Hernar 07 May 2026 - Last minute save

Hopes were not high to start with given the weather over the previous couple of days. But the island failed to deliver even on this. There were virtually no migrants present at all. Several Willow Warbler løvsanger and a few Chiff-chaff gransanger were the only warblers seen during the morning.

Several new species for the Hernar 2026 list turned up with a displaying Common Sandpiper strandsnipe, a migrating Whimbrel småspove, flyover Siskin grønnsisik, a distant flock of Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås and a Common Tern makrellterne fishing in the harbour.

Overall there was less activity than my first visit back in late April.

Having given up and headed back to catch the boat home some Ravens ravn suddenly flew up alarming and unexpectedly a relatively young Golden Eagle kongeørn turned up rather than the expected White-tailed Eagle havørn. A new species for the island according to the national database and always a good bird to see in Øygarden anyway. Result! The morning was saved at the last minute:)

Back on the "mainland" migrants were in fact around - a nice male Whinchat buskskvett was more or less the first bird seen as we got off the boat.

Common Terns makrellterne are suddenly back with several at Dåvøy, a couple at Nautnes and three at Hellesøy. 

Nautnes produced Greenshank gluttsnipe, displaying Snipe enkeltbekkasin, roding Woodcock rugde and the usual.

A nice flock of hirundines at Husvatnet consisted largely of Swallows låvesvale but there were at least four Sand Martins sandsvale and a House Martin taksvale present too. The two Whoopers sangsvane remained on Rotevatnet.

Common Terns makrellterne at Dåvøy

Common Tern makrellterne at Hellesøy

Whinchat buskskvett at Hellesøy

Early morning Red Deer hjort

Øygarden 24-30 June 2024 - More home office

Once again almost no birding with the terrace and drive-bys to and from the shops/errands providing what little time outside there was.

On 24 June a female Red-breasted Merganser siland showed up with six young - obviously having bred very close by. A few days later what I presume was the same bird had only one young left. I'm curious to know what is that is taking the young - plenty of suspects to choose from.

Red-breasted Merganser siland with young photographed from my terrace

Breeding waders (Oystercatcher tjeld, Curlew storspove, Redshank rødstilk, Lapwing vipe, Snipe enkeltbekkasin and Common Sandpipers strandsnipe) continued to be obvious but many will soon be clearing out having finished the breeding season.

Anxious Redshank rødstilk parent near Kollsnes

Well grown Lapwing young feeding in the rain

This well grown Lapwing young was limping badly with something stuck on its right leg

The other Lapwing vipe chick was fine

Curlew storspove at Breivik

A fishing trip after work on 26 June with my daughters was very successful from all points of view: outside away from the computer in great company, plenty of fish action (several species) and even some birds - including a (the?) Golden Eagle kongeørn, a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk, Ringed Plover sandlo and fishing Common Terns makrellterne.

Immature Golden Eagle kongeørn

(also point and pray camera)

A wet and dull evening drive-by at Husvatnet on 28 June produced a male Ruff brushane and a Swift tårnseiler in addition to the usual suspects there.

On 30 June I finally made it out and did my usual walk at Herdlevær. Here a female Merganser siland had 14 young in tow, a Mallard stokkand had three young with her, recently fledged Wheatears steinskvett and most of the usual suspects were present. A flock of Curlew storspove headed south and some Common Crossbill grankorsnebb turned up.

Fishing Common Tern makrellterne at Herdlevær

Recently fledged Wheatear steinskvett

After Herdlevær it was time for more fishing, once again very successful with a Pollack of well over 5kg and four other species. Interestingly the Pollack had been feeding on squid.

Cleanup crew in the garden after a successful fishing trip

Herring Gulls gråmåke and Great Black-backed Gulls svartbak turned up in force!

Øygarden 22-25.04.2024 - Frustration builds...

Back to the grindstone on Monday.  Didn't get out birding in any meaningful way but did find a new Stonechat svartstrupe locality for the year. This one won't be reported as the photo brigade have been pushing the known pair too far. Thankfully other stuff has turned up which should distract their attention.

Also saw the first Greylag grågås chicks of the year on 22.04, quite an early date, with others turning up over the next few days. I strongly suspect Greylags do well because they get going before the vast majority of people bother spending time outside and thus avoid all the disturbance.

Lapwing vipe at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø

Willow Warblers løvsanger and Chiff-chaff gransanger continue to arrive and are being heard in new places on a daily basis:)

Goldfinch stillits are also becoming more visible with some in the garden and more turning up "everywhere". Looks like the colonisation of Øygarden is picking up pace - when I moved here they were rarely seen in the breeding season:)

Goldinch stillits at my feeder on 23.04

UK9 is back:)

I saw this bird in the same place last year. It was ringed in 2019 and observed in Denmark in September of 2020 and 2021, in Roglaland, Norway in July 2022. Since then only two observations - both mine from Skold in May 2023 and now April 2024.

Tuesday and Wednesday were more of the same, again not really out with work commitments preventing much activity. 

On Thursday 25.04 I did a half day on Hernar without much to show for it. A Greenshank gluttsnipe called several times and Lesser Redpolls brunsisik had arrived on the island. Fewer Wheatear steinskvett this time around and generally fewer birds than the previous visit. Visiting after two days of brisk northerly winds this was perhaps to be expected:)

A very smart male Wheatear steinskvett

After this it was back to work but in the evening I logged off and took a trip to the shops, with Black-tailed Godwit svarthalespove on my mind. Sure enough I quickly found two birds but they were quite flighty. The reason was quicky apparent - the Golden Eagle kongeørn that has been in the area for the last couple of weeks was a bit close for comfort. Ravens ravn were giving it a hard time but it had a go at the geese anyway - scattering everything. Not often Golden Eagle kongeørn shows this well in Øygarden. Should perhaps have had something better than my point and pray:)

The local Raven ravn gave the Golden Eagle kongeørn a hard time

It gave fantastic views after it had enough of the Ravens and decided to move / scare up some wildfowl

I think this is a 3K bird but not certain about this

Øygarden 13-19.04.2024 - Raptor lunch break

On Saturday 13 April I did a quick round at Herdlevær before heading home to change over to summer tyres and get the garden ready for the season.

Herdlevær was fairly quiet but migrants included a Brambling bjørkefink, a pair of Teal krikkand and a few White Wagtails linerle. Encouragingly both Curlew storspove and Snipe enkeltbekkasin were displaying.

Lesser Black-backed Gull sildemåke at Herdlevær

White Wagtail linerle at Herdlevær

On the way home two Goldfinch stillits at Kollsnes and a Chiff-chaff gransanger singing at Sture.

The next day I did a few hours at Skogsøy. It was a relatively quite day migration wise with few of the usual movers. Decent numbers of Shags toppskarv heading south (ca 300), a small movement of Kittiwakes krykkje, a Black Guillemot teist, a lone Great Northern Diver islom, small numbers of Red-throated Divers smålom, an unidentified pale phase skua heading north and a dark phase Arctic Skua tyvjo attacking Kittiwakes were seen.

I spent a lot of time looking at other stuff and therefore probably missed a bit of the passage. Two all dark corvids headed out to sea before turning and coming back. Distant views in the scope showed one of these to be a Rook kornkråke and the other may have been a Carrion Crow svartkråke although I could not be certain. Chiff-chaff gransanger and Wheatear steinskvett also now present here too:)

Female Stonechat svartstrupe

On the way home I picked up the now resident Stonechats svartstrupe. My first Lesser Redpoll brunsisik of the year at Tjeldstø and during the tyre change back home Twite bergirisk, a couple of Siskin grønnsisik and more flew over. In the evening another Guillemot lomvi turned up on the sea at Nautnes.

Guillemot lomvi at Nautnes

On Monday 15.04 a Goshawk hønsehauk flew over during a session with my chainsaw and a pair of Goldfinch stillits visited my garden again. The next day was spent entirely in front of the computer.

Goldfinch stillits have been regular in the garden recently - a species rapidly colonising Øygarden.

The weather on 17.04 was just lovely and I spent my lunch break at Tjeldstø. Initially I was happy just to be away from the computer and to see some Teal krikkand, watch a pair of Wheatear steinskvett and see my first Swallow låvesvale of the year. However, scanning with my scope picked up first one, then two Goshawk hønsehauk and a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk. These were quickly followed by an Osprey fiskeørn which I followed for some time before losing it. Frantically searching the skies to re-find it I picked up a Golden Eagle kongeørn drifting south - always a good bird out here at the coast. Finally and more mundanely the far commoner White-tailed Eagles havørn showed up. On my way home I heard the first Willow Warber løvsanger of the year:)

Curlew storspove at Dåvøy

Herom gråhegre at Dåvøy

Twite bergirisk at Tjeldstø

On Thursday 18.04 I took the morning off work and headed to Hernar for the second time this year. Although nothing remarkable was seen it was a very nice morning out with plenty of activity and over 40 species recorded. Small numbers of Twite bergisik and Linnet tornirisk had returned. Singles of Goldfinch stillits and Brambling bjørkefink, a couple of Siskin grønnsisik, a few Chiff-chaff gransanger, Skylark sanglerke and good numbers of Wheatear steinskvett.

I had three Otters in front of my house and a couple more whilst waiting for the boat to Hernar:)

Linnet tornirisk

Meadow Pipit heipiplerke

Raven ravn

Twite bergirisk - showing the importance of "weeds" early in the season

Otter too close to photograph:)

Typical eating of smaller prey

This made me regret not having my "real" camera with me. Could have been a pretty good image:)