Monday, December 30, 2024

Øygarden 11.12-20.12.2024 - Great to be back!

 After the visit to Northumberland and a few quiet days in Oslo it was back to reality. After the enormous number of birds seen back home I was prepared to find things rather quiet and mundane back home. However, it was only work and the short days that made birding difficult - there was plenty to see whenever I made it out of the house (and even from the house).

On 11th December a nice Great Northern Diver islom from the terrace and my first local Little Grebe dvergdykker of the year at Dåvøy, another Great Northern Diver islom at Heggøy and a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett at Hatten were the best of the sightings.

Male Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett at Hatten


1cy Great Northern Diver islom at Heggøy


Great Northern Diver islom photographed from my terrace






Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy


The following day I didn't really get out but had 20 Goldfinch stillits fly over the terrace, a Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Sture and three Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke at Dåvøy where the Little Grebe dvergdykker was still present.

Great Northern Diver islom from the terrace again


On 13th December I spent a few hours out in a boat covering the area from Tvisloket south to Solberg. The sea was a little on the rough side for optimal birding but at least 10 Black Guillemot teist, a few White-tailed Eagle havørn, about 20 Long-tailed Duck havelle, a couple of Velvet Scoter sjøorre and an Oystercatcher tjeld were among the sightings at Tvisloket. Langøysund produced a few Grey Seal havert, five Oystercatcher tjeld, a couple more eagles and a Red-throated Diver smålom. Solberg held a Little Auk alkekonge, another Oystercatcher tjeld, a Common Gull fiskemåke and a Herring Gull gråmåke that made me look twice.


Common Gull fiskemåke



This Herring Gull gråmåke with "smooth" and rather dark undersides made me look twice. I did not see it in flight but the tail should eliminate a "smith"


Oystercather tjeld at Solberg

The female Scaup bergand remained on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø

On 14th I was not out again other than a couple of short drive-bys whilst picking up packages at the shops. A Great Northern Diver islom at Harkestad and the Little Grebe dverdykker again at Dåvøy. A couple of Starling stær at Breivik were the first for some time.





Little Grebe dvergdykker with Mallard stokkand at Dåvøy


I was out even less on 15th with just the Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy again.



Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy

A Teal krikkand on Blomvatnet and the female Scaup bergand on Husvatnet were the only things of interest during an even briefer foray out of the house.

After that there was even less activity with not much to report.


Fieldfare gråtrost at Hellesøy.
Very few thrushes remain now.

Heron gråhegre at Alvheim.

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