Herdlevær 04 Febraury 2020 - Gulls on the move

Northerly winds, clear and sunny.

It was rather later than I had intended before I made it out. The aim today was to drag the species list at Herdlevær kicking and screaming into 2020 - although an immensely popular birding locality during migration it is little covered during the depths of winter. I was at least partly successful with this adding a number of local new for the year here including a nice Great Northern Diver islom heading south, a handful of Kittiwakes krykkje and a few species of sea duck.

As has been the case for the last few days there was a light but obvious passage of large gulls heading north - although I did not pick up on anything exciting here.

Phone scoped LBBG sildemåke - pale enough for graellsi?

I popped in at Tjeldstø on the way home where I found the earliest Lesser Black-backed Gull sildemåke I have seen in Øygarden. Although I did not actually see the legs it was obviously smaller and darker than the Herring Gulls gråmåke it was sharing a rock with. A Common Gull fiskemåke was also present here and another gull which gave off a very Ring-billed Gull ringnebbmåke vibe - clearly larger and paler than the Common Gull fiskemåke, with much larger bill complete with full band. Also barely any white primary tips, unfortunately the bird flew before I could get any further with it.

A flock of 90 Redpoll gråsisik and a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk were among the species noted here.

Male Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsebb

Another stop on the way home was Hatten where at least three Two-barred Crossbills bånkorsnebb were present along with the usual Crested Tits toppmeis etc.

Hjelme Vest, Dåvøy & Hatten 10 January 2020 - Calm weather clean up

Calm and sunny with a touch of frost.

I spent some time out and about trying to make the most of the cracking weather attempting to pick some of the "missing" species that I knew had to be around. This was largely successful with five more new for the Øygarden 2020 list.

First stop was Hjelme Vest, although a number of the hoped for target species failed to show. At least six Black Guillemots teist, 35 Long-tailed Duck havelle, a Curlew storspove and the first Gannet havsule of the year were the best of the sightings over the sea. No other auks, no divers and no grebes....

The woods were more productive too with the usual Crested Tits toppmeis along with Brambling bjørkefink and Redpoll gråsisik.

Next up was Dåvøy where the hoped for / expected Slavonian (Horned) Grebe horndykker showed. A Common Crossbill grankorsnebb flew over and there were 41 Grey Heron gråhegre at the roost.

A male and presumed female Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb

Female Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb

On the way home I popped in at Hatten where birds of the day were a flock of seven Two-barred Crossbill bånkorsnebb. A Jay nøtteskrike put in an appearance along with a selection of the usual woodland suspects.

Herdlevær & Tjeldstø 28-29 October 2019 - Northward migration

On 28 October the usual round at Herdlevær showed that the rather strange phenomenon of northward migration was underway with thrushes, finches and Waxwing sidensvans moving north. This happens most autumns during periods of calm, sunny and settled weather.

Goldfinch stillits, Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett and Snow Bunting snøspurv and at least three Great Northern Divers islom were among the other species seen.

On my way home I drove past Sture where I had four Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb and a flock of at least 100 Brambling bjørkefink feeding on spruce cones.

A very small part of a flock of migrating Fieldfare gråtrost at Tjeldstø

On 29 October I spent an hour at Tjeldstø and counted migrating Fieldfare - 1200 in one hour! I had hundreds more  at other localities during the morning. Several thousand must have passed during the course of the day - but heading north rather than the more seasonally acceptable south. Other stuff during this hour included 100's of finches  - largely Brambling bjørkefink, Redpoll gråsisik and Siskin grønnsisik. A few small flocks of Goldfich stillits, three Sparrowhawk spurvehauk also headed north. Flyover White-tailed Eagles havørn, Curlew storspove and Snipe enkeltbekkasin were among the other species seen here.

Back at Nautnes a Tree Sparrow pilfink and a Blackcap munk joined the more usual suspects in the garden. More birds heading north here too including Fieldfare gråstrost, Brambling bjørkefink and another flock of 15 Waxwing sidensvans.

Herdlevær 24 October 2019 - Jack Snipe at last

Strong southerly winds and overcast again.

I did the usual Herdlevær round again - still plenty of Rock Pipits skjærpiplerke and some thrushes and finches. Best bird was a nice Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin - a species that often turns up in wet and windy conditions.

At Hatten a flock of nine Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsbnebb turned up but were typically difficult to photograph in the tree tops where they were joined by a flock of at least 20 Brambling bjørkefink.

Common Scoter svartand from my terrace at Nautnes

Jay nøtteskrike at Hatten

A few of the Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsnebb

Whoopers sangsvane at Tjeldstø

Øygarden 10-11 August 2019 - Taking it easy / Unusual TBC irruption

Taking things very easy with just a couple of strolls at Tjeldstø, some observations from the garden and a walk at Hjelme West.

Tjeldstø produced the usual seasonal waders with up to three Green Sandpiper skogsnipe on 11 August when a Wood Sandpiper grønnstilk also put in an appearance. Other waders included a few Greenshank gluttsnipe, Redshank rødstilk, several Ruff brushane and up to 20 Snipe enkeltbekkasin.

Tjeldstø also produced Merlin dvergfalk and a "rusty" Cuckoo gjøk.

The house and garden gave pretty much more of the same plus a Whimbrel småspove.

Heavily cropped shots of the bird near Storavatnet

The male Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb at Hjelme West

Male Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsnebb were heard singing close to Storavatnet and at Hjelme West on 11 August. I was completely thrown when I first heard the song - I am well accustomed to the usual harsh metallic call and the better known trumpet call. But the song was totally unexpected - and thoughts of some strange sylvia warbler sprang to mind as the song reminded me somewhat of a rather strange Lesser Whitethroat. The bird at Storavatnet was alone but the one at Hjelme West had a companion which answered its calls / song but did not show well.

This singing is just another unusual aspect of the ongoing irruption. Some of the other differences are largely single birds rather than flocks, later than "usual" and bypassing the area and getting to the UK before here.

Øygarden 28 October 2017 - The X factor

Strong northerly winds with occasional short showers.

Male Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb showing wingbar

Female Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb

Male Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb

It is not often I see all three crossbill species in one day but Øygarden is heaving with crossbills at the moment. Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb were the dominant species today with a number of flocks seen - at least two of them numbering 20. Some mixed flocks too - the first flock I got onto today was seven Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb with one Two-barred Crossbill bånkorsnebb - a cracking male. It did not give the typical trumpet call of the species but when the flock flew it went in the opposite direction and right over where I was standing - the flight call was typical of the species and obviously different from the other crossblls heard today. Other flocks contained a mixed bag of Common Crossibll grankorsnebb and Parrots.

Yellow-legged Gull gubeinmåke at Tjeldstø

The Yellow-legged Gull gulbeinmåke, which some have doubted the ID of,  turned up at Tjeldstø again. I only managed a few distant shots but it is obvious that P9 and P10 have almost grown back in again. A very easy bird to pick out from the crowd for a number of reasons.

Lots of Redwings rødvingetrost feeding in the fields now

The only other migrants were Redwings rødvingetrost with flocks feeding on the ground at a few places - most berries have already been cleaned out. A flock of eight Meadow Pipits heipiperke at Breivik proved that there is still some migration going on.

Other stuff included a several White-tailed Eagles havørn, all juveniles, Willow Tits granmeis and many of the usual suspects.

Hjelme Vest 05 January 2014 - The first rarity of the year and a great morning out

Wind still largely southerly but much calmer than of late. Light rain at times.

An excellent morning at Hjelme Vest produced some good birds - including the first rarity in the form of Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb - hardly surprising given the numbers that arrived during the autumn. A few flocks of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb and some birds that were good candidates for Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb.

Other new species for the year included Turnstone steinvender, Curlew storspove, Woodcock rugde, Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, Gannet havsule, a couple of Great Northern Diver islom and Black Guillemot teist as well as a number of commoner species.

Of some concern - no Eiders ærfugl - very strange.

Back home at Nautnes work threw a spanner in the works but didn't stop me seeing a hunting Merlin dvergfalk flying past the garden during one of many phone calls......

 

Øygarden 11 November 2013 - Storm

Strong southerly winds increasing to storm force and rain later.

 

Record shots of a couple of the Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsnebb

Not much time to be out and about today. Consequently little to be seen. At Tjeldstø a small flock of Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsnebb, a new Whooper sangsvane and a few flocks of Starling stær were the only things of any interest.

Tjeldstø 09 November 2013 - ØYGARDEN RULES!!

Light SE, largely clear skies.

 

 The first Black-throated Thrush svartstrupetrost for Hordaland

After quickly checking a couple of localities I had to run an errand at Ådnevika near Tjeldstø. This turned out very well indeed - as it was here I found the county's first documented Black-throated Thrush svartstrupetrost - a nice male to boot! Just goes to show that in Øygarden one can never go anywhere without binoculars and camera.....

The twitchers from Bergen responded immediately. One fine day they might actually find something themselves but I have to admit I've all but given up any hope...

Everything else seen today paled into insignificance. However, the area around Harkestad proved quite productive with a couple of Chiff-chaff gransanger, two Blackcap munk, at least nine Goldfinch stillits, Willow Tit granmeis, approximately 90 Starling stær, a late Song Thrush måltrost and an assortment of the usual autumn stuff.

Jackdaw kaie at Sæle - normally this would probably have been the day's best sighting

 

Sparrowhawks spurvehauk seen "everywhere" today

Other interesting birds in an Øygarden context were Bullfinches dompap at Hjelmo and Sæle, Willow Tits granmeis and a Jackdaw kaie. At least four Blackcap munk also at Sæle - typically feeding on the remaining elderberries. Most of these all important tree have either been removed or severely cut back this year leaving only a few good ones behind. Same story everywhere....

Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsnebb are barely worth a mention these days as they remain so numerous but there were a few at Harkestad and a flock of seven at Sæle.

A Red-throated Diver smålom flew south past the house (another new for the garden list....)

 

Herdlevær 16 October 2013 - Pallas's Warbler!!

Perfect conditions. Little wind, light cloud cover and plenty of stuff about.

Above: Pallas's Warbler fuglekongesanger

A truly fantastic morning at Herdlevær produced the county's eighth Pallas's Warbler fuglekongesanger. Initially picked up on call it gave brief views before disappearing. This represents the first find for Øygarden of this cracking little gem and the first in Norway this year.

The county's twitchers were on the scene very quickly, obviously dropping work and other commitments as soon as the message was sent. They struggled to refind it but after a few hours managed to nail it.

 

Above: atypical Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger. Thankfully it called a couple of times...

An interesting Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger had me scratching my head until it called and confirmed its identity. Rather subdued colouring and very faint first wing bar had me thinking something else for a while......

Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper

Willow Tit granmeis

Several Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsnebb, a late Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper and a fly over Grey Wagtail vinterle were among the other goodies seen.

Before I left the house a flock of Waxwing sidensvans headed south and a couple of Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb landed nearby. House list now 38.

Øygarden 15 October - Almost there

Finally managed a short trip out of the house but before I left a couple of Grey Wagtail vintererle and a flock of Shag toppskarv were additions to the new garden list - which now stands at a whopping 35 species.

A late Lesser-black backed Gull sildemåke was the highlight at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø.

Part of the Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb flock 

Common Crossbill grankorsnebb feeding in rowan bushes

Willow Tit granmeis - good numbers of this irruptive migrant passing through recently

Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett

Mealy Redpolls gråsisik - some pale rumps seen but nothing good enough to claim anything....

At Herdlevær a mid afternoon stroll produced lots of grounded migrants including a few each of Chiff-chaff gransanger and Blackcap munk along with the usual selection of autumn thrushes and finches. Highlight here was a flock of seven Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb. Other stuff of interest were a couple of Willow Tit granmeis and a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett.