Tjeldstø 02 February - Another first for the year but don't get excited

Southerly winds and rain for most of the day.

Black-headed Gull hettemåke with Herring Gulls gråmåke at Tjeldstø

As ever, not out in any meaningful way. A short breath of fresh air with the dog gave a single Brambling bjørkefink at Breivik and the first Black-headed Gull hettemåke I've seen in Øygarden this year was at Tjeldstø as I popped into the supermarket on the way home.  This latter species is a relatively rare species in Øygarden during the winter.

Crossing fingers about getting out and about later in the week.....

Øygarden 07 January 2013 - Hard going

Strong southerly winds but no rain.

A spectacularly failed start to the day - tried a few localities for various trusted regulars without success.

Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Herdlevær

White-tailed Eagle havørn at Kollsnes

Common Scoter svartand

Herdlevær / Skogsøy saved the day in the end - but only just. A Jackdaw kaie at Skogsøy and a Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Herdlevær were the best of the bunch today.

Small numbers of Whoopers sangsvane remain scattered around a few regular sites including Kollsnes and Tjeldstø.

Skogsøy and Tjeldstø 17 March 2013 - More spring

South easterly winds, decent weather.

The thaw continues as does the arrival of more migrants.

Made the classic mistake of sleeping in and thereby ruined what may have been a half-decent day at Skogsøy. Sat for a couple of hours 09:00-11:00 and caught the tail end of the day's migration.

Cormorant storskarv

Shag toppskarv

Highlights were a Red-throated Diver smålom heading north and the a first Black-headed Gulls hettemåke of the year. A couple of Woodcock rugde were almost certainly new in and small numbers of Oystercatcher tjeld were on the move.

Heavily cropped record shot of Mistle Thrush duetrost

At Tjeldstø the Mistle Thrush duetrost showed again, 10 Woodpigeon ringdue were newly arrived and a Siskin grønnsisik turned up in the garden

Some larger flocks of Starling stær were seen various places inlcuded 60 at Breivik and 40 at Tjeldstø.

Another good sighting was a Golden Eagle kongeørn seen flying over Knappen, Toftøy.