Øygarden 09.03-14.03.2026 - More srping arrivals

A week with quite a bit of wind and rain and a lot of time sitting with my laptop.

Nevertheless, a number of new arrivals were seen.

On 9th March I only left the house just before it got dark but a male Teal krikkand, the first of the year locally for me, turned up on the sea in front of my house during the morning. Otherwise just a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn and the usual. There was also an obvious arrival of Blackbirds svarttrost with larger numbers than usual at various places.

Coal Tit svartmeis in the garden

Teal krikkand at Nautnes

The following day I had to head to Straume on an errand and had the first two Woodpigeon ringdue of the year flying over at Solsvik whilst waiting for a traffic light. After work I headed to Hjelme where a nice female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle saved the day.

Female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle, Hjelme

On 11th March I got out to do a few  drive-bys which turned out quite productive. A Little Grebe dvergdykker was still at Dåvøy - it has been a good winter for this species here with up to three present simultaneously. Heron gråhegre numbers jumped to 42 here. A couple of Pied Wagtails svartryggerle were at Tjeldstø with another bird that I didn't quite make out, despite looking I never managed to get further views, a Woodpigeon ringdue was in the same place. Lapwings vipe have started to get onto their territories out in the reserve which is a good sign of things to come....

A male Stonechat svartstrupe at Breivik was a nice observation and the female Tufted Duck toppand remained on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø without the male that has been present recently.

Last stop was Hjelme where the female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle remained and three Mistle Thrush duetrost gave good enough views to clinch them. I strongly suspect I have seen two others between late February and now but they have always been too far off / too brief.

Herring Gulls gråmåke at Dåvøy

Little Grebe dverdykker at Dåvøy

One of three Mistle Thrush duetrost at Hjelme

The female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle was still at Hjelme

On 12th March I was stuck inside all day but the first Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke of the year from the terrace turned up during one of the downpours.

The next day I spent a couple of hours out and about in the afternoon Gannets havsule heading down the fjord was the main event, although a migrant Black-headed Gull hettemåke turned up at Breivik. Hjelme was quiet with just a few presumably newly arrived Redwing rødvingetrost of interest.

Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Breivik

Gannet havsule at Tjeldstø

Female Tufted Duck toppand at Tjeldstø

On 14th March I did Skogsøy, more to test that I still can do it than any other reason. Turns out I can and I even managed to jog a fair bit of the way home. Birdwise nothing to shout about as predicted under the current conditions. Small numbers of auks, a movement of Gannets havsule and a couple of Kittiwake krykkje were all that was seen here.

The way home was rather more productive with Mistle Thrush duetrost and a Grey Wagtail vintererle at Tjeldstø as the best finds. Hjelme held four species of thrush and a (the?) Pied Wagtail svartryggerle.

Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Breivik