Herdlevær & Tjeldstø 27 April 2025 - More goodies

Having promised my better half breakfast in bed I had a bit of a late and lazy start. Still managed to see quite a bit of interest:)

On my way to Herdlevær I had the first Sand Martins sandsvale of the year at Husvatnet along with the lone Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås. At Breivik a nice Mistle Thrush duetrost and an obvious arrival of thrushes, White wagtails linerle and Meadow Pipits heipiplerke.

Fieldfare gråtrost at Breivik

Mistle Thrush duetrost at Breivik

Herdlevær produced my first Common Sandpiper strandsnipe of the year and several other new species for this locality for the year - including several flocks of Barnacle Geese hvitkingås heading north. A couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn and at least three Otters oter were also seen here. A noticeable increase in the numbers of White Wags and Meadow Pipits heipiplerke here too.

Otter with catch

White-tailed Eagle havørn eyeing up the Otter with catch

A rather dark White Wagtail linerle, probably the same dark individual I saw in the same place a week ago

A quick check at Husvatnet on the way home was well worth it with a pair of Pochard taffeland present, predictably popular with year listers. It's been a while since this species last turned up in northern Øygarden.

Pochard taffeland on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø

Sand Martin sandsvale - pictures taken with point and pray whilst waiting for the main attraction to come a bit closer

Similarly tried for flight shots of Swallow låvesvale with the point and pray.