After a couple of days working in Bergen I was out for a couple hours on 28th in calm and sunny weather. Night time temperatures are still well below freezing and almost all fresh water is now frozen.
At Hellesøy most of the birds were at long range but a Merlin dvergfalk flew overhead to hunt over the islands to the north. A lone Red-throated Diver smålom was on the sea and, as it was so calm, it was easy to spot the Black Guillemot teist - at least eight were present. Also around 20 Long-tailed Ducks havelle and of course a couple of White-tailed Eagles havørn.
After this I found the first Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin of the year - an anticipated species given the conditions. The last few winters I've seen less of this species than previously - this could be for a number of reasons, some sites which didn't freeze over have been drained and built on, some have become more inaccessible (fences etc) and some are just too time consuming to visit. A couple of other regular sites have just failed to produce.
I had to head into Bergen again on 29th January but did a few drive-bys on the way just as the sun was coming up. This resulted in a few Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin and a Water Rail vannriske.
An Oriental Turtle Dove mongolturteldue was reported half an hour south of where I live on 29th January, so right on the limits for what I am prepared to drive to see a bird. With a few hours to spare I gave it a go - and amazingly heard it singing together with another birder. At first we thought it was some reckless twitchers using playback but this was not the case. Despite spending some time in the area I never actually saw it - but it was seen flying out of where we heard it. Woodpigeon ringdue, Willow Tit granmeis and a variety of other species were seen in this area too. I didn't bother trying for the Rook kornkråke that was close by, more will surely turn up later in the year:).
On the way home I popped in at Dåvøy where a Little Grebe dvergdykker was still present along with Woodcock rugde, Great Northern Diver islom, a roost of 25 Grey Heron gråhegre and a Tree Sparrow pilfink which was the first I've seen locally this year - some of the usual feeders they turn up on are just not in use this year for some reason. Other localities gave a few Snipe enkeltbekkasin and a Water Rail vannrikse.
On Saturday 31st January I spent most of the day out and about. Hellesøy was rather quiet but did produce my first Starling stær of the year, a Woodcock rugde and good numbers of Blackbirds svarttrost.
A flock of five Redwing rødvingetrost at Hjelme fed in the frozen fields together with several Blackbirds svarttrost. Goodness knows what they are finding to eat under these hard frozen conditions. There seem to be plenty of ripe juniper berries but I almost never see any birds feeding on them.
Otherwise several Woodcock rugde, a couple each of Water Rail vannrikse and Snipe enkeltbekkasin seen here and there well off the beaten track at various places.
The first Greylags grågås of the year turned up at Tjeldstø where a (the?) second year Black-headed Gull hettemåke was also present.
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