Maria and Dvalin 11-13 August 2021 - Northern Norwegian sector first?

Unusually calm conditions weather-wise for this area.

On the evening of 11 August a flock of 18 Turnstone steinvender flew around the vessel at Maria a few times before continuing south. The only other migrant was a first year Arctic Tern rødnebbterne which spent a couple of days using the vessel as a resting place in between foraging trips.

Other than that just small numbers of Gannet havsule, Fulmar havhest, Kittiwake krykkje and GBBG svartbak.

First year Arctic Tern rødnebbterne - no doubt on its way south from wherever it was raised

We then moved further north to Dvalin on 13 August where a Turtle Dove turteldue put in an appearance. It was very shy and performed circuits of the vessel whenever disturbed. I waited in the right place and caught it as it came in for landing on the helideck. According the the national recording system this is the first record of this species for the northern Norwegian sector. I have, however, seen this species even further north of the Shtokman field in the Russian sector of the Barent's Sea.

A probable Fin whale passed here too - but I did not have my camera with me at its closest point of approach. A single Puffin lunde and a small flock of Guillemots lomvi were the only other sightings over and above the usual.

Turtle Dove turteldue at Dvalin

This shot illustrates the undertail pattern well - showing the difference between European and Oriental Turtle Doves (ref Dutch Birding article)

What I think is a Fin Whale

Guillemots lomvi

Puffin lunde

Toft 14 October 2014 - Radde's Warbler and Turtle Dove - birding to the bitter end.

Calm and sunny.

Fantastic conditions and an early morning stroll at Tjeldstø revealled that it was surprisingly a day for grounded migrants rather than visible migration - with clear skies and no wind this came as totally unexpected.

RADDE'S WARBLER VIERSANGER - second county record.

The day took an unexpected turn as I prepared to leave for work - just before I was going to leave on the 10:00 bus to town local ringer Nigel Goodgame rang me on the last remaining credit on his phone - telling me of an interesting phyllosc and could I please let his wife know. Nice prioritising!

Incredibly, whislt hitching a ride to see the bird with another local birder we managed a Turtle Dove turteldue on a roadside telephone wire near Nautnes.

The ID of what turned out to be a Radde's Warbler viersanger was straightfoward - all the relevant features for this mega are clearly shown in the above images.

The next problem solved itself - missing the bus but hitching a ride with one of the twitchers who had made it out in amazingly short time. Autumn speed traps on the way out to Øygarden could prove fruitfull.

Talk about birding to the bitter end. Not the easiest conditions in which to leave Øygarden....

Øygarden 18 September - Turtle Dove

Turtle Dove turteldue at Breivik

Chaffinch bokfink at Herdlevær

Highlight today was a Turtle Dove turteldue at Breivik. It was quite shy and flew off before I maanged to take good photos. However, it didn't seem to go far and may still be in the area.

Herdlevær was quiet with just a northbound adult Great Northern Diver islom of note. It flew over land and would probably have been missed had I been at Skogsøy.