Another cold and calm day. My second walk at Herdlevær this year started well but soon went back to something along the lines of same, same. However, stops on the way there and on the way home proved to be quite productive.
Almost the first bird to be seen at Herdlevær was a Kestrel tårnfalk being mobbed by Hooded Crows kråke. Other stuff here included a flock of 11 Fieldfare gråtrost, a Great Northern Diver islom and of course some White-tailed Eagles havørn.
Great Northern Diver islom
After this I did Breivik hoping to find some non-frozen ground which didn't work out well, but the first local Great Spotted Woodpecker flaggspett of the year, an obliging Wren gjerdesmett and small numbers of thrushes were seen.
Wren gjerdesmett
Compared to some previous winters there still seem to be "good" numbers of Wren surviving. Lets hope for mild weather in the immediate future!
Other highlights during the day included a couple of Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin, five Woodcock rugde at three locations, a Water Rail vannrikse and small numbers of Parrot Crossbills furukorsnebb.
I was on my way home with the light fading when I heard about a goose that needed checking out. It was "just" an albifrons Whitefront tundragås but always nice to see and a great find - the bird had been present for "some days". As was in the neighbourhood I checked Blomvatnet but this was frozen solid - however, a nice Goshawk hønsehauk made it all worthwhile:)
albifrons Whitefront tundragås at Blomvåg
Robin rødstrupe must also be struggling - but I see some a long way away from any kind of feeding and they seem to be making it so far....
Uber camo - one of the day's five Woodcock rugde. I'm wondering if we should start feeding them - not the kind of weather for this kind of bird at the moment
Tough times on the home front😪 so kind of hard to keep going. This week some birding has helped take my mind off things as it has done before during some of life's various challenges.
I returned home shortly after midday on 10th January and 15 minutes later I was out in glorious, if rather cold conditions.
The first birds I saw from my terrace were two White-tailed Eagles havørn:)
With good light and no wind I headed to Hjelme Vest where the star bird was a lovely White-billed Diver gulnebblom. Other species here included a flock of 39 Long-tailed Duck havelle (a shadow of the number that would have been present a decade or two ago), a Velvet Scoter sjøorre, five Common Scoter svartand, a Curlew storspove , a Peregrine vandrefalk and more White-tailed Eagles havørn. Despite the freezing temperatures there was a Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin in one of the usual spots.
After this I popped in at a few other places picking up a Woodcock rugde at Hatten, a small flock of Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt at Tjeldstø, some Common Crossbills grankorsnebb and more.
The following day I went to Skogsøy with one of my daughters, the wind has picked up significantly and there was rather more to see than on our previous visit there. A Great Northern Diver islom headed south as did a Gannet havsule and several Kittiwake krykkje headed north. Other stuff included a couple of Velvet Scoter sjøorre,
On the way home drive-bys produced Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin, Redwing rødvingetrost, the first Chaffinches bokfink of the year and more.
Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin.
Snipe, Woodcock and other species dependent on unfrozen ground are struggling big time at the moment.
On Monday 12.01 it was more of the same really with White-tailed Eagles havørn seen various places, small numbers of Fieldfare gråtrost and Redwing rødvingetrost, Common Gull fiskemåke, more Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin and the Heron gråhegre roost at Dåvøy numbered 31 birds.
A number of Snipe enkeltbekkasin are using the smallest of holes in the ice in an attempt to try and find food.
On 13th January I visted several localities and picked up a Woodcock rugde, a few Snipe enkeltbekkasin, including one that had succumbed to the current conditions. A Little Grebe dvergdykker was present at Dåvøy.
Redwing rødvingetrost at Hatten
Dead Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Tjeldstø
Female Velvet Scoter sjøorre at Herdlevær
White-tailed Eagle havørn at Dåvøy
The next couple of days were spent at work in Bergen but on 14th January a drive-by at Dåvøy on my way into the city produced two Little Grebe dvergdykker.
Little Grebes dvergdykker at Dåvøy
On 16th January I stayed in Øygarden and spent a couple of hours checking some other localities in the calm, mild and slightly wet conditions. At Dåvøy a Little Auk alkekonge was the first of the year, a Great Northern Diver islom fed actively there and Otters gave point blank views whilst my camera was still in my rucksack.
Great Northern Diver islom at Dåvøy
The usual selection of stuff was present at Solberg including another Great Northern Diver islom, a lone Long-tailed Duck havelle, a White-tailed Eagle havørn and good numbers of Cormorant storskarv and Shag toppskarv.
I returned home on the evening of 21.11 and was greeted by some nice Northern Lights.
Northern Lights from my terrace
The next day work prevented me getting out of the house but this didn't stop me seeing some birds. Highlight was a nice Great Northern Diver islom feeding busily just off the terrace. Also a late Oystercatcher tjeld, three White-tailed Eagles havørn and small flocks of various finches flying over.
Oystercatcher tjeld photographed from my terrace
It was still cold and calm on 23.11, I covered Hjelme Vest hoping to find some stuff on the sea, it was rather quiet but a couple of Little Auks alkekonge showed up, small numbers of Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt, a few Oystercatcher tjeld looking at an overwintering attempt, small numbers of the usual seaduck, at least five White-tailed Eagle havørn, a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and a Rock pipit skjærpiplerke were among the species seen. Woodcock rugde were evident only by their tracks.
I followed this up with some drive-bys picking up both Water Rail vannriske and Snipe enkeltbekkasin at likely looking spots.
Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin
Water Rail vannrikse giving the usual kind of views.....
The next couple of days it was back to work and the weather turned milder. A Velvet Scoter sjøorre flew past the house and a couple of Teal krikkand turned up with Mallards stokkand on Husvatnet.
Common Scoter svartand at Heggøy
Eider ærfugl on Skjoldepollen - an unusual species at this locality
Red-throated Diver smålom at Skjoldepollen
Two Teal krikkand with Mallards stokkand on Husvatnet
On 26.11 it was time to leave again. Good weather and the thaw well and truly completed - the birds wasted no time turning up at their favoured spots. Sightings on the way to the airport included the female Scaup bergand on Husvatnet and another Scaup bergand on Blomvatnet. Whoopers sangsvane were back on two fresh water localities too.
Scaup bergand on Blomvatnet
Tufted Duck toppand on Blomvatnet
Whoopers sangsvane at Kollsnes
White-tailed Eagle havørn at Kollsnes. Seemed to be feeding on a dead sheep but not 100% certain.
Traditionally it is the last week of September / first week of October that is the best for rarities. I have always liked early November and this week was just brilliant, despite having to travel for work.
Whilst frantically preparing for a conference in Stavanger a message ticked in about a Firecrest rødtoppfuglekonge at Sæle. I flung the last things I needed into my bags and headed to Sæle before continuing on to the airport. I had just a few minutes to spare and managed to connect with it - a new species for me in Øygarden. Thanks Terje!
Firecrest rødtoppfuglekonge at Sæle
Later in the afternoon I arrived at Sola Strand, Stavanger. Here, even without binoculars the birding was just too easy. Not difficult to understand why such a large percent of Norwegian birders are from the Stavanger area:)
Long-tailed Ducks havelle in the surf
There were several White Wagtails linerle hunting flies along the beach
A short walk on the beach the morning before the conference was almost equally productive. With scope and bins there would have been a lot more to see!
Great Northern Diver islom
First year Red-throated Diver smålom
Yellowhammer gulspurv
Back home in Øygarden and back to the grindstone I managed a few short drive-bys on 06 November in misty conditions. There was a big movement of thrushes down the east side of Øygarden with big flocks of Fieldfare gråtrost and smaller flocks of Redwing rødvingetrost heading south under the low cloud. Several Snipe enkeltbekkasin fed at Tjeldstø. Definitely a feeling that something good must have arrived today.
Heron gråhegre at Hellesøy
Some of the Snipe enkeltbekkasin feeding at Tjeldstø
Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin feeding at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø
On 07 November I spent the morning on Hernar. There was a LOT of activity and no time to drink coffee or eat sandwiches like I normally do. Well over 40 species noted without having the time to cover some of the areas I normally do. The most interesting bird by far was an eastern type Lesser Whitethroat møller with a very unusual call. According to one site I have investigated blythi has not been recorded as giving this call. This, along with some other features has me leaning towards halimodendri (Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat). My first ever Jackdaw kaie for the island was an added bonus along with Mistle Thrush duetrost, Water Rails vannrikse, Chiff-chaffs gransanger and plenty more besides.
Chiff-chaff gransanger - seemed to be "normal" without any tristis sounds
Tail good for the eastern types
Rather warm and brown appearance, pale lores in angles where the face is illuminated. Differs with lighting angle though
Here with prey:) Note the brown extending onto the nape / crown
Brown looking tail here
Sonogram (taken from video). Thanks to Stein Rune Risa for this)
This shows the jizz of the bird. Mouse-like, jerky and busy.
One striking thing about this bird was the tail pumping and Redstart-like "shivering" of the tail.
This video includes the call.
According to https://nicksbird.blog/2023/06/11/identification-of-the-lesser-whitethroat-species-complex/
there are no records of blythi that have been recorded with this call.....
Jackdaw kaie
Mistle Thrush duetrost
...and the much commoner (i.e. very common) White-tailed Eagle havørn
I was only out for half an hour as the light was going on 08 November, still lots of birds about - especially Redwings rødvingetrost and Fieldfare gråtrost. A Mistle Thrush duetrost at Hjelme was probably the same bird seen there the previous day.
From the house the best sighting was a Lapwing vipe heading south
My usual round at Herdlevær really produced the goods with the absolute highlight being a Hume's Leaf Warbler blekbrynsanger. Incredibly active and difficult to photograph it was at times obligingly vocal - it was the call that really made me investigate this bird in the first place. This is the first record in Øygarden for around 20 years!! Twitchers arrived quickly on the scene but the bird did a disappearing act for the rest of the day. Thankfully it was re-found the following day and stayed for some days more.
Hume's Leaf Warbler blekbrynsanger - the call can be heard in this video
Sonogram of the call - taken from the video above - thanks to Stein Rune Risa
There were plenty of other things to see too with a flock of 30 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, a couple of Whooper Swans sangsvane, Chiff-chaff gransanger, several Great Northern Diver islom and lots of the usual migrants.
Whooper swans sangsvane at Herdlevær
A female Scaup bergand and a couple of Lapwing vipe on Rotevatnet were an added bonus.
Skylark sanglerke at Hjelme
Back home a first year Red-throated Diver smålom struggled with a large fish for some time in front of my house - looked like it might have been a Herring sild.
First year Red-throated Diver smålom at Nautnes
On Sunday 10th November I covered a number of localities without finding much new - although the Hume's Leaf Warbler blekbrynsanger was present at Herdlevær. A flock of six Lapwing vipe flew over at Breivik and what were probably the same birds were seen later at Tjeldstø where the Scaup bergand remained. Good numbers of thrushes, a Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb and a couple of Woodcock rugde were among the sightings.
