Øygarden 11-16 November 2025 - Back in Black

Conditions on 10th November seemed absolutely ideal but typically I was deskbound for the day.

On 11th I rushed out in an hour between meetings to pick up a lovely Black Redstart svartrødstjert at Sæle. A silent tristis Chiff-chaff showed well too - presumably one of the birds I found last week still hanging around. Otherwise just a couple of Blackcap munk.

Black Redstart svrtrødstjert at Sæle.

In the rapidly failing light in the afternoon I picked up a rather late Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås fed at Husvatnet.

Late Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås at Husvatnet

There was no birding on 12th other than a couple of drive-bys in conjunction with errands. A first year Red-throated Diver smålom at Herdlevær posed quite nicely. Decent numbers of thrushes and Starling stær still around - including 100s at Kollsnes.

Red-throated Diver smålom at Herdlevær

On 13th November I took my lunch break at Hellesøy where flocks of auks were heading north. On the way home I popped by Sæle where there was still a tristis Chiff-chaff sibirgransanger was still present along with a male Blackcap munk.

Male Blackcap munk

tristis Chiff-chaff sibirgransanger

On 14th I spent a couple of hours outside. A walk at Tjeldstø produced a few noteworthy sightings with the best being a couple of female Scaup bergand. A Tufted Duck toppand with them initially got the pulse racing as it seemed to have an interesting head profile - on closer inspection it turned out to be just a tufty....

Two Scaup bergand, a Tufted Duck toppand and two Mallard stokkand at Tjeldstø

Aythya ducks are not always easy - here a nice side-by-side comparison of Scaup bergand and Tufted Duck

Female Scaup bergand

Tufted Duck toppand not showing the square headed look and with no hint of it's crest.

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First year White-tailed Eagle havørn

Other stuff included a well fed White-tailed Eagle havørn, a couple of Teal krikkand and a nice flock of Redwing rødvingetrost.

Back home the regular Sparrowhawk spurvehauk was having a go at the birds visiting the feeder.

Sparrowhawk spurvehauk photographed through my terrace

The weekend started well with a couple of Otter oter eating a Lumpsucker rognkjeks on the shore in front of my house. 

A walk at Herdlevær gave a distant 1cy White-billed Diver gulnebblom as the best bird. A Great Northern Diver islom headed south and a late Meadow Pipit heipiplerke was present - possibly delayed by the fact it had only one foot.

One-footed Meadow Pipit heipiplerke

Redwing rødvingetrost at Tjeldstø.

A flock of 11 Pinkfeet kortnebbgås fed at Tjeldstø but flew off to the south shortly after I found them.

In fading light a fishing trip gave Common Scoter svartand, a Little Auk alkekonge and Crested Tit toppmeis along with three species of fish.

Skogsøy was the choice on 16th Novmber. Strong winds and protracted hail showers hampered birding somewhat but a few Little Auk alkekonge, several Great Northern Diver islom and small numbers of Kittiwake krykkje meant it was not a waste of time. A nice Goshawk hønsehauk being mobbed by Ravens ravn turned up on my way back to the car. 

A Snipe enkeltbekkasin and 10 Starling stær were at Sture on the way home.

Øygarden 21.11-26.11.2024 - Cold snap shows what is around

 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.

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.

Øygarden 06.11-10.11.2023 - Frustratingly good weather

For yet another week it was calm and sunny with light easterly winds. Very frustrating to not be out and about!

Half an hour at Breivik on 06 November was very pleasant but not much other than a few Snipe enkeltbekkasin, a few Bullfinch dompap and a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk. The two Scaup bergand were on Rotevatnet along with a couple of Wigeon brunnakke, a Tufted Duck toppand and the usual Mallard stokkand and Goldeneye kvinand. Back in the garden a Crested Tit toppmeis actually came into the garden - a common enough species but not often they come so close to the house, a Carrion Crow svartkråke flew over and several Common Crossbill grankorsnebb paused nearby.

Snipe enkeltbekkasin hiding in plain view at Breivik

The next day was similar with a female Blackcap munk turning up in the garden. Rotevatnet was the same but a family group of Whooper Swans sangsvane were new in - two adults with three young:)

Two Scaup bergand and a Tufted Duck toppand (left hand bird)

On 08 Wednesday I was in a meeting in Bergen most of the day but picked up a Little Auk alkekonge swimming past my house before I left.

On Thursday I stopped for at least 30 seconds at Husvatnet where a late flock of four Teal krikkand were present. I saw some roadside Waxwings sidensvans near Nautnes but didn't have time to stop.

I took a couple of hours free on the 10 November - and there is obviously still plenty to see. First bird I saw from the garden was a Goshawk hønsehauk having a good go at a Herring Gull gråmåke but it decided to call off the attack. Brambling bjørkefink and a Chiff-chaff gransanger that may have been tristis but did not call were also seen in the garden and a Snipe enkeltbekkasin posed nicely also at Nautnes.

I had a quick look at Hellesøy where migrants were a female Blackcap munk and a few Bullfinch dompap. Stopping briefly at Sæle I was rewarded with cracking views of five Waxwing sidensvans. Now all the rowan berries have gone they have moved onto other things. Introduced bushes are the only thing keeping them hanging around now:) The Scaup bergand / Tufty toppand combo remained at Tjeldstø where one young Whooper sangsvane was going it alone. Two Woodpigeon ringdue here too.

Potentially the bird of the day with a very tristis feel to it. Unfortunately no call so difficult to claim

Roadside Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Nautnes. For once a picture that isn't cropped at all:)

And now for a bunch of gratuitous Waxwing sidensvans shots: