Øygarden 17-19 January 2026 - Calm and mild

Temperatures have risen to 5-6C and there has been very little wind, so apart from some reduced visibility on some days conditions have been ideal. Although the ground seems to be thawing fast freshwater remains largely frozen over. Hopefully the Snipe and Woodcock are managing to get some feeding in before the next cold period:)

On Saturday17th I did my first walk of the year at Herdlevær, one of the first birds seen here was a Snipe enkeltbekkasin - out in a field instead of in a tiny stream for once. The best bird was a lone Black-headed Gull hettemåke - a scarce winter visitor locally. A Great Northern Diver islom, a Velvet Scoter sjøorre and the usual suspects were seen.

A few Whoopers sangsvane were back in place - indicating that they have been somewhere close during the recent big freeze. 

In the afternoon I went fishing for the first time in 2026, quite a few fish of three species but only a couple of dinners worth of keepers. A Great Northern Diver islom was ample compensation for the lack of big fish:)

Great Northern Diver islom at Sture

On 18th there was some fog so visibility was not the best. I had a quick look at Hellesøy which gave a nice Little Auk alkekonge and a Great Northern Diver islom. I also gave Hjelme West a go but the fog proved challenging. A flock of five Razorbill alke flew in and a Great Northern Diver islom fished offshore here too. 

Little Auk alkekonge at Hellesøy

A Sparrowhawk spurvehauk in my garden was the first I've seen locally this year..

It was back to work on 19th but whilst on the phone I spotted two Otters feeding just off my terrace and whilst I watched these a Shelduck gravand flew in! This is the first January record for Øygarden according to the national database.

Shelduck gravand at Nautnes

I also took some video and pics using digiscoping techniques - they were better quality than these long range images from my point and pray.

I did a quick trip out and it was much of the same with Great Northern Diver islom here and there, At Sæle Little Auk alkekonge and Razorbill alke as well as a Velvet Scoter sjøorre and over 30 Long-tailed Duck havelle were present.

Øygarden 10.01-16-01-2026 - Birding therapy

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.

Øygarden 11.12-20.12.2024 - Great to be back!

 After the visit to Northumberland and a few quiet days in Oslo it was back to reality. After the enormous number of birds seen back home I was prepared to find things rather quiet and mundane back home. However, it was only work and the short days that made birding difficult - there was plenty to see whenever I made it out of the house (and even from the house).

On 11th December a nice Great Northern Diver islom from the terrace and my first local Little Grebe dvergdykker of the year at Dåvøy, another Great Northern Diver islom at Heggøy and a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett at Hatten were the best of the sightings.

Male Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett at Hatten

1cy Great Northern Diver islom at Heggøy

Great Northern Diver islom photographed from my terrace

Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy

The following day I didn't really get out but had 20 Goldfinch stillits fly over the terrace, a Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Sture and three Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke at Dåvøy where the Little Grebe dvergdykker was still present.

Great Northern Diver islom from the terrace again

On 13th December I spent a few hours out in a boat covering the area from Tvisloket south to Solberg. The sea was a little on the rough side for optimal birding but at least 10 Black Guillemot teist, a few White-tailed Eagle havørn, about 20 Long-tailed Duck havelle, a couple of Velvet Scoter sjøorre and an Oystercatcher tjeld were among the sightings at Tvisloket. Langøysund produced a few Grey Seal havert, five Oystercatcher tjeld, a couple more eagles and a Red-throated Diver smålom. Solberg held a Little Auk alkekonge, another Oystercatcher tjeld, a Common Gull fiskemåke and a Herring Gull gråmåke that made me look twice.

Common Gull fiskemåke

This Herring Gull gråmåke with "smooth" and rather dark undersides made me look twice. I did not see it in flight but the tail should eliminate a "smith"

Oystercather tjeld at Solberg

The female Scaup bergand remained on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø

On 14th I was not out again other than a couple of short drive-bys whilst picking up packages at the shops. A Great Northern Diver islom at Harkestad and the Little Grebe dverdykker again at Dåvøy. A couple of Starling stær at Breivik were the first for some time.

Little Grebe dvergdykker with Mallard stokkand at Dåvøy

I was out even less on 15th with just the Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy again.

Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy

A Teal krikkand on Blomvatnet and the female Scaup bergand on Husvatnet were the only things of interest during an even briefer foray out of the house.

After that there was even less activity with not much to report.

Fieldfare gråtrost at Hellesøy.

Very few thrushes remain now.

Heron gråhegre at Alvheim.

Kårstø and Oslo - 12.11-21.11.2024 - Work calls

A few days on an inshore job near Kårstø 12-14 November were great fun. Cool equipment and good data:) And some birds thrown in.

Horned Grebes horndykker, a good selection of seaduck, a couple of diver species and some White-tailed Eagles havørn meant the days at work flew by.

Adult Great Northern Diver islom

Black Guillemot teist

Long-tailed Duck havelle

Velvet Scoter sjøorre

After that it was off to Oslo for some meetings and consequently nothing much to see. I managed a couple of hours on Gressholmen on 17 November where large numbers of Goldeneye kvinand were joined by a couple of Scaup bergand. Not much in the way of passerines but still plenty of berries around in the east - along with some Fieldfare gråtrost and a lone Redwing rødvingetrost feeding on them. An omissus type Herring Gull gråmåke on Nakkholmen made me look twice:)

Two Scaup bergand joined well over 100 Goldeneye kvinand

Almost orange legs on this omissus type Herring Gull gråmåke. No open wing shots and this photo is rather overexposed.