks jernspurv turned up in the garden after a long absence and there was some Greylag grågås migration. An unseasonal Whooper sangsvane was on Husvatnet where the Tufted Duck toppand family was reduced to five young ones. The Whooper was present there on and off throughout the period.

A walk at Hjelme on 12 August produced very few birds other than at least one Spotted Redshank sotsnipe heading south and a few Woodcock rugde in the woods. Back home birds from the terrace included another Spotted Redshank sotsnipe, a couple of Turnstone steinvender and a Greenshank gluttsnipe. 

Tjeldstø produced some good birds with no less than four Grey Plover tundralo feeding in the area - a species that normally keeps to the coast rather than feeding in the heather like the commoner Golden Plover heilo. Several Lapwing vipe included at least two of this year's birds so it looks like there has been some success there:)

Also found Small Emperor Moth nattspåfugløye caterpillar at Tjeldstø.

Almost three hours of seawatching at Skogsøy on 13 August proved quite productive despite the rain.

Common Gull fiskemåke S 259

Gannet havsule S 53

GBBG svartbak S 66

Curlew storspove S 9

Oystercatcher tjeld S 251

Cormorant storskarv S 4

Herring Gull gråmåke S 6

LBBG sildemåke S 12

Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove S 2

Knot polarsnipe S 1 adult

Redshank rødstilk S 10

Dunlin myrsnipe S 26

Ringed Plover sandlo S 4

Shag toppskarv S 6, N 4

Greenshank gluttsnipe S 3

Golden Plover heilo S 12

Turnstone steinvender S 1

Ruff brushane S 8

Razorbill alke N 1

Common Scoter svartand S 6

Greylag grågås S 98

On the way home at least 300 Starling stær fed beside Husvatnet. Back home and doing stuff in the garden I had another 90 Greylags grågås migrating south, three Spotted Redshank sotsnipe flying over and a couple of Dunlin myrsnipe resting on the shore.

Dunlin myrsnipe at Nautnes

A quick round at Herdlevær the next day proved fairly quiet but a few Teal krikkand was a sign of migration and a small selection of the usual waders were seen.

Lesser Black-backed Gull sildemåke

Ringed Plover sandlo

Teal krikkand

Wheatear steinskvett

On 15 August I wasn't really out but another Spotted Red sotsnipe headed south over the house as did a Greenshank gluttsnipe. The number of Tufted Duck toppand chicks on Husvatnet was down to four and a lone Grey Plover tundralo was still present in the reserve (could have been more - just did a very quick drive-by). Stonechats svartstrupe still hanging around at Kollsnes and seven Lapwing vipe at Breivik included some of this year's birds - another success story:)

First year Stonechat svartstrupe at Kollsnes

I did my usual walk at Herdlevær with the dog on 18 August. Most of the usual waders were seen including 24 Ruff brushane flying over and a Curlew Sandpiper tundrasnipe heading south. Fishing in the evening at Sture produced a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker dvergspett - bang on time for this early autumn "migrant".

The following day I was back at Herdlevær and even had time to sit down for a hour - obviously a decent day's migration with 85 Greylag grågås, 13 Ruff brushane, 60 Golden Plover heilo, 258 Oystercatcher tjeld, 4 Knot polarsnipe and more heading south. Four first year Shelduck gravand flew the wrong way. Other birds seen at Herdlevær included a couple of Spotted Redshank sotsnipe that flew up from one of the pools there, Greenshank gluttsnipe and a Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett - a good indication that this may be an invasion year later on.

First year Stonechat svartstrupe in the sun this time:)

On 20 August I was back at Skogsøy where the dog seemed to be settling in and we sat for a little over a couple of hours. Light southerly winds with poor vis clearing

GBBG svartbak S 54

Common Gull fiskemåke S 134

LBBG sildemåke S 12

Gannet havsule S 16

Oystercatcher tjeld S 41

Whimbrel småspove S 2

Ringed Plover sandlo S 10

Red-throated Diver smålom S 1

Curlew storspove S 6

Redshank rødstilk S 3

Knot polarsnipe S 36

Greenshank gluttsnipe S 2

Turnstone steinvender S 2

Black-headed Gull hettemåke S 1

Best bird was a Green Sandpiper skogsnipe on the way back to the car.

A flock of Knot polarsnipe heading south

Migrating Oystercatcher tjeld

Whimbrel småspove right overhead