Øygarden 01 January 2013 - New Year Bird Race Day 3

Fresh southerly with regular showers.

A rather better day in most respects than yesterday but still managed to miss a number of regular species.

Started the day at Dåvøy where I had superb views of an Otter. Best bird here was a Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin.

Solberg produced several Kittiwake krykkje, a couple of Gannets havsule and a Velvet Scoter sjøorre - but no new species for the Bird Race. A couple of Otter fishing here too - again with White-tailed Eagles havørn in attendance.

Alvheim was virtually dead but a Curlew storspove was a new species.

Hjelme West was still not up to its usual standards but at least produced the anticipated Black Guillemots teist, a Woodcock rugde and a Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke. And more Otters.

Little Auk alkekonge at Kollsnes næringspark

A tramp through the heaths at Ljøsneset produced a male Black Grouse orrfugl - a species that often requires some effort to see at this time of year.

Woodpigeon ringdue at Harkestad - surprise bird of the day

At Harkestad the bird of the day was a Woodpigeon ringdue - seems like the first January record of this species in Øygarden. No doubt scared out here by last nights fireworks.

Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb

Tjeldstø produced at least one flock of Parrot Crossbills furukorsnebb, the two Blackcap munk in my garden and nine Whoopers sangsvane.

A total of 49 species in Øygarden during three days of birding in difficult conditions must be considered reasonable - but the potential is a lot higher than this......

Øygarden 30 December 2012 - New Year Bird Race Day 1

Southerly gales, heavy showers at times.

Woken up by heavy thunder and a heavier hail storm my sanity was questioned as I left for Skogsøy. Given the conditions it was no surprise that passerines and raptors (with the exception of White-tailed Eagle havørn) were virtually absent.

Luckily there was some passage over the sea with around 10 Gannets havsule, 10 Kittiwake krykkje, several Little Auks alkekonge, a Razorbill alke and some other unidentified auks. Just singles of Common Scoter svartand and Velvet Scoter sjøorre.

After Skogsøy I popped in very briefly at a number of localities picking up a Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Herdlevær, a Fieldfare gråtrost, two Blackcap munk, Tree Sparrow pilfink etc at Tjeldstø.

A few adult Whoopers sangsvane at Storavatnet were the last new of the day - taking the number of species to 35.

Bird of the day was without doubt an Eagle Owl hubro.