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 13.12-19.12.2025 - Never too late

 A short week back home gave few opportunities to get out so same same on that score. However, even this late in the year new species were found for a number of localities.

On Saturday 13th I did my usual round at Herdlevær followed by quick visits to a number of other localities.

Herdlevær gave little other than a Red-throated Diver smålom, Rock Pipit skjæpiplerke, a Velvet Scoter sjøorre, a couple of Kittiwakes krykkje and the ever present White-tailed Eagles havørn.

A number of Whoopers sangsvane were at various locations with at least 5 adult and two first years, probably more. Two adults with two young flew north over Dåvøy - the first for this locality this year and later the same combination were seen at Alvheim.

Two Little Grebe dvergdykker fed at Dåvøy.

Little Grebes dvergdykker at Dåvøy

Female Teal krikkand on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø

Whoopers sangsvane heading north over Dåvøy

...and the same combination further north at Alvheim shortly afterwards

A Jackdaw kaie at Tjeldstø was the first there in 2025 and hung around at least a few days. Also a flock of over 30 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt, a Teal krikkand and seven Greylag grågås at this locality.

On Sunday I took a family walk at Skogsøy which resulted in very few birds indeed but very nice views of three Otters. A flock of 15 Greylags grågås and a lone Starling stær were at Breivik on my way there.

After this Hellesøy gave a distant Great Northern Diver islom and small flocks of Redwing rødvingetrost and Fieldfare gråtrost were seen here and there.

On Tuesday 16th December I only checked Tjeldstø very briefly, two Teal krikkand, the Jackdaw kaie and seven Greylag grågås still present along with some Whoopers sangsvane. 

Greylags grågås at Tjeldstø

In conjunction with a quite successful fishing trip in the evening I headed home in the dark where I heard the "duck" call of Eagle Owl hubro repeatedly before seeing one glide out of the woods to hunt:)

The next day a few drive-bys gave 12 Greylag grågås at Breivik and seven at Tjeldstø, several White-tailed Eagles havørn, a small flock of Fieldfare gråtrost and excellent views of a Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy.

Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy

On 18th December it was much the same story although a female Common Scoter svartand on Husvatnet was an unusual freshwater observation along with a lone Lapwing vipe on Rotevatnet.

Female Common Scoter svartand, Husvatnet, Tjeldstø (photographed 19.12.2025)

Øygarden 18-21.03.2025 - Back in the game

 Work continues to be as relentless as ever, gone it seems are the days of a few hours out midweek:(

Nevertheless this is Øygarden and my home office can produce as does a trip to the shops. I was out each morning briefly before work (thank goodness the days are significantly lighter now!).

I returned home on the afternoon of 18.03 and a grocery run gave several Lapwing vipe at Breivik.

Lapwing vipe at Breivik

On 19.03 a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett, a nice flock of Teal krikkand and just being outside listening to displaying Lapwing vipe and Oystercatcher tjeld meant that half an hour at Tjeldstø were absolutely worth it. After work I managed a couple of drive-bys and caught up with two Rook kornkråke and two Jackdaw kaie at Breivik. 

The last two winters have been used to remove the sitka plantation in the middle of the reserve at Tjeldstø. This will undoubtedly benefit waders and wildfowl in the area.

More trees have disappeared at Husvatnet too - as has the bird hide bus stop which vanished during some work on the footpath. This is a shame as this bus stop / hide was better than the one beside Rotevatnet

Teal krikkand at Tjeldstø

Rook kornkråke with two Jackdaw kaie at Breivik

Robin rødstrupe at Dåvey

Lapwing vipe at Kollnes

Jackdaws kaie at Breivik

Up to three Otters and three White-tailed Eagles havørn provided entertainment even when I was stuck at home:)

On 20.03 I checked Hjelme briefly before work, turning up a nice White-tailed Eagle havørn, a pair of Bullfinch dompap, singing Chaffinches bokfink, a couple of Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett, Common Crossbills grankorsnebb and more.

Bullfinches dompap 

Although I do like my point and pray it is somewhat slower than the DSLR at getting going. This could have been a good picture if the camera was quicker at starting up.

From the terrace a few Teal krikkand, a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn, two Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, a couple of Gannet havsule and plenty more besides kept interest levels up.

After work I did a quick walk at Breivk which produced a Rook kornkråke, 120 Starling stær, a few Snipe enkeltbakkasin and several Lapwing vipe among other things.

A pre-work check at Tjeldstø on 21.03 gave more views of the Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett. A Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåveøy and a male Stonechat svartstrupe at Kollsnes were among the other sightings.

Little Grebe dvergdykker

Male Stonechat svartstrupe

Øygarden 10.02-12.02 - All time low?

Monday 10th February was spent doing the SEAPOP count, something that has not been done for a couple of years. The standard route is in the southern part of the "old" Øygarden. Although the weather was fantastic the day left me feeling rather depressed - I've never seen so few seabirds on the count - very small numbers of Eider ærfugl and Long-tailed Duck havelle and just one Common Scoter svartand gave very dismal results. A few Black Guillemot teist and a surprise Puffin lunde were also seen.

Puffin lunde

The next day I wasn't really out but picked up a Red-throated Diver smålom and the two long-staying Little Grebe dvergdykker were still present. Some Greylags grågås and six Whoopers sangsvane were on Husvatnet.

Heron gråhegre

Little Grebes dvergdykker

Red-throated Diver smålom

The following day I left Øygarden again without getting out at all.

Øygarden 02.02-09.02.2025 -

On 2nd February I did my usual round at Herdlevær, not much to report at all, although five White-tailed Eagle havørn feeding there and several Gannet havsule heading north during a brief coffee break. The albifrons Whitefront tundragås remained at Breivik. On the way home again a short stop at Tjeldstø produced my first local Goshawk hønsehauk of the year and later on I picked up three Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Hjelme.

The next day I was snowed under with work and only managed the briefest of drive-bys. A Common Seal steinkobbe at Dåvøy and a small flock of Goldfinch stillits in the garden along with the usual White-tailed Eagles havørn were all that I managed to see.

Common Seal steinkobbe at Dåvøy

The 4th February was only slightly better with an hour or so out of the house. A couple of Velvet Scoter sjøorre near Tjeldstø and the long-staying albifrons at Breivik were the only sightings of note.

albifrons Whitefront tundragås at Breivik

I spent 20 minutes at Hellesøy on 5th February without anything unusual being seen. Several each of Black Guillemot teist and Long-tailed Duck havelle and a few White-tailed Eagle havørn were among the birds seen here.

A tip-off regarding a Golden Eagle kongeørn later in the day had me leaving the house at short notice. Although there were signs of it's presence (flocks of gulls and crows flying around in disarray) it initially proved difficult to locate. I connected with it over Dåvøy where it headed back to Staumsundet. A small flock of Starling stær at Tjeldstø and a single at Skjold may well have been returning birds. Shortly after this I had to leave for a work trip.

Little Grebe dverdykker at Dåvøy

I returned late on Friday 7th February and did some birding the the next day. I started at Herdlevær which was fairly quiet, though I did pick up a Little Auk alkekonge there along with a single COmmon Scoter svartand (very scarce this winter) and a couple of Eiders ærfugl. Four Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, a small flock of Siskin grønnsisik and several very vocal Crested Tits toppmeis were among the other species seen here. A flock of 16 Starling stær near the car park were almost definitely new arrivals.

Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt at Herdlevær

On Sunday 9th February I headed to Hjelme West under ideal conditions. Before I left the house round 150 Siskin grønnsisik headed south over my terrace in flocks of between 20 and 40. The woods at Hjelme were full of Siskin grønnsisik with smaller numbers of Redpoll gråsisik, Common Crossbill grankorsnebb and the usual suspects. The sea and islands were quite good in a recent perspective with a few Great Northern Diver islom, reasonable numbers of Black Guillemot teist (8+), a Red-throated Diver smålom, a Curlew storspove, a few Oystercatcher tjeld, 30+ Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt and a Turnstone steinvender among the sightings. Long-tailed Duck havelle numbers were horribly low (17) with just an Eider ærfugl or two as the only other ducks.

A Goshawk hønsehauk hunting past my terrace was the first I've seen from my house this year. At Tjeldstø there was a noticeable arrival of Greylags grågås - probably returning birds.