Engerdal 26.09 - 01.10 Heading East instead of West

In the last week of September most birders of a sound mind head to rarity islands off the west coast of Norway. I decided to do the opposite and leave my rarity island off the west coast and head inland instead. Largely to avoid having to write the inevitable rarity descriptions up 😊.

The destination was somewhat predicatably Engerdal in Hedmark, eastern Norway

I managed a fair bit of time out and about and enjoyed quite a bit of quality birding in what were, for the most part, fantastic conditions. Vast numbers of thrushes and finches were seen pretty much everywhere - obviously on the move and preparing to go. Waxwings sidensvans, a variety of wildfowl and some of the eastern specialities such as Siberian Jay lavskrike, Three-toed Woodpecker tretåspett and Black Woodpecker svartspett were also noted.

This Black Redstart svartrødstjert was the second record for Engerdal and arguably the best bird I saw up there. It turned up immediately after a brief flurry of snow and was still present the next day. It was incredibly restless and the flight shots were taken as it seemed to want to join some of the many flocks of passing thrushes and finches.

Siberian Jays lavskrike were as cooperative as they usually are - once one has actually found them!

This one is in the process of swallowing a blueberry.

This Three-toed Woodpecker tretåspett flew over the road in front of me seemingly with a flock of thrushes. Always a nice sighting for a birder from the west of Norway....

Adult Black-throated Diver storlom

First year Black-throated Diver storlom

Several lakes in the area still held Black-throated Divers storlom. Largely this was a case of a lone adult together with a young one. Many were vocal.

Dunnock jernspurv

A rather distant Great Grey Shrike varsler

Jays nøtteskrike were very much in evidence as they frantically gathered their winter food supplies

Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis

Red-breasted Merganser siland

Pinkfeet kortnebbgås

Ring Ousels ringtrost were seen up towards the treeline

Crippling view of Snipe enkeltbekkasin (not even cropped!)

Willow Tit granmeis are very common in Engerdal

Tjeldstø / Nautnes 21-27 July 2018 - No birding

Apart from an hour of impromtu guiding on 24th there has been little or no birding this week.

Best bird was a Green Sandpiper skogsnipe from the house early in the morning of 27th - first of the autumn here in Øygarden. Next best was a Collared Dove tyrkerdue at Tjeldstø on 24th.

The unusual summer Pinkfoot kortnebbgås remained at Husvatnet until at least 25th.

Otherwise some indication of Common Gull fiskemåke and Black-headed Gull hettemåke migration and the usual White-tailed Eagle havørn trying to catch geese.

Animals seen from the house this week have included Porpoise nise, Red Deer hjørt and a bat flaggermus (not often I see the latter in Øygarden!). A fishing trip on 24th produced six species of fish....should probably start reporting these too.....

Tjeldstø 20 July 2018 - Summer wildfowl

Calm and sunny.

A short stroll around Tjeldstø produced a very unseasonal Pink-footed Goose kortnebbgås as the best bird.  This is the first July record for Øygarden. A second Tufted Duck toppand had joined the bird from the other day.

Pink-footed Goose kortnebbgås at Tjeldstø

Pink-footed Goose occurrence in Øygarden (from artsobs)

Other than this just the usual breeding waders.

Chaffinch bokfink

Finches such as Linnets tornirisk and Chaffinch bokfink are starting to form flocks now.

A couple of Swift tårnseiler and a Black-headed Gull hettemåke were signs of migration from the terrace later in the day.