Hernar 22 March 2018 - Three firsts....

Calm and mild. Overcast at first but sunny later.

The day started very well with the first first being a Mistle Thrush duetrost more or less in my garden - a first for the garden list taking the total to 132.

A total of 18 Common Scoter svartand were seen - best number so far in Øygarden this year. A tragically low number which seems to be being reflected other places too.

Eiders ærfugl photographed from the boat - several flocks of Long-tailed Duck havelle were among the other species seen on the way out to Hernar

Peregrine vandrefalk

Reed Buntings sivspurv

Song Thrush måltrost

After this promising start it was time for the for the second first of the year - the first visit to Hernar. A total of 30 species were seen during the course of the morning with highlight being the third first - the first two Reed Bunting sivspurv to be recorded in Hordaland this year. Other sightings included a Song Thrush måltrost, Peregrine vandrefalk, Black Guillemot teist, Sparrowhawk spurvehauk, a couple of Woodcock rugde, singing Rock Pipits skjærpiplerke and most of the usual Hernar suspects.

Although I did not spend much time looking there was some continued Oystercatcher tjeld migration up the fjords...

The way home produced a few Bullfinch dompap at Sæle, a flock of eight Lapwing vipe at Tjeldstø and some more newly arrived Starling stær flocks.

Dåvøy 07 January 2016 - Some very unseasonal birds!

Cold (and by that I mean frozen solid), calm and sunny. Fantastic weather and it was a shame to yet again not be able to make the most of it. I managed about an hour out at Dåvøy with the dog.

Dåvøy produced a couple of good January birds in the form of a Song Thrush måltrost and a Red-throated Diver smålom along with at least three Snipe enkeltbakkasin. The four White-tailed Eagles havørn seen here were of lesser interest.

Above and below: Lapwing vipe

Snipe enkeltbekkasin

The above pictures were taken without even getting out of the car. There is no way these birds should be disturbed with what they are having to cope with at the moment.

After that things stayed on the same level during the way home, picking up Woodcock rugde, another Snipe enkeltbekkasin and a Lapwing vipe at Sture.

Reed Bunting sivspurv #1

Reed Bunting sivspurv #2

I did get out of the car for these two - but only just!

A family errand produced the best birds of the day by far in the form of two roadside Reed Bunting sivspurv. This would appear to be the first January record of the species in Øygarden and the first January record in the county since the mid 90s!

Other bits and bobs that are not rare at all but were either the first I've had in Øygarden this year (in my second hour of actually birding!) included Siskin grønnsisik and Crested Tit toppmeis.

Herdlevær 11 September 2015 . A normal autumn day

Calm, sunny and a light easterly breeze.

Despite more or less ideal conditions there was not a much as expected / hoped for going on. Some migration was obvious with Dunnocks jernspurv typically suddenly making an appearance and a couple of Reed Bunting sivspurv the first of the autumn, Other than that it was situation normal.

Above and below: Ruff brushane

A few Ruff brushane were present, a normal thing for the time of year, but when I tried to get closer and take some photos they sat down in the grass like Snipe and pretty much disappeared. Don't remember seeing them behave like this before.

Breivik 07 June 2012

Light southerly winds and sunny.

Female Reed Bunting sivspurv

A few House Martin taksvale were the only indication of any movement.

Singing Sedge Warblers sivsanger and Reed Buntings sivspurv seen at the usual place - very much business as usual in other words.