Øygarden 17-19 January 2026 - Calm and mild

Temperatures have risen to 5-6C and there has been very little wind, so apart from some reduced visibility on some days conditions have been ideal. Although the ground seems to be thawing fast freshwater remains largely frozen over. Hopefully the Snipe and Woodcock are managing to get some feeding in before the next cold period:)

On Saturday17th I did my first walk of the year at Herdlevær, one of the first birds seen here was a Snipe enkeltbekkasin - out in a field instead of in a tiny stream for once. The best bird was a lone Black-headed Gull hettemåke - a scarce winter visitor locally. A Great Northern Diver islom, a Velvet Scoter sjøorre and the usual suspects were seen.

A few Whoopers sangsvane were back in place - indicating that they have been somewhere close during the recent big freeze. 

In the afternoon I went fishing for the first time in 2026, quite a few fish of three species but only a couple of dinners worth of keepers. A Great Northern Diver islom was ample compensation for the lack of big fish:)

Great Northern Diver islom at Sture

On 18th there was some fog so visibility was not the best. I had a quick look at Hellesøy which gave a nice Little Auk alkekonge and a Great Northern Diver islom. I also gave Hjelme West a go but the fog proved challenging. A flock of five Razorbill alke flew in and a Great Northern Diver islom fished offshore here too. 

Little Auk alkekonge at Hellesøy

A Sparrowhawk spurvehauk in my garden was the first I've seen locally this year..

It was back to work on 19th but whilst on the phone I spotted two Otters feeding just off my terrace and whilst I watched these a Shelduck gravand flew in! This is the first January record for Øygarden according to the national database.

Shelduck gravand at Nautnes

I also took some video and pics using digiscoping techniques - they were better quality than these long range images from my point and pray.

I did a quick trip out and it was much of the same with Great Northern Diver islom here and there, At Sæle Little Auk alkekonge and Razorbill alke as well as a Velvet Scoter sjøorre and over 30 Long-tailed Duck havelle were present.

Øygarden 22-24.03.2025 - Arrivals!

At long last some birding time! It helps to get out of the house and it helps to get out of the car:)

On 22nd March I headed off to Skogsøy bright and early. On the way out the first Dunnock jernspurv and Song Thrusg måltrost of the year showed up along with most of the usual suspects including Goldcrest fuglekonge and Chaffinch bokfink also singing.

I sat for a little under three hours. things were rather quiet in the southerly winds with just the first local Shelduck gravand of the year for me also heading south. A few flocks of unidentified distant geese headed north. Over 40 Gannets havsule headed south and very small numbers of Eider ærfugl and Long-tailed Duck havelle passed. Singing Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, displaying Curlew storspove and flocks of passerines moving up and down the coast added to the spring-like feel.

On the way home I picked up my first White Wagtail linerle of the year at Breivik and a Hawfinch kjernebiter at Hatten aong with several Bullfinch dompap, Goldfinch stillits etc.

The first Dunnock jernspurv of the year

Male White Wagtal linerle - the first alba wagtails are often yarrellii rather than alba

In the evening the northern lights put on quite a show from my terrace.

Northern Lights at Nautnes

The next day I did my usual round at Herdlevær where Redwing rødvingetrost, Curlew storspove, Woodpigeon ringdue and Bullfinch dompap were among the new arrivals. 

A quick look at Tjeldstø on the way home produced another Redwing rødvingetrost, several Fieldfare gråtrost and a Goshawk hønsehauk among other things. The latter almost caught one of the several Teal krikkand present.

Goshawk hønsehauk takes a break after almost catching a Teal krikkand. VERY cropped image

Even this picture is heavily cropped showing the Goshawk to the left with Greylags grågås and Mallard stokkand very much on the alert.

Redwing rødvingetrost at Herdlevær

Probably a newly arrived migrant - I haven't seen one for a few weeks

A Linnet tornirisk flew over as I did a bit of work in the garden at Nautnes and an evening fishing trip produced a roding Woodcock rugde and surprising lots of squid - ultimately forcing me to give up and go home. On the way back home I stopped at Skjold hoping that last night's Tawny Owl kattugle (the first in 20 years here!!) would show. It didn't.

On 24th March a short trip out between meetings gave the first Meadow Pipit heipiplerke of the year singing at Husvatnet along with a couple of newly arrived Common Gulls fiskemåke. A few Linnet tornirisk and four Skylark sanglerke were at Breivik.

Skogsøy+ 30 April 2024 - More goodies

Skogsøy was quiet and on the verge of disappointing. SE winds are not normally good for migration in spring but can produce some surprises. So it was today with a pair of Gadwall snadderand passing first south before turning and heading north. Not a species I see every year in Øygarden. A Greenshank gluttsnipe and, more predictably two dark phase Arctic Skua tyvjo were among the other sightings, Virtually no divers and only small numbers of duck passing today. The dominant species today were Gannets havsule with over 90 heading south. Common Gull fiskemåke passage started to pick up shortly before I gave up and headed in.

Several White-tailed Eagles havørn seen including a young bird that had a very good go at grabbing a goslong at Husvatnet but the parents are adept and protecting their young and the attack was unsuccessful. A Greenshank gluttsnipe remained here and the first Lesser Whitethroat møller of the year sanger here but not much else of note.

Tufred Duck toppand fleeing from a White-tailed Eagle havørn - this species has also started passing over the sea.

Exhausted White-tailed Eagle havørn after an unsuccessful attempt at Greylag chicks.

An adult at Skogsøy headed out to sea to harass Gannets havsule.

On the way home I stopped at Hatten where a pair of Hawfinch kjernebiter performed nicely along with Brambling bjørkefink, Bullfinch dompap, Blackcap munk etc.

Male Brambling bjørkefink

Male Bullfinch dompap

The normal kind of Hawfinch kjernebiter view

Female Hawfinch kjernebiter

Male Hawfinch kjernebiter

Skogsøy 18 March 2018 - First Seawatch of the spring

Calm and sunny. Freezing conditions overnight but once again warm and sunny during the day.

Rather predictably I decided to do my first seawatch of the year, hoping for some migration and was not disappointed. There was quite a bit of movement, though proper migrants were a little thin on the ground.

Cormorant storskarv taking off below the lookout point

One of a few Gannets havsule seen today

A few of shots of the same Great Northern Diver islom on the sea showing the effects of different lighting....

Another Great Northern Diver islom heading south

Migrating Greylags grågås

Some Shags toppskarv heading south - next stop Rogaland

Two of the morning's Shelduck gravand

Typically for the time of year it was southbound Shag toppskarv that made up the numbers (into three figures). However, there was a small passage of Oystercatcher tjeld, three species of auk, four Shelduck gravand, Great Northern Diver islom and the first Snow Buntings snøspurv of the year too, one on the way out and another migrating bird during the seawatch itself.

There was (comparitively speaking) quite a bit of auk action - but a lot of these were distant and went under guillebill. However, some 18 Guillemots lomvi, a few Razorbill alke and even the first Puffin lunde of the year were positively identified.

A few Gannet havsule passing, singing Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke and a small flock of feeding Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt were among the other species noted. The sight and sound of displaying Oystercatchers tjeld warmed at least as much as the early spring sun did.

A total of 15 Blackbird svarttrost feeding in the garden is probably a new record and resulted in an increase in feeding targeted at this species.

A Gloucous Gull polarmåke was reported from Herdlevær and should also have passed Skogsøy.....
And the first Skylarks sanglerke were reported - predictably from Breivik.

Bleikenøvlingen etc 26 August 2017 - Messing around in boats

A couple of hours spent checking out the islands to the north and west of Øygarden - Bleikenøvlingen, Høgaskjeret, Høgenøvlingen etc in the evening was quite productive.

There was the usual selection of autumn waders of at least nine species including Knot polarsnipe, Sanderling sandløper, Dunline myrsnipe, Turnstones steinvender and the first Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt of the autumn.

One of two first year Black Guillemots teist seen. Presumably local breeders.

Almost impossible to photograph as they bobbed up and down behind the waves whilst we did the same

Resting migrant Common Gulls fiskemåke

Highly camouflaged Dunlin myrsnipe paid us no attention as they fed....

A curious Grey Seal havert...

Almost dream shot of Knot polarsnipe with breaking wave

Knot polarsnipe. Mostly first year birds seen today but some adults present too.

Ringed Plover sandlo

Colour ringed Shag toppskarv, Green ring with white lettering on right leg, normal metal ring on left leg

Could it be possible that this bird comes from a Spanish colour ringing scheme?!

 Cormorant storskarv in centre and another Shag on the right.

Shelduck gravand

Turnstone steinvender with Dunlin myrsnipe (and a Ringed Plover sandlo in the background)

Turnstones steinvender

One of the many Shags toppskarv seen was colour ringed - it was possible to read off the ring from photographs. Amazingly the only colour ringing project I have been able to find that fits the ring colour and coding is from Spain. I have not been able to find any details about Norwegian Shags having been found in Spain before but birds from the UK have so anything is possible. Watch this space.....

The only other birds of note were two young Shelduck gravand - presumably resting migrants.

Another bird of note for me was my first local Jay nøtteskrike of the year. This in no way reflects the status of this species in Øygarden - it is more a reflection of how little time I spend in woodland.