Hernar 20 August 2020 - Time for some migrants

 Light SE winds and sunny.

Spent the morning looking for migrants on my favourite island.

Although Hernar was lifting with birds including a flock of around 50 Twite bergirisk there were only a Whinchat buskskvett and a Spotted Flycatcher gråfluesnapper present - right up until we were leaving the island when I found a first year Rosy Starling rosenstær sitting on a telephone line together with Starlings stær. I managed a few documentation shots and a quick view in the scope before I ended up helping to carry a vivarium complete with terrapins whilst hoping to obtain some better shots afterwards. Unfortunately once the terrapins were safely onboard their new boat the Rosy had moved on..... You couldn't make it up:)

Other sightings included a selection of the usual waders including Ruff brushane and Greenshank gluttsnipe, a flock of 14 Black-headed Gulls hettemåke (a good Hernar observation) and a Coal Tit svartmeis (an early migrant).

1cy Rosy Starling rosenstær

Whinchat buskskvett

Tjeldstø 02 July 2020 - Rosy Starling

On my way to work (albeit just for a day) I took a detour of a few hundred metres. First bird I saw was a cracking male Rosy Starling rosenstær - it was just a matter of time before these started turning up here too but this was the first of the year for the "county".

Male Rosy Starling rosenstær

This Oystercatcher tjeld landed on the roof of the car next to mine as I parked up at work in Bergen

Øygarden 11-12 September - A seawatch at last

Windy and showery!

A quick walk at Breivik on 11th turned up five Ruff brushane as the best sighting - not as many around this year compared to previous years and incredibly these were the first I've seen in Øygarden this autumn.

White-tailed Eagle havørn from the terrace

White-tailed Eagles havørn have been hanging in the wind outside the house a lot during the last few days.

Gannet havsule

On 12th I made an afternoon dash to Skogsøy and was rewarded with distant views of a Sooty Shearwater grålire, a Fulmar havhest and an Arctic Skua tyvjo chasing a tern. Plenty of Gannets havsule, a single Red-throated Diver smålom and not much else passed.

On the way home I popped in at Tjeldstø where I caught up with a Rosy Starling rosenstær that had been reported there earlier in the day. Judging by the moult pattern it could well have been the same bird that I saw at Breivik a couple of days ago.

A couple of Knot polarsnipe fed on the shore in front of the house earlier in the day.

Breivik & Herdlevær 10 September 2018 - Blue Monday turns pink(ish)

Strong SW winds, mostly sunny with some heavy showers.

Not the best start to the day - spent at the office. After I got home I dashed out for a quick evening trip to Herdlevær thinking I would spend half an hour seawatching. However, I didn't even make it to Herdlevær before a rarity turned up and I spent most of my time on this.

First year Rosy Starling rosenstær

The Sparrowhawk spurvehauk that kept things nervous

Having missed all the previous local Rosy Starlings rosenstær this year I managed to find a new one. After the adults in May and a few days ago this was "just" a first year bird. Nevertheless I was happy with this find. Starlings stær are pretty active at the best of times and a hunting Sparrowhawk spurvehauk didn't make them less flighty.

Dunlin myrsnipe

Ringed Plover sandlo

With even less time left to do Herdlevær I dashed round, thoroughly enjoying the strong winds and a heavy shower. Just the usual suspects though with several species of wader noted.

In the last few days I did a day of guiding on Herdla on Saturday which resulted in Curlew Sandpipers tundrasnipe, Grey Plover tundralo and most of the usual waders as well as a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn and a lone Velvet Scoter sjøorre.

Yesterday I managed a massive hour or so out and managed to catch a southbound Osprey fiskeørn heading south over Tjeldstø - presumably the same bird reported from Herdlevær shortly afterwards.

Nautnes 10 September 2015 - Finally plugged that hole in the list...

Sunny, warm and a hint of easterly winds

Highlight of the daywas a Rosy Starling rosenstær on a telephone line outside the house - species #107 from the house. Wicked. I have to acknowledge Mrs Naturalbornbirder's contribution to this find  - I was busy downloading pictures of an interesting harrtier when I was called outside to look at yet another flock of Starling stær - at least 700 passed the house- but this flock stopped and contained my Øygarden bogeybird.

The Hernar harrier, seen earlier heading north past Turøy looked quite small

The underwing pattern and four primaries look good for Pallid....

Knot polarsnipe

First year Rosy Starling rosenstær

Sanderling sandløper

The morning was spent on Hernar which produced a Barred Warbler Hauksanger and an interesting harrier which showed some features of Pallid Harrier steppehauk. Jury is still out but it could still swing thant way....

On the islands offshore Sanderling sandløper, Knot polarsnipe, Grey Plover tundralo, Peregrine vandrefalk and most of the usual suspects were seen.

As a bonus some excellent Northern Lights displays both yesterday evening and tonight. Wicked.

Its great to be back! Roll on tomorrow.....

Herdlevær 28 August - Rose-colured Starling

My Øygarden bogeybird which I have missed on three occasions now turned up at Herdlevær today in the form of a Rose-coloured Starling rosenstær.

Trumpeter Finch trompeterfink

One of three very vocal and rather flighty Red-throated Pipit lappiplerke present at Øra

I was "unfortunately" further afield and had a good day out (mildly put) in south east Norway with Simon Rix where we saw the long staying Trumpeter Finch trompeterfink (the first for Norway), three Red-throated Pipits lappiplerke, several Beared Tit skjeggmeis and plenty more besides.

Would I have preferred to see the Rose-coloured Starling on my home patch? Would you?