Øygarden 09.03-14.03.2026 - More spring arrivals

A week with quite a bit of wind and rain and a lot of time sitting with my laptop.

Nevertheless, a number of new arrivals were seen.

On 9th March I only left the house just before it got dark but a male Teal krikkand, the first of the year locally for me, turned up on the sea in front of my house during the morning. Otherwise just a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn and the usual. There was also an obvious arrival of Blackbirds svarttrost with larger numbers than usual at various places.

Coal Tit svartmeis in the garden

Teal krikkand at Nautnes

The following day I had to head to Straume on an errand and had the first two Woodpigeon ringdue of the year flying over at Solsvik whilst waiting for a traffic light. After work I headed to Hjelme where a nice female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle saved the day.

Female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle, Hjelme

On 11th March I got out to do a few  drive-bys which turned out quite productive. A Little Grebe dvergdykker was still at Dåvøy - it has been a good winter for this species here with up to three present simultaneously. Heron gråhegre numbers jumped to 42 here. A couple of Pied Wagtails svartryggerle were at Tjeldstø with another bird that I didn't quite make out, despite looking I never managed to get further views, a Woodpigeon ringdue was in the same place. Lapwings vipe have started to get onto their territories out in the reserve which is a good sign of things to come....

A male Stonechat svartstrupe at Breivik was a nice observation and the female Tufted Duck toppand remained on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø without the male that has been present recently.

Last stop was Hjelme where the female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle remained and three Mistle Thrush duetrost finally gave good enough views to clinch them. I strongly suspect I have seen two others between late February and now but they have always been too far off / too brief.

Herring Gulls gråmåke at Dåvøy

Little Grebe dverdykker at Dåvøy

One of three Mistle Thrush duetrost at Hjelme

The female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle was still at Hjelme

On 12th March I was stuck inside all day but the first Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke of the year from the terrace turned up during one of the downpours.

The next day I spent a couple of hours out and about in the afternoon Gannets havsule heading down the fjord was the main event, although a migrant Black-headed Gull hettemåke turned up at Breivik. Hjelme was quiet with just a few presumably newly arrived Redwing rødvingetrost of interest.

Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Breivik

Gannet havsule at Tjeldstø

Female Tufted Duck toppand at Tjeldstø

On 14th March I did Skogsøy, more to test that I still can do it than any other reason. Turns out I can and I even managed to jog a fair bit of the way home. Birdwise nothing to shout about as predicted under the current conditions. Small numbers of auks, a movement of Gannets havsule and a couple of Kittiwake krykkje were all that was seen here.

The way home was rather more productive with Mistle Thrush duetrost and a Grey Wagtail vintererle at Tjeldstø as the best finds. Hjelme held four species of thrush and a (the?) Pied Wagtail svartryggerle.

Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Breivik

Herdlevær 16 October 2013 - Pallas's Warbler!!

Perfect conditions. Little wind, light cloud cover and plenty of stuff about.

Above: Pallas's Warbler fuglekongesanger

A truly fantastic morning at Herdlevær produced the county's eighth Pallas's Warbler fuglekongesanger. Initially picked up on call it gave brief views before disappearing. This represents the first find for Øygarden of this cracking little gem and the first in Norway this year.

The county's twitchers were on the scene very quickly, obviously dropping work and other commitments as soon as the message was sent. They struggled to refind it but after a few hours managed to nail it.

 

Above: atypical Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger. Thankfully it called a couple of times...

An interesting Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger had me scratching my head until it called and confirmed its identity. Rather subdued colouring and very faint first wing bar had me thinking something else for a while......

Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper

Willow Tit granmeis

Several Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsnebb, a late Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper and a fly over Grey Wagtail vinterle were among the other goodies seen.

Before I left the house a flock of Waxwing sidensvans headed south and a couple of Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb landed nearby. House list now 38.

Herdlevær 14 May 2013 - small fall

Strong southerly winds and sunny.

flava Yellow Wagtail gulerle

Obviously some grounded migrants about including a "flava" Yellow Wagtail gulerle (possibly same bird as on previous visit), a Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper, a Blackcap munk, a Skylark sanglerke and several Willow Warblers løvsanger.

Lapwing vipe (Tjeldstø)

Male Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper

There were plenty of Wheatear steinskvett about, one or two showing some indication of "Greenland" type birds.

The long staying Carrion Crow svartkråke was still present beside the car park at Skogsøy along with four Jackdaw kaie.

Herdlevær 19 April 2013 - New stuff just keeps coming...

Brisk northerly winds and clearish skies

Male Pied Flycatcher svarthvitfluesnapper

Today's conditions are not normally considered good for migrant passerines so Herdlevær was pleasantly productive. The highlight was a dapper male Pied flycatcher svarthvitfluesnapper feeding on the shore. This is  not a particularly easy bird to get in Øygarden, especially in the spring. It was also the first in Hordaland this year.

Female Blackcap munk

This Mink narrowly escaped with it's life - only escaping the dog by diving into the sea

Other new birds in were a couple of male Wheatear steinskvett and a pair of Blackcap munk. Among other migrants a couple of Skylark sanglerke, several Teal krikkand, White wagtails linerle and the usual assortment of thrushes.

A Mistle Thrush duetrost at Breivik was relegated to an "also ran".

Siskin grønnsisik

The garden was still full of stuff and included yet another new migrant - a Chiff-chaff gransanger.

All in all not a bad result at all.

Øygarden 30 July 2011

Once again sunny with a northerly wind.

Predictably some birders went to Skogsøy but there was little passing at sea and the Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsnebb were not seen again.

 Coal tit svartmeis

Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper

For my part I took things easy and saw rather little. Best sighting was a Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper at Sture - the first of the year in Øygarden.