Sunday, November 17, 2024

Øygarden 28.10 - 02.11.2024 - Insect eating Snow Bunting

My first trip out on my return to Øygarden from the east of Norway was to Hellesøy - two Woodlark trelerke had been there up to and including the day I travelled home.

No sign of the larks but a confiding Snow Bunting snøspurv gave great views. As would be expected thus bird was mostly eating seeds in an area of waste ground. However, it also caught and ate some kind of beetle/weevil.

First it catches sight of the bug....

...grabs it

Starts dismantling it....






...and finally swallows it

Snow Bunting snøspurv at Hellesøy


There were generally quite a few birds about with migrants such as Blackcap munk, Goldcrest fuglekonge and plenty of the usual thrushes and finches.

I also visited Hellesøy briefly the following day in damp and overcast conditions. The Snow Bunting snøspurv remained and again there were plenty of other migrants included a couple of Chiff-chaff gransanger, Goldcrests fuglekonge and a flock of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb.



Goldfinches stillits at Dåvøy

Goldfinch stillits tearing apart a thistle


Snow Bunting snøspurv at Hellesøy




A few other very brief drive-bys showed there was plenty about with Blackcap munk, Woodpigeons ringdue and yet more thrushes. Rather frustrating to not be out more.....

On 30th October I squeezed in my usual round at Herdlevær where a Merlin dvergfalk and a Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt were the best sightings.


Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt at Herdlevær

The first Whoopers sangsvane of the autumn turned up at Tjeldstø and a Rock Pipit skjæpiplerke fed in my driveway. Sparrowhawks spurvehauk obviously on the move - no doubt following the large numbers of thrushes passing through.

Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke in my driveway

The next couple of days I was barely away from the computer but Rock Pipits skjærpiplerke seemed to be on the move with birds turning up away from their usual spots. Five minutes at Tjeldstø produced a few Kittiwake krykkje heading up the fjord into strong winds and a Razorbill alke landed on the sea.

Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke in a driveway at Hellesøy


Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke at Herdlevær


Finally it was the weekend again and I spent a couple of hours seawatching at Skogsøy, several Great Northern Divers islom passed and another fed on the sea. A Little Auk alkekonge was amazingly the first of the year for me. Small numbers of the usual seaduck (Velvet Scoter sjøorre, Common Scoter svartand and Long-tailed Ducks havelle) headed south as did a selection of gulls including Kittiwakes krykkje and Black-headed Gulls hettemåke.



Great Northern Diver islom with an interesting looking fish at Skogsøy

Kittiwake krykkje

Long-tailed Duck havelle


A late Dunnock jernspurv was seen on my way out to the seawatch

A brief stop at Sture on the way home produced a Chiff-chaff gransanger feeding a mixed flock of tits.



No comments: