Øygarden 07.10-11.10 Barred Warbler and more

 On 07 October all I managed was a very brief visit to Sæle whch resulted in several Blackcap munk and a couple of Chiff-chaff gransanger in the way of migrants. Several Goldfinch stillits and a flock of 50 Brambling bjørkefink were also present.

The next day was another day of not birding though a couple of White-tailed Eagles havørn and a Swallow låvesvale were seen from the terrace. A couple of Tufted Duck toppand turned up on Husvatnet together with several Wigeon brunnakke in the evening.

No birding on 09 October either but picked up a couple of Stonechat svartstrupe during routine errands.

Male Stonechat svartstrupe

On 10 October I managed to get out for an hour or two but only picked up a Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt at Solberg as the first of the autumn. At Hjelme a tristis Chiff-chaff sibirgransanger was very vocal, gave good but brief views and refused to be photographed. Back home a flock of four Oystercatcher tjeld together with a Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt were a nice observation from the terrace.

White-tailed Eagle havørn at Tjeldstø before the sun came up

tristis Chiff-chaff calling

A day of guiding on 11 October was great fun and shows what is actually around if one can get out birding:)

We started at Turøy with just the usual suspects present but White-tailed Eagle havørn and a Blackcap munk showed up. Next up was Herdlevær where a couple of Yellow-browed Warblers gulbrynsanger gave good views. Bonus birds here were a flock of 37 Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås heading south. A good variety of the usual autumn migrants were also seen here along with a couple more White-tailed Eagles havørn. A Stonechat svartstrupe at Kollsnes was the first I've seen at this locality for quite some time. We tried to do Tjeldstø but a message about a Barred Warbler hauksanger at Sæle meant we had to move on rather more quickly than intended. It was a rather skulky bird which gave good but all to brief views most of the time - it took a while before I managed some reasonable shots with the point and pray:) After this it was off to Hjelme where the tristis Chiff-chaff was still present and just as unphotographable as the previous day. A few Common Crossbill grankorsnebb, another White-tailed Eagle havørn and a decent flock of Woodpigeon ringdue were among the other species seen here.

The first attempts at photos of the Barred Warbler hauksanger looked like this

...but finally it gave some good views for more than a few seconds

Skogsøy and Herdlevær 25-26 May 2024 - Orca and second wave of Barnacles

On the morning of 25 May I did some seawatching at Skogsøy.

On the way there I sighted the neck ringed Greylag grågås UK09 again, seemingly with a flock of non-breeding birds.

Skogsøy was rather quiet in the very light northerly winds. Highlights were a lone male Orca spekkhogger heading south - an absolutely massive beast with a huge dorsal fin. I sat from 0630 to 1030 but gave up to press on with house stuff.

Small numbers of Red-throated Diver smålom and most  of the usual stuff passed. Highlight was a flock of 53 Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås and a 2cy Great Northern Diver islom heading north (only picked up on the sound of its wingbeats as it passed overhead!). On my way back to the car another good flock of Barnacles heading north over land.

The second wave of Barnacle geese hvitkonngås heading north

Common Scoter svartand - never can figure out what these are doing migration-wise

Third year White-tailed Eagle havørn at Tjeldstø

A brief stop at Tjeldstø on the way home produced the usual selection of breeding waders and nice views of another White-tailed Eagle havørn.

The next day I did my usual round at Herdlevær where a 2cy Great Northern Diver islom on the sea was probably the best bird. A few Lapwing vipe mobbed a White-tailed Eagle havørn on the island to the north - it has been some years since Lapwing bred at Herdlevær but just maybe they are not too far away. Once again I had to cut the birding short in order to work on the house & garden.

Recently fledged Fieldfare gråtrost - it made enough noise to attract attention but knew enough to sit perfectly still as I tried to locate what was making the noise.

2cy Great Northern Diver islom

My plans to spend some time with my scope at Tjeldstø on the way home were cut short by a pair of agitated Redshank rødstilk - obviously with a nest or young so I quickly retreated. Unfortunately this location is used for fishing and swimming so I just hope these birds get a move on with their young....

Skogsøy 26-27.04.2024 - Loonatic Season is upon us

I have now started a week off work:)

Both 26.04 and 27.04 were spent at Skogsøy, getting up ridiculously early to spend several hours staring out to sea. Not for everyone:)

Glorious weather both days, though lack of wind may have impacted the results a bit. Calm conditions and full on sunshine meant conditions were good for the birds at least. Well over 1000 birds passing on both days with plenty of interest although the number of "bananabills" remained low.

On Friday I forgot my sandwiches so had to sit there hungry for a number of hours. Rookie mistake. I did, however, have my coffee and other essentials.

Two Great Northern Diver islom on the sea were starting to moult and looked pretty good. Best birds were a male Goosander laksand - a rare species to see on migration in Øygarden and the first Great Skua storjo of the year - amazingly although all the big gulls fled a lone Common Gull fiskemåke had a go at it!

The first Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås of the year also put in an appearance. Generally speaking both the number and variety of species increased as is usual at this time of year.

Red throated Diver smålom N 433

Great Northern Diver islom N 1 2K

White Billed Diver gulnebblom N 2 adult

Northern Gannet havsule N 29, S 8

Great Cormorant storskarv N 31, S 10

Eurasian Shag toppskarv N 71. S 60

Greylag Goose grågås N 3, S 1

Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås N 38

Shelduck gravand N 1

Wigeon brunnakke N 4

Eider ærfugl N 4

Common Scoter svartand N 127, S 11

Velvet Scoter sjøorre N 9

Merganser siland N 33, S 4

Goosander laksand 1

Oystercatcher tjeld N 92

Eurasian Curlew storspove N 1

Great Skua storjo N 1

Black headed Gull hettemåke N 1

Common Gull fiskemåke N 130

Lesser black backed Gull sildemåke N 1

Common Guillemot lomvi N 3

Razorbill alke N 6

Atlantic Puffin lunde N 1

Auk N 23, S 2

The first Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås of the spring on their way north

Cormoran storskarv and Shag toppskarv comparison

The first Great Skua storjo of the year at Skogsøy. Amazingly after all the big gulls had left a Common Gull fiskemåke had a go at the bully

A few Greylags grågås still on the move, either non breeders o bird heading much further north. Some of the locals have chicks already

Still Oystercatchers tjeld heading north, well past the peak passage period

Shags toppskarv

A late Shelduck gravand heading north

Velvet Scoter sjøorre are staring to move now

The following morning I did exactly the same thing except that this time I remembered to take my sandwiches out of the fridge:). Rather fewer Red-throated Diver smålom but more of other stuff.  A couple of male Shoveler skjeand were the best sightings, one on its own early on then another with Mergansers siland later on. A couple of Whimbrel småspove, several Tufted Duck toppand  and two nice adult White-billed Divers gulnebblom were among the other highlights.

Teal krikkand N 2 ( a few more flying around)

Northern Shoveler skjeand N 2

Tufted Duck toppand N 10

Eider ærfugl N 8, S 2

Long tailed duck havelle N 8

Common Scoter svartand N 52, S 30

Velvet Scoter sjøorre N 1, S 2

Goldeneye kvinand N 2

Merganser siland N 34, S 4

Oystercatcher tjeld N 354

Whimbrel småspove N 2

Black headed Gull hettemåke N 1

Common Gull fiskemåke N 210

Lesser black backed Gull sildemåke N 2, S 2

Herring Gull gråmåke N 10

Common Guillemot lomvi N 1, S 1

Razorbill alke N 2

Black Guillemot teist N 1

Auk N 4

Common Sandpiper strandsnipe was another first for the year on the way home and a Goshawk hønsehauk put in an appearance too:)

Common Scoter svartand

Now into the overlap zone when both Curlew storspove and Whimbrel småspove are on the move. These two are Curlew stospove

Some of the Gannets havsule passed by close in as usual

2cy Great Northern Diver islom. Almost the easiest ID feature is the way it holds its head / bill

Guillemot lomvi

Good numbers of Oystercatcher tjeld on the move for this late in the season, although the local birds arrived ages ago Norway has a long coastline and it is still wintery further north.

Cormorant storskarv / Shag toppskarv comparison

White-billed Diver gulnebblom. This is what late April / early May is all about!

Goshawk hønsehauk on the way home

Skogsøy 30 April 2022 - Skogsøy WBD record smashed!

 Light northerly winds and light cloud cover.

Late April and early May is traditionally the best time of year for migrating divers in Øygarden. It was with high hopes that I set off for Skogsøy very early in the morning.

I seawatched from 05:30 to 14:10 and by and large it was mega! Most expectations were fulfilled and then some! A truly massive 45 White-billed Diver gulnebblom - all cracking adults at superb scope range represented a Skogsøy best. Another fed on the sea. The supporting cast included 815 Red-throated Diver smålom, a Gadwall snadderand (a local scarcity), an adult Great Northern Diver islom, a decent passage of Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås and a hunting Merlin dvergfalk. It was hard to leave as things were still going strong.

Two other seawatchers situated at Herdlevær sat for another 1.5 hours or so and clearly notched up another couple of WBD setting a new county record of 47!

A reasonable passage of Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås today - at very varying ranges, some were dots on the horizon whilst others passed overhead.

Adult Great Northern Diver islom

Red-throated Divers smålom - the biggest single flock was 41 birds!

Cormorant storskarv with Shag toppskarv - sometimes it is crazy to see how these two can be confused!

A good movement of Tufted Duck toppand today

White-billed Divers gulnebblom - what late April is (almost) all about here in Øygarden.

Now for the numbers:

Red throated Diver smålom N 815

Great Northern Diver islom N 1 adult

White Billed Diver gulnebblom N 45 adult

Northern Gannet havsule N 21, S 2

Great Cormorant storskarv N 9, S 5

Eurasian Shag toppskarv N 40, S 90

Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås N 776

Wigeon brunnake N 3

Gadwall snadderand N 1 (with a male Tufty)

Tufted Duck toppand N 16

Eider ærfugl N 3, S 4

Long tailed duck havelle N 25

Common Scoter svartand N 85, S 7

Velvet Scoter sjøorre N 5

Merganser siland N 23

Oystercatcher tjeld N 35, S 3

Black headed Gull hettemåke N 4

Common Gull fiskemåke N 170

Black-legged Kittiwake krykkje N 3

Common Guillemot lomvi N 7

Black Guillemot teist S 1

On my way home I checked up on the long-staying Coot sothøne which has been present for a week now - arriving on the day I left. A good local rarity:)

Coot sothøne - arguably a better bird than the WBDs and certainly many times rarer!