Øygarden 28.10 - 02.11.2024 - Insect eating Snow Bunting

My first trip out on my return to Øygarden from the east of Norway was to Hellesøy - two Woodlark trelerke had been there up to and including the day I travelled home.

No sign of the larks but a confiding Snow Bunting snøspurv gave great views. As would be expected thus bird was mostly eating seeds in an area of waste ground. However, it also caught and ate some kind of beetle/weevil.

First it catches sight of the bug....

...grabs it

Starts dismantling it....

...and finally swallows it

Snow Bunting snøspurv at Hellesøy

There were generally quite a few birds about with migrants such as Blackcap munk, Goldcrest fuglekonge and plenty of the usual thrushes and finches.

I also visited Hellesøy briefly the following day in damp and overcast conditions. The Snow Bunting snøspurv remained and again there were plenty of other migrants included a couple of Chiff-chaff gransanger, Goldcrests fuglekonge and a flock of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb.

Goldfinches stillits at Dåvøy

Goldfinch stillits tearing apart a thistle

Snow Bunting snøspurv at Hellesøy

A few other very brief drive-bys showed there was plenty about with Blackcap munk, Woodpigeons ringdue and yet more thrushes. Rather frustrating to not be out more.....

On 30th October I squeezed in my usual round at Herdlevær where a Merlin dvergfalk and a Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt were the best sightings.

Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt at Herdlevær

The first Whoopers sangsvane of the autumn turned up at Tjeldstø and a Rock Pipit skjæpiplerke fed in my driveway. Sparrowhawks spurvehauk obviously on the move - no doubt following the large numbers of thrushes passing through.

Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke in my driveway

The next couple of days I was barely away from the computer but Rock Pipits skjærpiplerke seemed to be on the move with birds turning up away from their usual spots. Five minutes at Tjeldstø produced a few Kittiwake krykkje heading up the fjord into strong winds and a Razorbill alke landed on the sea.

Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke in a driveway at Hellesøy

Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke at Herdlevær

Finally it was the weekend again and I spent a couple of hours seawatching at Skogsøy, several Great Northern Divers islom passed and another fed on the sea. A Little Auk alkekonge was amazingly the first of the year for me. Small numbers of the usual seaduck (Velvet Scoter sjøorre, Common Scoter svartand and Long-tailed Ducks havelle) headed south as did a selection of gulls including Kittiwakes krykkje and Black-headed Gulls hettemåke.

Great Northern Diver islom with an interesting looking fish at Skogsøy

Kittiwake krykkje

Long-tailed Duck havelle

A late Dunnock jernspurv was seen on my way out to the seawatch

A brief stop at Sture on the way home produced a Chiff-chaff gransanger feeding a mixed flock of tits.

Herdlevær 12 November 2022 - A new camera, a new era:)

 As my trusty DSLR has given up the ghost and with technology changing (and unavailable at short notice) I have changed tack completely on the photography side of things.

I now have what might be the perfects birders camera. Small, light and it seems like it takes decent enough pics most of the time. I was worried about flight shots with a super zoom but a morning out at Herdlevær taking a lot more pictures than I normally do gave the impression that it just might work. 

Yes, it is a little slower to get up and running and the focusing can be both slow and wrong but it can do the job. 

I spent more time trying out the camera than actual birding today so no doubt missed a lot. There was an obvious massive movement of stuff well offshore (i.e. scope on zoom to identify) with 100's of Kittiwakes krykkje , Common Scoter svartand and auks passing.

A flock of Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb, a couple of late Woodpigeon ringdue, several Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke and a Woodcock rugde were among the birds seen during my usual round.

On the way home more Parrot Crossbills furukorsnebb at Breivik and Tjeldstø where there were also 15 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt.

Here are some pics taken on the first morning out with my new camera:

GBBG svartbak - not a bad flight shot for a point and pray:)

Guillemot lomvi on the sea

More flight shot testing - this time Herring Gulls gråmåke

Parrot Crossbills furukornebb - lighting is almost always an issue when trying to photograph these birds.

Not how the head angle affects whether or not the mandibles actually cross or not.

I go through phases where I am sure I can pick up Parrot Crossibill on call. This autumn is not one of those periods - I failed big time on call with these birds:)

Rock Pipit skjæpiplerke photography training

Scaup bergand remains at Tjeldstø

A pleasing shot of a Wren gjerdesmett with the new compact superzoom.

These White-tailed Eagles havørn were further away than I normally bother with photographs for but had to try the new camera:)

Herdlevær / Tjeldstø / Nautnes 23 October 2019 - Another new for the house list!

What a cracking day out in strong southerly winds and overcast conditions

I did my usual round at Herdlevær finally picking up a decent Siberian Chiff-chaff sibirgransanger (despite the fact it didn't call), Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, Goldfinch stillits and a selection of the usual stuff plus a couple of lateish Oystercatcher tjeld.

This bird ticks all the sibe chiff-chaff boxes despite the lack of vocalisation.

All black bill, jet black legs, hint of a wingband etc etc!

Oystercatcher tjeld - getting late for these now....

Grey outer tail feather says the book......my ar*e

Lots of Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke at Herdlevær now....

On my way home I stopped at Husvatnet (what a shock!) and found the Ring-necked Duck ringand had returned after a couple of days absence.

Grey Heron gråhegre at Tjeldstø

Ring-necked Duck ringand

Slightly better pictures than last time despite the light conditions

Back home I started to get back into some work stuff but something made me look up and a 1cy Glaucous Gull polarmåke flew right past the terrace. Amazingly a new species for the house....

...again obeying the golden rule of bird photography:

If the image is somehow in focus the second wing will be missing from the photograph:)

First year Glaucous Gull polarmåke - a cracking bird and a house tick to boot!