Øygarden 31.08-03.09.2024 - Back to normal

On my return from Falsterbo it was straight into a couple of days of guiding.

An afternoon on Herdla on 31 August gave most of the usual suspects. Highlights were a couple of Black-tailed Godwit svarthalespove and at least two Curlew Sandpiper tundrasnipe. Surprise bird was a Whooper Swan sangsvane - no doubt the same bird that has frequented Tjeldstø recently.

Good numbers and a nice variety of other waders were seen including a couple each of Knot polarsnipe and Turnstone steinvender. 

Dunlin myrsnipe

Two Knot polarsnipe and a Dunlin myrsnipe

Mixed flock of waders including two Curlew Sandpipers tundrasnipe, two Knot polarsnipe, Ruff brushane and Dunlin myrsnipe

The next day was a full day out in Øygarden and we kicked off from my terrace with Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett calling. A walk at Herdlevær produced significantly more species than at Herdla the previous day with the best bird being a Merlin dvergfalk. During the day a noticeable passage of Greylags grågås heading south. Passerines of note included a Stonechat svartstrupe, Whinchat buskskvett and Common Crossbills grankorsnebb. Best bird of the day in a local context was a Black-throated Diver storlom on the sea at Tjeldstø. A few White-tailed Eagle havørn  and a good variety of early autumn migrants were also seen.

On 02 September the Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett once again made its presence known from the terrace and an early Grey Wagtail vinterle fed on the shore in front of my house. Also from my terrace an Otter put in an appearance. 

Sunset from the terrace

Early morning view from the terrace

A large spider living on my terrace

The next day was spent preparing for an offshore trip with little time in the field. Best birds were a Kestrel tårnfalk at Husvatnet and a few Wigeon brunnakke at Kollsnes.

Kestrel tårnfalk at Husvatnet 03 September

Herdlevær 30 January - Back in business

Foul weather with strong southerly winds, rain and sleet.

A female Red-breasted Merganser siland - catching plenty of fish

Made the most of the conditions at Herdlevær. We had nice views of a Merganser siland which caught several fish in quick succession.

Eiders ærfugl

Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt

Otherwise not that much about - just a couple of Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt - rather short billed.

Back home at Nautnes just the usual White-tailed Eagle havørn, a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and an Otter.

Herdlevær 01 November 2014 - Short-eared Owl

Strong SSW winds, some light rain at times.

Herdlevær was generally quiet but some thrushes and Starling stær feeding in the fields.

Above and below Short-eared Owl jordugle at Herdlevær

Redwing rødvingetrost are everywhere at the moment

Highlight here was Short-eared Owl jordugle that I almost trod on - it was hunkered down in a crack in the rocks obviously trying to find shelter from the wind. Nowhere near as rare here as it is in Oslo but always a cracking bird to see.

A Velvet Scoter sjøorre on the sea, a Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt on the rocks, a few Kittiwake krykkje and another flock of small waders flying past were among the other stuff seen here.

Teal krikkand on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø

At Tjeldstø a female Blackcap munk was very vocal and a flock of 10 Teal krikkand were on Husvatnet.

The Nuthatch spettmeis was still present in the "garden" today

A couple of Red-throated Diver smålom, two White-tailed Eagles havørn and a Kittiwake krykkje were among the species seen from the house later in the afternoon.

Herdlevær 10 October 2014 - Expect the unexpected....

Southerly winds with showers.

Conditions were excellent for finding something today - plenty of birds about and the feeling that something was going to turn up was ever- present.

I have to admit today I was thinking waders - hoping for a Grey Plover tundralo or even a Grey Phalarope polarsvømmesnipe. Today's best bird was indeed a wader - but certainly not one that had crossed my mind as even a remote possibility...

Dotterel boltit at Herdelvær

Highlight was a very late and completely unexpected Dotterel boltit - only the second time I have seen this species in Øygarden and the first time in autumn. It is only the sixth October record for Norway and the latest ever in Hordaland according to "the database". I'm well aware that not all records are in the database but this at least gives a pointer towards how unusual this sighting was. It was first picked up on call as a flock of Golden Plover heilo, a Dunlin myrsnipe and some Ringed Plover sandlo passed - and shortly afterwards found on the ground.

Some good flocks of Common Gull fiskemåke passed today

Dunlin myrsnipe

Colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull sildemåke

Razorbill alke

Red-throated Diver smålom

Other decent sightings were a couple of Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin, a late Oystercatcher tjeld and at least 600 Common Gull fiskemåke heading south. Also of interest were a colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull sildemåke, a number of Red-throated Diver smålom, a flock of 14 Skylark sanglerke and good numbers of Song Thrush måltrost.

Tufted Duck toppand with two Wigeon brunnakke at Tjeldstø

At Tjeldstø the first Tufted Duck toppand of the autumn joined a couple of Wigeon brunnakke on Husvatnet.

Brambling bjørkefink at Nautnes

Back at Nautnes a Restart rødstjert was a late autumn record.

Herdlevær 01 October 2014 - More new autumn stuff.

Fresh southerly winds, rather dull and still very mild. Showers in the afternoon.

A few hours at Herdlevær in the morning provided some decent birding. Compared to yesterday there were few passerines on the move - no doubt because of the stronger winds. To make up for this wildfowl were more obvious - with a few firsts for the autumn.

Common Gull fiskemåke

Long-tailed Duck havelle with three Common Scoter svartand

Shag toppskarv

Highlights at Herdlevær were a Pinkfoot kortnebbgås  in one of two flocks of Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås that passed and a Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin. The first Velvet Scoter sjøorre for some time headed south as did small numbers of Common Scoter svartand, a Long-tailed Duck havelle and eight Red-throated Diver smålom. A light passage of Common Gulls fiskemåke again and a flock of five Arctic Tern rødnebbterne also flew south.

An overview shot I took before moving closer - three species of wader present

Dunlin myrsnipe

Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt

Ringed Plover sandlo

Small numbers of waders flew past and a few more on the shore - Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, Ringed Plover sandlo and Dunlin myrsnipe fed near my usual breakfast stop.

Migrant passerines were thinner on the ground - just a feeding flock of about 10 Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke and a Wheatear steinskvett were seen.

Pinkfoot kortnebbgås at Tjeldstø

Another Pinkfoot kortnebbgås was present at Tjeldstø.

A quick check at Sæle produced the usual autumn mix of Chiff-chaff gransanger, Blackcap munk, Brambling bjørkefink etc.

Herdlevær 28 March 2013

Sunny with light northerly wind.

It was after lunch before I managed to get out and with lots of people out and about there was little to see.

Greylag grågås pair claiming their territory

Small numbers of most of the usual suspects including several Lapwings vipe were all that was to be seen. Greylags grågås already settling in nicely.