Øygarden 21-22 March 2017 - Considering giving up again

Mostly sunny but with some wintery showers

On 21 March another new for the year turned up at Nautnes - Song Thrush måltrost.

Displaying Rock Pipits skjærpiplerke

Later in the day I had a quick walk at Hjelme Vest and a drive-by at Sæle. Hjelme Vest produced rather little other than a flock of at least 22 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt. Virtually no duck at all, just a few Gannet havsule, a pair of Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke displaying very actively and a single White-tailed Eagle havørn.

The Rock Pipits skjærpiplerke struck me as rather different to the obvious recent migrants at Tjeldstø. The local breeders seem to be more like the typical birds in the UK - being rather browner and duller as opposed to the migrants which are more slaty grey on the back and peachy on the breast. I wonder where these migrants really come from / are on the way to....

Nuthatch spettmeis

Sæle produced the best bird in an Øygarden context with a singing Nuthatch spettmeis. However, the best bird from my point of view was a Woodcock rugde roding over the house in the evening.

On 22 March I did the "short round" at Tjeldstø - the only bird of note was the Scaup bergand still present on Rotevatnet. My timing was bad here with a snow shower starting shortly after I arrived.

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.

Hernar 03 April 2014 - Black Grouse

Very light easterly breeze, warm and sunny after a frosty start.

With the weather as good as it was today there was never going to be much in the way of grounded migrants but I was rather hoping for some movement overhead. All in all rather quiet but around 30 species seen including a number of the island specialities - Twite bergirisk were very obvious as were at least two male Black Grouse orrfugl - the first I've had in Øygarden this year.

Black Grouse orrfugl

Robin rødstrupe

Above and below Twite bergirisk

White-tailed Eagle havørn

A handfull each of Robins rødstrupe and Song Thrush måltrost along with a Dunnock jernspurv, a Linnet tornirisk and most of the usual suspects were seen.

News from Hernar included a new boat and timetable. The route is now operated by Gulen Skyssbåt Service. Sadder news was that the island shop has now closed. No chocolate or beer to celebrate good finds anymore!

Before leaving the house I had another Black Grouse orrfugl - a new species for Nautnes and for the house list.

Nuthatch spettmeis - a very scarce breeder in Øygarden

Sparrowhawk spurvehauk

An evening stroll at Sture produced nice views of a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and, of rather more interest, a pair of Nuthatch spettmeis nest building.

Øygarden 10 February 2012

Southerly winds continue as does the very slow thaw.

At Toftøy at least one Nuthatch spettmeis was another new Øygarden species for 2012. Most of the usual suspects present here including a Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett.

 First winter Common Gull fiskemåke - quite scarce in Øygarden given the numbers in Bergen

 Herring Gull gråmåke

 This White-tailed Eagle havørn was a real frame-filler at Herdlevær - these reduced images really don't do it justice.

Common Snipes enkeltbekkasin present at Herdlevær and Dåvøy. Four Whoopers sangsvane sat on the ice at Tjeldstø later in the afternoon.

Hernar 28 September 2011 - Nuthtach

Strong SW and very dull with occasional light showers.

Not exactly ideal conditions for Hernar but took the chance anyway. Plenty of birds about including a few potentially interesting things that got away....

Highlight was a migrant Nuthatch spettmeis - the first I have seen in Øygarden this year. Migrants included a couple of Blackcap munk, two Willow warbler løvsanger, a Chiff-chaff gransanger and three Siskin grønnsisik.

 Nuthatch spettmeis on Hernar -  perhaps there will be an irruption this year

 Sparrowhawk spurvehauk

Goldcrest fuglekonge at Hellesøy

Other sightings were around 40 Twite bergirisk, a couple of Red-throated Diver smålom and a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk.