On 01 October a quick pre-work sortie to Herdlevær produced a reasonable selection of migrants without anything very special. A Grey Wagtail vintererle, several Chiff-chaff gransanger, a couple of White-tailed Eagles havørn and the usual selection of finches were present.
The drive to Herdlevær produced the best sighting of the day in the form of a Grey Plover tundralo at Tjeldstø - not often they turn up at fresh water localities out here.
Grey Plover tundralo at Tjeldstø
The next day all I managed was a quick look at Sæle where the usual Blackcaps munk, Chiff-chaff gransanger turned up along with Goldfinches stillits which have become a regular feature and reasonable numbers of migrant thrushes and finches.
A morning spent on Hernar on 03 October was quite productive with two tristis Chiff-chaffs sibirsanger, a couple of Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger, Water Rails vannrikse, a migrant Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett, flyover Lapland Bunting lappsurv, a couple of Grey Wagtails vintererle and a good selection of other migrants. Winter visitors are starting to arrive with Common Scoter svartand, Velvet Scoter sjøorre and Long-tailed Duck havelle showing up.
Two of Bergen's finest full of early morning optimism
A massive seven birders covered the island today
One of two tristis Chiff-chaff sibirsanger on Hernar
Documentation video of the call taken with my mobile phone. The bird shows briefly towards the end:)
The following day I was not out in any meaningful way but a couple of drive-bys to and from the shops produced a calling Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett at Tjeldstø, a small flock of Parrot Crossbills furukorsnebb at Hatten. From the terrace a migrating White Wagtail linerle, Nuthatch spettmeis and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flaggspett were among the sightings.
A strongly marked Herring Gull gråmåke at Dåvøy made me look twice
Parrot Crossbills furukorsnebb at Hatten
A couple of hours seawatching at Skogsøy on 06 October proved quite productive with a male Scaup bergand heading south and a Little Stint dvergsnipe feeding with three Sanderling sandløper as the highlights. Passage wise there were plenty of Gannets havsule, Red-throated Divers smålom, small numbers of Common Scoter svartand, Velvet Scoter sjøorre and a light passage of gulls including several Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke.
Common Scoter svartand
A way too common sight - Gannet havsule with fishing line attached
I was quite optimistic to be home in Øygarden during the last week of September. Work put a massive brake on things as usual, there were plenty of birds about but nothing mega.
A couple of hours out on 24.09 produced just a few late(ish) Ruff brushane at Brevik, some decent flocks of Starling stær, Chiff-chaffs gransanger, Blackcaps munk and the usual.
Two of the three Ruff brushane at Breivik
I found this Toad in a bucket on my terrace, no idea how it managed to climb in or how long it had been there but I set it free in the garden where I hope it will eat a few pests before it hibernates:)
The next day I did my usual round at Herdlevær where things were quiet until they weren't. I'd seen little of note until a Snow Bunting snøspurv turned up right in front of me. As soon as I started trying to take pictures a Merlin dvergfalk and a Grey Wagtail vintererle flew over simultaneously, closely followed by a Grey Plover tundralo. Back home to work where I had a Jay nøtteskrike flying over, a Grey Plover tundralo on the shore and a White-tailed Eagle havørn.
Grey Plover tundralo at Nautnes
Snow Bunting snøspurv at Herdlevær
On 26 September I spent the morning on Hernar - WAY too long since I last managed to get there. My first Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger of the autumn was the best bird. There was plenty to see with good numbers of Brambling bjørkefink (100+), Twite bergrisik (30++), a Water Rail vannrikse or two, most of the usual thrushes and finches, a couple of Grey Wagtail vintererle, several Reed Bunting sivspurv, a couple of Swallows låvesvale and plenty more. A great morning in great company with Bert de Bruin and Roald Hatten:)
After this I was not really out in any meaningful way.
Another slight improvement in the amount of time spent out and about - from 17.08 onwards this was largely due to looking after a lovely Border Collie which meant I had to go out:)
On 11 August there was no trip out but Dunnocks jernspurv turned up in the garden after a long absence and there was some Greylag grågås migration. An unseasonal Whooper sangsvane was on Husvatnet where the Tufted Duck toppand family was reduced to five young ones. The Whooper was present there on and off throughout the period.
A walk at Hjelme on 12 August produced very few birds other than at least one Spotted Redshank sotsnipe heading south and a few Woodcock rugde in the woods. Back home birds from the terrace included another Spotted Redshank sotsnipe, a couple of Turnstone steinvender and a Greenshank gluttsnipe.
Tjeldstø produced some good birds with no less than four Grey Plover tundralo feeding in the area - a species that normally keeps to the coast rather than feeding in the heather like the commoner Golden Plover heilo. Several Lapwing vipe included at least two of this year's birds so it looks like there has been some success there:)
Also found Small Emperor Moth nattspåfugløye caterpillar at Tjeldstø.
Almost three hours of seawatching at Skogsøy on 13 August proved quite productive despite the rain.
Common Gull fiskemåke S 259
Gannet havsule S 53
GBBG svartbak S 66
Curlew storspove S 9
Oystercatcher tjeld S 251
Cormorant storskarv S 4
Herring Gull gråmåke S 6
LBBG sildemåke S 12
Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove S 2
Knot polarsnipe S 1 adult
Redshank rødstilk S 10
Dunlin myrsnipe S 26
Ringed Plover sandlo S 4
Shag toppskarv S 6, N 4
Greenshank gluttsnipe S 3
Golden Plover heilo S 12
Turnstone steinvender S 1
Ruff brushane S 8
Razorbill alke N 1
Common Scoter svartand S 6
Greylag grågås S 98
On the way home at least 300 Starling stær fed beside Husvatnet. Back home and doing stuff in the garden I had another 90 Greylags grågås migrating south, three Spotted Redshank sotsnipe flying over and a couple of Dunlin myrsnipe resting on the shore.
Dunlin myrsnipe at Nautnes
A quick round at Herdlevær the next day proved fairly quiet but a few Teal krikkand was a sign of migration and a small selection of the usual waders were seen.
Lesser Black-backed Gull sildemåke
Ringed Plover sandlo
Teal krikkand
Wheatear steinskvett
On 15 August I wasn't really out but another Spotted Red sotsnipe headed south over the house as did a Greenshank gluttsnipe. The number of Tufted Duck toppand chicks on Husvatnet was down to four and a lone Grey Plover tundralo was still present in the reserve (could have been more - just did a very quick drive-by). Stonechats svartstrupe still hanging around at Kollsnes and seven Lapwing vipe at Breivik included some of this year's birds - another success story:)
First year Stonechat svartstrupe at Kollsnes
I did my usual walk at Herdlevær with the dog on 18 August. Most of the usual waders were seen including 24 Ruff brushane flying over and a Curlew Sandpiper tundrasnipe heading south. Fishing in the evening at Sture produced a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker dvergspett - bang on time for this early autumn "migrant".
The following day I was back at Herdlevær and even had time to sit down for a hour - obviously a decent day's migration with 85 Greylag grågås, 13 Ruff brushane, 60 Golden Plover heilo, 258 Oystercatcher tjeld, 4 Knot polarsnipe and more heading south. Four first year Shelduck gravand flew the wrong way. Other birds seen at Herdlevær included a couple of Spotted Redshank sotsnipe that flew up from one of the pools there, Greenshank gluttsnipe and a Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett - a good indication that this may be an invasion year later on.
First year Stonechat svartstrupe in the sun this time:)
On 20 August I was back at Skogsøy where the dog seemed to be settling in and we sat for a little over a couple of hours. Light southerly winds with poor vis clearing
GBBG svartbak S 54
Common Gull fiskemåke S 134
LBBG sildemåke S 12
Gannet havsule S 16
Oystercatcher tjeld S 41
Whimbrel småspove S 2
Ringed Plover sandlo S 10
Red-throated Diver smålom S 1
Curlew storspove S 6
Redshank rødstilk S 3
Knot polarsnipe S 36
Greenshank gluttsnipe S 2
Turnstone steinvender S 2
Black-headed Gull hettemåke S 1
Best bird was a Green Sandpiper skogsnipe on the way back to the car.
On 30 September a light southerly breeze meant it was probably a good day for the birds to migrate - and indeed I had two Kestrels tårnfalk heading south - one of them a long way out to sea. Hunting Sparrowhawk spurvehauk, Peregrine vandrefalk and White-tailed Eagle havørn were the other raptors seen.
A single Sanderling sandløper was the best of the waders present.
Sanderling sandløper
Wheatear steinskvett
There was not a lot in the way of grounded migrants but a few Wheatear steinskvett were present and an interesting sylvia warbler call took quite a bit of time in an attempt to sort it out. All I actually saw was a male Blackcap munk but the call sounded altogether wrong for this species.
Still plenty of Brambling bjørkefink feeding on the still plentiful rowan berries along with small numbers of the usual thrushes.
The first Goldeneye kvinand of the autumn also turned up here.
The following day the wind was stronger and I did my usual round. Best bird was a Grey Plover tundralo with six Ringed Plover sandlo on the shore.
Grey Plover tundralo with Ringed Plovers sandlo
Three first year Lapwing vipe at Kollsnes and a drive-by Stonechat svartstrupe were the only other birds of note before the reaction to my second covid vaccination kicked in and had me on the sofa for the remainder of the day.
First year Lapwings vipe at Kollsnes
The first Stonechat svartstrupe I've seen for a while - a nice male.
Light SE changing to fresher southerly winds for the last hour. Overcast much of the time, but some sun and a couple of showers.
This picture was taken a bit too late to catch the mega double rainbow that lit up the Gannets that were pouring past at the time.
A few hours seawatching from dawn paid dividends today, largely in the form of waders. Good numbers of Ruff brushane were noted along with most of the usual autumn waders. Many flocks were too far out to identify with confidence. Wader highlights were at least two Little Stint dvergsnipe and three Grey Plover tundralo.
Pale-bellied Brent Geese ringgås
Gannet havsule - many gave great photo opportunities but there was too much else going on to take photos....
Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke were obviously on the move today
Migrating Oystercatcher tjeld
Ruff brushane (upper left), Dunlin myrsnipe (lower left) and Little Stint dvergsnipe (right)
Mixed flocks like this were common today.
Here 40 Ruff brushane, a Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove, three Ringed Plover sandlo, a Knot polarsnipe, five Dunlin mysnipe and 10 Oystercatcher tjeld
Other notable observations included a couple of light bellied (hrota) Brent Geese ringgås, a Great Skua storjo and good numbers of Wigeon brunnakke. Unusually most of the latter were males.
Four Arctic Tern rødnebbterne were relatively late and there was a noticable movement of Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke.
Peregrine vandrefalk, Black Guillemot teist, Sanderling sandløper feeding on the rocks and Red-throated Divers smålom were among the other species seen.
Red throated Diver smålom S 19
Northern Gannet havsule N121
Northern Gannet havsule S32
Great Cormorant storskarv S78
Eurasian Shag toppskarv N1
Eurasian Shag toppskarv S1
Brent Goose ringgås S2
Wigeon brunnakke S62
Eider ærfugl S4
Common Scoter svartand S2
Oystercatcher tjeld S14
Ringed Ploversandlo S 10
Golden Plover heilo S 80
Grey Plover tundralo S3
Red Knotpolarsnipe S 1
Sanderling sandløper S1
Dunlin myrsnipe S70
Little Stint dvergsnipe S2
Bar tailed Godwit lappspove S 11
Eurasian Curlew storspove S1
Redshank rødstilk S2
Ruffbrushane S 111
Wader105
Great Skua storjo S1
Common Gull fiskemåke S21
Lesser black backed Gull sildemåke S13
Arctic Tern rødnebbterne S4
Black Guillemot teist N1
Black Guillemot teist S1
A drive-by past Breivik later in the day produced a massive flock of Ruff brushane (85) with a Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove.
