Oslo and Vestfold 19-23 November 2025

On 19th November I spent a couple of hours on Gressholmen. The initial feeling was that it was way too quiet and there was little to see. But a Little Auk alkekonge turned up along with most of the usual seaduck, a Red-throated Diver smålom and the usual suspects on the sea.

Little Auk alkekonge

Treecreeper trekryper - something I see less of than Little Auk alkekonge in my normal birding back in Øygarden

Passerines were a bit thin on the ground but good numbers of Blackbird svarttrost and a Treecreeper trekryper that gave cracking views were among the species seen here.

On 20th November we headed west of Oslo for an impromptu few days away. A short stop at Ilene, near Tønsberg gave a male Smew lappfiskand as the best bird, even though it was distant and against the light. A Red-throated Diver smålom and a nice variety of wildfowl were among the other sightings here. Both the Smew and the diver were new species for this locality for 2025 - never too late to stop trying:)

Next stop was Presterødkilen where there were good numbers of dabbling ducks, including a Teal krikkand, Goosanders laksand and plenty of other wildfowl.

The next day we visited Verdens Ende (the end of the world) which was just spectacular. Insane geology there! Out on the sea were good numbers of Eiders ærfugl (600++), several Little Auk alkeonge, and a variety of other seaduck. A flock of Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt fed among resting seals on an offshore island.

Next up was a walk at Moutmarka where the best birds were a Great Northern Diver islom on the sea, another Little Auk alkekonge and small numbers of pipits, including a couple of Meadow Pipit heipiplerke. A Treecreeper trekryper here was a new species for this locality in 2025 - another reason to not stop trying:)

Great Northern Diver islom

A couple of Meadow Pipit heipiplerke 

A trip to one of Norway's best birding destinations, Mølen, on 22nd November was quite productive with Slavonian Grebe horndykker, Little Auk alkekonge, Red-throated Diver smålom and good numbers of Velvet Scoter sjøorre giving great views. The vegetation along the coast gave Goldcrests fuglekonge, Crested Tit toppmeis and other species. It is obvious why this place works during the migration seasons!

Nevlunghstrand held well over 20 Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, a couple of Meadow Pipit heipiplerke and more.

Back in Oslo on 23rd I took things easy and spent an hour or so in the Botanic Gardens. Best birds here were a Nutcracker nøttekråke, a female Blackcap munk, Hawfinch kjernebiter and Goldcrests fuglekonge. Over 60 Fieldfare gråtrost fed on the ample supply of berries together with Blackbirds svarttrost and other species. 

Just wonder what it would be like if the vast variety of bushes and trees in these gardens were moved to an offshore island on the west coast.....

Nutcracker nøttekråke in the Botanical Gardens, Oslo

Hernar 13 October 2022 - New Hernar ticks

An all too infrequent visit to Hernar produced two island ticks today in the form of a Treecreeper trekryper and Parrot Crossbills furukorsnebb.

Otherwise a pretty much normal autumn day with 50 species noted including the first Grey Wagtail vintererle and Goldfinch stillits of year for the island.

Other migrants included four Chiff-chaff gransanger, two of which looked rather like tristis to me (and I heard the "chicken" call from one of them), a few Blackcap munk, Snow Bunting snøspurv, Water Rail vannriskse and late Oystercatcher tjeld and Swallow låvesvale.

Chiff-chaffs gransanger

Plenty of Robin rødstrupe on the move

Treecreeper trekryper - the first I have seen on Hernar:)

Øygarden 28-29 October 2018 - Bits and bobs

Not much time spent in the field but a stroll at Sæle on 28 October produced a Treecreeper trekryper along with the more usual Blackcaps munk. There were lots (ie 100's) of Common Redpoll gråsisik heading north everywhere I went with flocks seen over my house at Nautnes, at Sæle, at the shops at Tjeldstø etc.

Male Blackcap munk at Sæle

Fieldfare gråtrost

A Tree Sparrow pilfink turned up in my garden and a Long-tailed Duck havelle put in a freshwater appearance on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø.

On 29 October I spent even less time out but the first Whoopers sangsvane of the autumn turned up on Husvatnet where the Long-tailed Duck havelle remained.

Hjelme 26 October 2018 - Little Egret before breakfast

On Thursday afternoon I was at the office in Bergen when I received a telephone call from birders from Bergen who had driven out again to try and relocate the Little Egret silkehegre.  They had found it close to where it was initially sighted near the old church at Hjelme. Very frustrating but I felt I took it very well and kept working and planned to try for it first thing Friday....

Heavily cropped version of one of the first pictures I took of the Little Egret silkehegre

The next morning I was up bright and early and clinched the egret before the sun came up. One of the local Grey Herons gråhegre clearly didn't appreciate the competition and hassled the egret until it flew off. I soon re-found it actively feeding on the plentiful small fish and prawns in the area.

However, even this was short lived as it flew off and I did not manage to relocate it again. This pattern continued over the next day or two with some birders making repeated trips out to try and connect with the bird - some without success.

Some very approachable Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt.

Some Purple Sands fjæreplytt, a few Parrot Crossbills furukorsnebb and a Treecreeper trekryper were among the other birds seen.

Nautnes 23 January 2017 - Best weather yet this year BUT...

Calm, sunny and mild.

Cracking weather but work and taking my youngest to the dentist meant I couldn't make anything of it. However, a short walk from the house produced a relatively good bird - the first Treecreeper trekryper of the year. Treecreeper can be a hard species to see in Øygarden (though undoubtedly under recorded as they prefer the areas least visited) - I checked it on artsobs and got the following:

Treecreeper trekryper occurrence in Øygarden by week number

(One could argue that the peak in the autumn is due to observer effort with most birders putting the effort in during the peak rarity season but when I check my own records a very similar pattern is shown.

...and by year. Prior to 2010 it wasn't even recorded annually - this may well partly be a feature caused by when observers have started using artsobs. Either way you get the idea - there are not many seen out here.

Among other things seen here were a flock of at least 30 Common Crossbill grankorsnebb feeding in the woods, several Crested Tit toppmeis and a couple of  White-tailed Eagles havørn.

The trip to the dentists produced another local first for the year in the form of a roadside Collared Dove tyrkerdue at Tofy. Generally a spring and early summer migrant in most of Øygarden there is a small resident population in the south of the district.

Øygarden 18 October 2016 - Another few new for the year

Light SE but mild and overcast much of the day.

Record shot of three Brent Geese ringgås resting on the sea.

Took a walk at Hjelme Vest where the best birds were three Brent Geese ringgås of the rather uncommon dark-bellied race bernicula. Other than a few flocks of Common Scoter svartand and at least nine Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt it was quiet on the sea.

Over the land flocks of Blue Tits blåmeis and Common Crossbill grankorsnebb were constantly flying over. A Treecreeper trekryper also put in an appearance here.

A drive-by at Sæle produced at least 10 Blackcap munk, a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett and a few Long-tailed Tit sjtertmeis - the first I've had in Øygarden this year.

Female Scaup bergand at Tjeldstø

Female Shoveler skjeand

A trip to the shops meant I had to stop at Husvatnet on the way - it was rather better than normal with the highlight being a single female Scaup bergand - another new for the year locally. At least one of the Shoveler skjeand was still around as were the Common Sctoer svartand and a small flock of Goldfinch stillits.

Back home and working in the garden a flock of 15 Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis landed briefly, a Common Scoter svartand landed on the sea in front of the house and a good 300 Fieldfare gråtrost flew south. And the usual couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn.

So all in all the giving up birding thing is not going very well at all.

Tjeldstø 12 January 2013 - First "rarity" of the year...

Calm, sunny and freezing again.

 The first Treecreeper trekryper of 2013 - a rare winter sighting in Øygarden

Still struggling to get out and about but had a very productive hour at Tjeldstø in the afternoon. Highlight was without doubt a Treecreeper trekryper. First for Øygarden this year and the first I've seen here since 2010! This species is very much an irruptive autumn migrant and is very rare in winter.

Treecreeper occurrence in Øygarden (from artsdatabasen)

 Above and below - 2 cy Goshawk hønsehauk

Other good sightings included a second year Goshawk hønsehauk, a Woodcock rugde, a Snipe enkeltbekkasin and a couple of Little Auk alkekonge.

 Above and below - Parrot Crossbills furukorsnebb at Sture

A short stroll at Sture produced a small flock of Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb.