Herdlevær 29 July 2022 - Summer

 Calm and sunny.

Just a few Whimbrel småspove and a Golden Plover heilo on the migrant front. But magic just to be outside instead of sitting in front of a computer. Should have taken my fishing rod instead of my camera as I suspect the catch would have been better:)

Raven ravn

Small flocks of Twite bergirisk and Linnet tornirisk among the usual suspects.

A few Crossblll grankorsnebb flew over my terrace later in the day and yet another dead Gannet havsule washed up on the shore.

Skogsøy and Herdelvær 14-15 September - Late and lazy

Strong winds from the west prompted a late morning / early afternoon seawatch at Skogsøy. We got hit by a few hail showers whilst sitting out there but the weather and scenery were spectacular.

Birds were somewhat thin on the ground, though a flock of 20 Brent Geese ringgås heading south made the walk worthwhile. Several Red-throated Diver smålom, plenty of Gannet havsule, a single adult Kittiwake krykkje and a steady passage of southbound Common Gulls fiskemåke were also seen.

Above and below - migrating Common Gull fiskemåke

Dunlin myrsnipe

Raven ravn

On Sunday I was equally late out and took a stroll around Herdlevær which gave some photo opportunities as it so often does in this kind of weather. Best bird sightings were a single Ruff brushane feeding beside one of the pools and a lone Velvet Scoter sjøorre heading south. Common Gulls fiskemåke still moving south despite the conditions.

Skogsøy 16 March 2016 - One step further towards a seawatching hide

Strong S, drizzle then showers.

Up bright and early to get a couple of hours seawatching in before meeting some people who have the will and the way to get a seawatching hide built at Skogsøy. Not where we first hoped / planned but WAY better than not having the option. Very optimistic!

One of the smaller Oystercatcher tjeld flocks to pass today

Some Gannets havsule passed "too" close today - but I was too focused on too far out too see this bird before it was too late

Ravens ravn were showing well today too - and had I been trying to take photos there were plenty of opportunities

As usual this early in the season it was Oystercatcher tjeld that dominated with around 285 heading north. 260 of these in the first hour - again very normal that the Oystercatcher passage drops off very rapidly after dawn. Other stuff included small numbers of Gannet havsule and a light movement of Mergansers siland heading south. Interesting to compare with 2006 when I sat out at Skogsøy for at least 6 hours every day from 15.03 to 31.05. See here for details.

The first Red-throated Diver smålom of the year also cruised passed and on the way out I had the first roding Woocock rugde of the year - I strongly suspect that this was a bird that dared to overwinter and is now reaping the benefits of being on the spot to grab the best territory.

At least as cool and impressive as any of the birds today this inshore naval vessel gunned past with a roar of jet engines.

Øygarden 14 - 16 October 2016 - Still not trying

Light SE and sunny throughout.

Still trying to give up birding (well at least stop being frustrated about not getting out, which might not be quite the same thing).

Guillemot lomvi photographed from my terrace 16 October

Meadow Pipit heipiplerke still around in decent numbers

Some Raven ravn shots that would have been good if they were in focus and/or correctly exposed

Lots of Redpoll gråsisik moving through - not all are just flocks flying over....

Part of a Wigeon brunnakke flock at Tjeldstø

Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger at Herdlevær

Lots of thrushes, Common Crossbill grankorsnebb and Common Redpoll gråsisik moving through. Brambling bjørkefink, Bullfinch dompap, Grey Wagtail vintererle (a really good year for this species!) and more also on the move. Most birds seen / heard from my terrace - not really getting outside anywhere else.

Wigeion brunnakke showing quite well with birds seen at a few localites. Four Common Scoter svartand turned up on Husvatnet - this species is not common on freshwater in Øygarden.

Other stuff included a Yellow.-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger and a Waxwing sidensvans during a very short stroll at Herdlevær on 14 October. 

Skogsøy 22 February 2015 - First Puffin of the year

Bright and sunny with light onshore winds.

The local Ravens ravn are getting territorial

Spent an hour seawatching with the highlight being the first Puffin lunde of the year heading north. A single Little Auk alkekonge flew south and a few more unidentified auks passed in the distance. Migration was limited to several flocks of southbound Shags toppskarv. At least 20 Gannet havsule fed offshore.

Best bird was at least one, probably two Little Grebes dvergdykker on the lagoons to the south.

Skogsøy 28 March 2014 - Sunbathing

Hot and sunny!!

A late and lazy trip to Skogsøy produced virtually no migration but singing Redwings rødvingetrost were the first I've had in Øygarden this year. Curlew storspove, Meadow Pipit heipiplerke and others all displaying. Incredibly warm out at the look-out point - good for sunbathing if not birding....

Migrating Cormorants storskarv

Ravn ravn

Nautnes produced Lesser Redpolls brunsisik, a fly over Snow Bunting snøspurv and a nice Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke feeding on the shore in front of the house. In the evening a roding Woodcock rugde was a new species for the house list.

Rock pipit skjærpiplerke taken from the terrace at Nautnes

Solberg 21 December 2012

Calm sunny and very, very frozen

 Heron gråhegre at Dåvøy

Raven ravn at Solberg

A quck check at Solberg produced very little - the usual Otter, approximately 20 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt and what was presumably the same flock of 11 Common Crossbill grankorsnebb as last visit.

Herdlevær 24 November 2012

Strong southerlies, some showers but a glimt of sunshine.

No real change in the birds - a few Little Auk alkekonge, a couple of Kittiwake krykkje and the usual Snipe enkeltbekkasin, White-tailed Eagles havørn, thrushes etc.

 Part of a feeding Fieldfare gråtrost flock

Herring Gull gråmåke

Raven ravn

Plenty of Fieldfare gråtrost knocking about with flocks seen at Herdlevær, Breivik and Tjeldstø.

Weather forecast set to change tomorrow - we can but hope....

Skogsøy 07 June

Linnet tornirisk
Last of the divers....?

Tired looking Raven ravn parent

Very quiet both weatherwise and birdwise. Diver migration was limited to just over 20 Red-throated Diver smålom and the only other birds of interest were a few Arctic Skua tyvjo.

The Ravens ravn have fledged at least a couple of young - something that they made a lot of noise about.

A Peregrine vandrefalk hunted over Tjeldstø later in the day.