Hernar 06 June 2012

Finally a change in the weather, light winds from various directions and feeling rather warmer.

 Singing Grasshopper Warbler gresshoppesanger

 Above and below Meadow Pipit heipiplerke

One of many Willow Warblers løvsanger seen today

Spent the day on the island of Hernar. Hightlights here were the singing Grasshopper Warbler gresshoppesanger that has been present for at least a couple of weeks.

The only other migrant of any note was a Garden Warbler hagesanger.

However, plenty of birds and plenty of activity. Redpolls brunsisik, Twite bergirisk and Willow Warblers løvsanger very plentiful.

Small numbers of Red-throated Diver smålom heading still heading north - eight seen during almost an hour of seawatching.

Hernar 12 May 2011 - Grasshopper Warbler

Light southerly and overcast to start with, clearing later.

Although the island didn't live up to last week's visit it still provided some excellent local birding. A female Black Redstart svartrødstjert and a very skulking Grasshopper Warbler gresshoppesanger were the highlights. Quite possible that both these birds are the same as those on Tuesday.

 Grasshopper Warbler gresshoppesanger

 Female Black Redstart svartrødstjert

 Common Whitethroat tornsanger

Otter

New arrivals included a few Common Whitethroat tornsanger, one of which was collecting nesting material, more Sedge Warblers sivsanger, two Common Terns makrellterne and a Common Sandpiper strandsnipe. A Tree Pipit trepiplerke was the first I've had in Øygarden this year (though the first was seen some time ago). Other notable birds for the island included a male Whinchat buskskvett, a House Martin taksvale and a male Tufted Duck toppand.

Øygarden 10 May 2011 - Grasshopper Warbler

After spending the morning working a quick check of a couple of localities produced some decent birds - starting with a splendid male Yellow Wagtail gulerle (ssp flava) at Breivik.

Yellow Wagtail gulerle

At Kollsnes two Wood Sandpiper grønnstilk were present along with a male Whinchat buskskvett.

Wood Sandpiper grønnstilk

A cursory glance at Tjeldstø produced a pair of Collared Dove tyrkerdue flying over and a Black-tailed Godwit svarthalespove feeding beside Husvatnet.

Grasshopper Warbler gresshoppesanger

Female Black Redstart rødstjert

A very quick trip to Hernar seemed to confirm that the Crag Martin klippesvale has indeed moved on. The bird was not seen during a relatively short search by visiting birders on Sunday and unknown status from yesterday. However, there was still plenty to see with only part of the island covered. Highlight was a singing Grasshopper Warbler gresshoppesanger - seemingly the first documented find of this species in Øygarden (an autumn record some years ago was not sufficiently documented to be accepted). A female Black Redstart svartrødstjert and a male Whinchat buskskvett were other birds of note.

Another first for the year was a dark phase Arctic Skua tyvjo that flew over Hellesøy whilst waiting for the boat to leave.....