Herdlevær 17 April 2019 - Hoping for a fall

Calm and sunny BUT with a heavy rain shower around dawn I hoped for some grounded migrants - thus I opted for Herdlevær this morning.

On the way there I picked up the first two Swallows låvesvale of the year at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø.

Chiff-chaff gransanger

Herdlevær held the usual stuff but in some increased numbers. A couple of Chiff-chaff gransanger, a few Wheatear steinskvett and a Brambling bjørkefink were among the birds seen here.

A short seawatch during breakfast produced small numbers of Common Scoter svartand, Red-throated Diver smålom and the usual.

Pinkfeet kortnebbgås (with a Greylag grågås to the left)

Common Gulls fiskemåke feeding on newly fertilized fields at Breivik

Synchronised flying display by Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and Hooded Crow kråke

Birds seen on the way home included the seven Pinkfeet kortnebbgås at Kollsnes, Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and Tree Sparrows pilfink at Breivik.

Mistle Thrush duetrost at Nautnes

Aside from the Swallows the best find of the day were two Mistle Thrush duetrost feeding in the field beside my postbox at Nautnes.

In the evening a roding Woodcock rugde was very active at Hatten.

Tjeldstø 11 April 2018 - First Swallow and ton up in Øygarden

Calm and sunny in the morning, light northerly breeze later.

Cracking weather again and thus not much in the way of grounded migrants. However, plenty of new arrivals busy setting up territories.

The first new for the year came before I even left the house in the form of the first Swallow låvesvale of the year heading north - not a bad date for the first of the year but by no means a record either. In addition both Lesser Redpoll brunsisik and Siskin grønnsisik were seen from my terrace.

Chiff-chaff gransanger at Tjeldstø

A Greylag grågås enjoying the good conditions

Mr and Mrs Teal krikkand - a few pairs getting themselves sorted out now. The bubbles in the water are due to a rather splashy landing moments before the pictures were taken.

A walk at Tjeldstø produced my first Redshank rødstilk of the year - and meant that I went ton up in Øygarden. Wheatear steinskvett and Chiff-chaff gransanger were both singing and four species of wader were displaying.

A drive-by at Herdlevær produced a Mistle Thrush duetrost.

I spent most of the day doing housework, changing from winter to summer tyres on the car etc but took a precautionary spin with the car once the summer wheels were on. This short drive gave, among other things, a Carrion Crow svartkråke and another Chiff-chaff gransanger.

Tjeldstø 13 April 2015 - First Swallow

Sunny but a brisk northerly kept things feeling chilly in exposed areas.

Swallow låvesvale

Most of today's birding was at Tjeldstø which proved quite productive. Best bird was my first Swallow låvesvale of the year. A flock of four Linnet tornirisk were also new for the year but have been seen in Øygarden for the last few days.

The Pinkfoot kortnebbgås remained in the area and a second year Whooper sangsvane on Rotevatnet was relatively late - quite possibly this is the same bird that has spent much of the winter here.

A quick look at Solberg produced little but confirmed at least that I wasn't missing out on much in the way of movement over the sea.

Other birds picked up today included an Eagle Owl hubro and a Woodcock rugde.

Tjeldstø 19 April 2014 - Black-tailed Godwit

Calm and sunny

 

Black-tailed Godwit svarthalespove

Not out at all but a drive-by at Tjeldstø produced a nice Black-tailed Godwit svarthalespove feeding at Husvatnet where the pair of Tufted Duck toppand was still present.

In the evening the first Swallow låvesvale flew over the house at Nautnes.

Tjeldstø 30 July 2010

Swallows låvesvale feeding young beside Husvatnet

Highlight was a hunting Merlin dvergfalk. A single Ruff brushane remains beside Husvatnet as do a pair of Wigeon brunnakke. Generally lots of birds about today with a noticable increase in the number of Swallows låvesvale. Small numbers of Twite bergirisk heard.

Hernar 08 April 2010 - Swallows!

Mistle thrush duetrost - a new species for Hernar
Woodpigeon ringdue in the fog

Twite bergirisk - THE bird of Hernar

Meadow Pipit heipiplerke

Early morning on Hernar

Chiff-chaff gransanger

Spent the day on Hernar and experienced everything from fog early on to a sunshine for a couple of hours and then light rain to end up with.

Highlights were a Mistle Thrush duetrost - a new species for Hernar and a Ring Ousel ringtrost - the first I've seen on the island. Plenty of other migrants around including at least three Chiff Chaff gransanger, various thrushes and a Woodcock rugde. Rather depressingly I found the corpses of four Woodcock in an area of just a few square metres.

Two Linnets tornirisk were the first I've seen in Øygarden this year although they have been around for a week or so.

Plenty of the local breeders have arrived with Twite bergirisk and Meadow Pipits heipiplerke very obvious.

Hellesøy was pretty good too - though I didn't look around much at all. One or more Waxwing sidensvans were heard flying over in the fog whilst waiting for the boat to leave and two record early Swallows låvesvale were seen whilst driving home. Previous earliest record was 17 April 2008.