Herdlevær 14 November 2021 - Photo bonanza and first ever November record of Ringed Plover

Another day of cracking weather, light southerlies and sunny.

This post shoud come with a warning - rather more pictures than usual:)

Already during the short drive to Herdlevær I felt this was going to be a good day. A couple of late Woodpigeon ringdue flew over the road at Breivik as did a Woodcock rugde and a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk.

The Jackdaw kaie first seen amost a week ago turned up shortly after I started my usual round.

Jackdaw kaie

The walk out to my usual coffee and sandwich spot was relatively quiet. Howevr, a Ringed Plover sandlo on the shore was a real November rarity - the first record for November in Øygarden as far as I can tell. It was a first year bird and gave good views. As the sun rose the light improved and I crept down along the rocks to take some better photographs. Whilst doing this a flock of seven Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt flew in and gave some decent photo opportunities.

Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt - one of my favourite species that takes me back to where I grew up.

This bird is probably the one that is to blame for the state I am in now:)

I was initially quite happy with this photo of a species that has not been recorded in Øygarden in November before.

Nice preening image:)

Then the sun rose ever so slightly higher and I had to go crawling back over the rocks....

Over the sea there was obviously a fair bit going on, albeit at some range, several Little Auk alkekonge, Kittiwakes krykkje, a Curlew storspove and most of the usual late autumn suspects. A Peregrine vandrefalk was on the lookout for unwary migrants.

On my way back two Chiff-chaff gransanger gave good views feeding on flies attracted to mature ivy - hopefully the ivy I have got going in my garden will produce flowers before too long:). Neither of them gave any tristis indications.....

Chiff-chaffs gransanger

Some of the Herdlevær residents stopped me to ask if I'd seen anything rare just long enough to give a reasonable shot at one of the several White-tailed Eagles havørn seen today. 

2cy White-tailed Eagle havørn

Heading back to Nautnes a brief stop at Tjeldstø showed that the Whooper sangsvane numbers had doubled to four - unfortunately all adults. They were, as usual, accompanied by a flock of dabbling duck which included a Teal krikkand and a Wigeon brunnakke.

Brage and Vega 15 - 25 August 2021 - The Norwegian sector tour continues

 Some days close to the Brage platform produced little of interest, although a Great Skua storjo put on a good show on 15 August. Initially swimming on the sea next to the vessel it obviously upset a flock of Great Black-backed Gulls svartbak that were hanging around there. This changed to panic once the skua took to the wing:)

Sunrise at Brage

Some of the locals

Great Skua storjo

Vega also produced a lone Great Skua and a nice first year Ringed Plover sandlo spent the best part of a day onboard on 19 August. Generally very quiet though with just small numbers of Gannet havsule, Fulmar havhest, Kittiwake krykkje and Great Black-backed Gull svartbak. On 25 August a first year Arctic Tern rødnebbterne rested onboard during a period of strong northerly wind.

Fulmar havhest

Ringed Plover sandlo taking a rest onboard

Herdlevær 15 March 2020 - A cracking pair of chats

A very late and lazy stroll around my Herdlevær route with my youngest was very nice indeed. Although there were some heavy (but short) showers during the day we managed to avoid these whilst we were out. A small flock of Skylark sanglerke, a Ringed Plover sandlo and a Curlew storspove were the expected migrants.

Ringed Plover sandlo

Male Stonechat svartstrupe

The pair together

Random White-tailed Eagle havørn shot from my terrace earlier in the day

On our way back to the car a cracking pair of Stonechats svartstrupe gave much better views than the recent ones at Kollsnes.

In the evening I was both hot and thirsty have done the housework and went out on my terrace where I was almost hit by two Woodcock rugde who were obviously disputing territory. Magic.

Sture / Hatten 14 March 2020 - Two more new migrants

Today I had to spend most of the morning driving to the shops - my woodpile is now all but finished and I still need the fire on most evenings. Terrible prioritising keeping my daughters warm instead of birding I know.

The first Ringed Plover sandlo of the year.

A short drive out in the afternoon showed that one of the local breeding Ringed Plovers sandlo had returned - pretty much the usual arrival date. I also heard of another new arrival and went to check out a Song Thrush måltrost.

Common Scoter svartand from the terrace

Mallard stokkand

Other than that just a couple of Common Scoter svartand from my terrace, where I also had Curlew storspove, the Oystercatcher tjeld pair and a couple of White-tailed Eagles havørn.

Still plenty of Redpoll gråsisik and Brambling bjørkefink around.

Kollsnes July 2019 - Industry as a nature reserve

I have been working out of the Kollsnes gas processing plant in Øygarden for the last few weeks. Although there has been no birding as such I have parked my car and walked through the area daily. Photography is not allowed so my camera has been left in my car.

I have spent up to several seconds taking the following photos from my car window. I'm sure the photography ban doesn't cover the birds.....

At least one pair of Common Sandpiper strandsnipe breed inside the Kollsnes gas processing plant area

A few pairs of Oystercatcher tjeld have well grown young

This Ringed Plover sandlo had at least one young in tow. Right outside the accomodation block inside the plant

The Kollsnes plant covers a large area, much of which seems to be undisturbed a lot of the time. It is fenced off and access strictly controlled so there are no walkers, joggers or other normal forms of disturbance. At least five species of waders breed inside the fence - and I saw young of three of these without even trying. Curlew storspove, Ringed Plover sandlo, Common Sandpiper strandsnipe, Oystercatcher tjeld and Snipe enkeltbakkasin were breeding in the area during my time there. I strongly suspect that Lapwing vipe also breed within the fenced off area but may already have moved out. I only saw part of the area, it would be interesting to have a walk around more of it, preferably with binoculars...

In other words more pairs of more species than on the surrounding farmland. More pairs of more species than in nearby designated "friluftsområde" (basically places for walking etc).

Almost on a par with the nature reserve at Tjeldstø (where cats and other disturbance are prevalent).

Protection by industry. Worth a re-think......?