Guiding 28-30.04.2026 - Some good birds and some frustration

On 28th April I did Herdlevær and Tjeldstø before heading into town to pick up a couple from Hurtigruten.

Tjeldstø produced the goods both on the way into town when I found the first Spotted Redshank sotsnipe of the year and on the way home when birders looking for the Spotted Red had found two nice male Ruff brushane and Greenshank gluttsnipe. I also managed brief views of an early male Whinchat buskskvett which frustratingly vanished before I could get anyone onto it.

Spotted Redshank sotsnipe at Husvatnet

Spring records are a lot less common than in the autumn when they are to be expected but this species is just about annual in spring.

Herdlevær produced Collared Dove tyrkerdue and an early Arctic Tern rødnebbterne new for the year. Goldfinch stillits, Twite bergirisk and the usual suspects were also present. Half an hour with the scope gave 31 Red-throated Diver smålom, 85 Oystercatcher tjeld, several Common Scoter svartand and more in addition to the tern.

A Jay nøtteskrike at Hatten was another local first - not something I've even tried to see so far and I was actually hoping for something else entirely:)

Greylag grågås with young.

This species seems to get their young earlier and earlier. The first goslings were observed over a week ago!

A flock of 18 Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås flew north over Kollsnes - today would have been a good day to sit at Skogsøy!

In the evening a roding Woodcock rugde seen from my terrace was a fitting end to a quite productive day.

On 29th April Common Sandpiper strandsnipe was another local first for 2026 and seen from my terrace as we prepared to leave for a day out and about.

Hjelme failed to produce what I had hoped for which was very frustrating but a Cuckoo gjøk was a new for the year here. A good variety of woodland species turned up including a few Common Crossbill grankorsnebb - the first I've seen for a while.

The obligatory stop at Husvatnet produced a remarkable record in the form of a Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin - I think this is the first time I have seen this species on spring migration even though it is a regular autumn migrant and an occasional winter visitor.

Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin - a species that was absolutely not on the radar today!

Other good birds at Tjeldstø were two Barnacle Geese hvittkingås, a Goshawk hønsehauk and several White-tailed Eagles havørn. At least two pairs of Tufted Duck toppand hint at some possibilities but usually these birds move on despite appearing settled for a while.

We then headed inland where there was a mixture of disappointment and success. A nice Green Woodpecker grønspett was the best sighting on the avian side of things but was eclipsed by nice views of a Pine Martin mår! Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper and a variety of other species were also noted - but not the one we went inland for:(

In the evening at least four roding Woodcock rugde were seen from the terrace just befoe bedtime:)

Another visit to Hjelme on 30th April was again unsuccessful for the target species.

However, Stonechats svartstrupe were more cooperative with two nice males seen at two localities as we left Øygarden in search of some other species.

Herdla was the first stop where we had hoped to see the Yellow Wagtails gulerle that have been reported there the last few days. This was not to be but a good selection of decent birds were seen with two Lapland Buntings lappspurv, four Bar-tailed Godwits lappspove, a male Ruff brushane and a Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker. Good numbers of waders included 360 Golden Plover heilo in stunning summer plumage, Greenshank gluttsnipe and the usual breeding wader species at this site. A male Pied Wagtail svartryggerle was probably the same bird as on my previous visit there. A House Martin taksvale was the first I've seen on this side of the country too - as well as being a bonus species on the "wish list".

Female Lapland Bunting lappspurv

Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker

With time running out and with heavy traffic time was limited by the time we reached Gullfjell. After some initial disappointing scans of the area the target species showed very well indeed as we left the area - a lovely Dipper fossekall.

Øygarden 28 April 2025 - Tringa time!

My first day of actual holiday! The perfect holiday would be to stay at home, not work and not do stuff on the house.

This is not the perfect holiday as I spent some hours shopping for stuff that is long overdue:)

But before I went to hell (a shopping centre) I checked a few places:) From my terrace a Greenshank gluttsnipe turned up during my morning coffee. The feeder is being emptied fast again by a mixed flock of Bullfinch dompap (strange time of year for these in northern Øygarden), Goldfinch stillits (now expected in the breeding season), Siskin grønnsisik and Greenfinch grønnfink.

A stop at Tjeldstø produced a couple more Greenshank gluttsnipe, the Pochard taffeland pair, several Sand Martin sandsvale and 25 Golden Plover heilo. Also found Fieldfare gråtrost on the nest.

Two Greenshank gluttsnipe at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø

At Breivik a Spotted Redshank sotsnipe dropped in but was very flighty, taking to the wing every time a car passed. Not a common spring species around here. Plenty of breeding birds in the area too including Redshank rødstilk, Curlew storspove, Teal krikkand, Skylark sanglerke, Wheatear steinskvett and Common Crossbills grankorsnebb.

Spotted Redshank sotsnipe together with Common Redshank rødstilk at Breivik

I then did my shopping stuff and on the way home I stopped briefly at Breivik again but only a male Merlin dvergfalk and Common Redshank rødstilk were present.

Back home a flock of 200 Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås headed north:)

Øygarden + 03.08-09.08.24 - Some birding time at last - Spotted Reds starting to show

On my return to the west of Norway I went straight into guiding mode and on 0308 visited Herdla.  At least 47 species here including 10 species of wader. At least 20 Ruff brushane, a Whimbrel småspove and most of the usual suspects.

One of the Greylags was neck ringed - UK3 - a bird that I have seen in Øygarden previously:

Passerines included a couple of Whinchat buskskvett, a Yellow Wagtail gulerle and a Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper.

After Herdla we hit my old turf in the Haukeland/ Gullfjell area where we added a number of new species for the day including Common Buzzard musvåk, Spotted Flycatcher gråfluesnapper, Swift tårnseiler and Goldfinch stillits. The lower levels of Gullfjell produced among other things Kestrel tårnfalk, White-tailed Eagle havørn and Common Crossbill grankorsnebb. Not a bad day all in all:)

The next day I spent just over an hour seawatching at Skogsøy in NW winds but it was surprisingly disappointing and was similar to my previous visit there. Very little to report indeed. However, getting on with things back home was a lot more productive with a Spotted Redshank sotsnipe and a couple of Greenshank gluttsnipe flying over.

Monday 05.08 was spent working from home with just the first Dunnock jernspurv for some time and Greenshank gluttsnipe flying over of any note.

On Tuesday 06.08 I did my usual round at Herdlevær before work including half and hour looking out over the sea which produced several flocks of Oystercatcher tjeld heading  south along with a variety of other waders including a Knot polarsnipe and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove. Nice views of an Otter feeding too:)

Otter at Herdlevær

A pre-work visit to Tjeldstø the following day gave the first Wood Sandpiper grønnstilk of the year, a single flock of 29 Snipe enkeltbekkasin and a variety of other waders.as well as two first year White-tailed Eagles havørn.

The first Mink I have seen for some time ran along the shore in front of my house, I really need to get that hunting license and a rifle:)

On 08.08 I once again left the reservation for another trip to Herdla, this time a rare birding trip rather than guiding. At least 600 Greylag grågås in the area with more heading south overhead. A new neck-ringed bird VP5 was present - as usual with such birds observations come from Holland, Germany and Denmark.

Other sightings here included a Little Stint dvergsnipe, a few Kestrel tårnfalk, a Peregrine vandrefalk, a few Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove, 95 Ringed Plover sandlo and 35 Ruff brushane.

The next day I didn't get out at all but had a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk in the garden and nice views of a Spotted Redshank sotsnipe at Tjeldstø during a trip to the shops.

The "new" housing estate they insisted on building may be the source of the plastic

First year Spotted Redshank sotsnipe at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø

Øygarden 21-31 August - Mum visiting and more dog sitting

 On 21 August I did an all day visit to Hernar - a place I have being paying scant attention to this year. There were almost no migrants as such although I did notch up a few Hernar year ticks in the form of Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett, Nuthatch spettmeis, Greenshank gluttsnipe, Ruff brushane, Common Crossbill grankorsnebb and more. Didn't even reach the 40 species mark although two unidentified warblers shortly before the boat home would have helped the tally along nicely.

Not birding as such the next day but a stop beside Husvatnet on the way home produced a few Swifts tårnseiler and a flock of seven Goldfinch stillits also at Tjeldstø.

A walk at Herdlevær on 23 August produced little other than small numbers of the usual waders on the move and a Green Sandpiper skogsnipe.

Dino

Not quite Whisky but close enough💗

First year Redshank rødstilk, photographed from the same place as where I stood to take the dog picture

Taking both the dog and my mum out for some fresh air at Tjeldstø the following day showed that there were quite a few waders hidden in the reserve with 10 each of Ruff brushane and Golden Plover heilo, nine Curlew storspove, a few Lapwing vipe, Greenshank gluttsnipe and Ringed Plover sandlo present. A flock of around 500 Starling stær  at Oen and a several early duck movers were at Kollsnes in the form of Wigeon brunnakke and Teal krikkand.

Since "the dog needed to go out" I covered Tjeldstø again on 25 August and clocked up a similar selection of waders with an extra Spotted Redshank sotsnipe flying up out of the reserve. An afternoon stroll with the dog at Nautnes (the usual walk with him) produced a surprise first year Black-throated Diver storlom - thank you Dino:) The third new species for Nautnes thus far this year:) This is the rarest diver locally and most often seen migrating rather than up close and personal.

First year Black-throated Diver storlom - and the first record of this species at Nautnes

Didn't quite make it onto the house list though😥

I kept things simple on 26 August too, doing another repeat of Tjeldstø - being the closest walk with any chance of success. Spotted Red again and Golden Plover heilo numbers up to 40 along with several Snipe enkeltbekkasin , a few Wigeon brunnakke and a Kestrel tårnfalk.

On the last day of dog-sitting I predictably did the same again - but almost all the waders had cleared out.

After the dog left I didn't get out of the house, something I hope at least work might be happy about.

Great-spotted Woodpeckers flaggspett continued to turn up where they have not been present, so there is definitely something going on there.

My tripod head broke meaning that I couldn't really use my scope for over a week until the new one arrived, not that this made a difference as the problem was almost purely hypothetical.

Red Deer hjort

Øygarden 27 - 30 August 2021 - Finally home again

Having been away there is inevitably a lot to catch up on. On 27 August a trip to the shops at Tjeldstø produced an interesting falcon seen from the car and into the sun but I got a strong Hobby lerkefalk vibe. I turned the car around and headed after it. I got onto a falcon mobbing a huge female Goshawk hønsehauk but again it was into the sun and distant....

My terrace produced the usual White-tailed Eagles havørn, a small flock of Curlew storpsove feeding in the heather and most of the usual species. 

On 28 August I had a quick look at Tjeldstø but it was very quiet with just several Snipe enkeltbekkasin seen.

A walk at Herdlevær on 29 August gave a few species of wader, including a rather grey looking Golden Plover heilo that needed a closer inpsection. Other migrants here included a Kestrel tårnfalk and the first Yellow Wagtail gulerle of the autumn.

Golden Plover heilo

White Wagtail linerle

On the way home a couple of Spotted Redshank sotsnipe fed at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø along with nine Ruff brushane and three Redshank rødstilk.

On 30 August I spent a couple of hours at Skogsøy in strong northerly winds. It was generally quiet with around 40 Gannet havsule heading north along with a single Fulmar havhest and a few Arctic Tern rødnebbterne. For some reason even the waders were heading north with small flocks of Knot polarsnipe, Turnstone steinvender and Ringed Plover sandlo flying the wrong way into the wind. A few Dunlin myrsnipe and Sanderling sandløper flew south. A Peregrine vandrefalk gave excellent views here too.

Knot polarsnipe

The two Spotted Reds were still at Husvatnet on the way home and gave much better views and were also quite vocal at times. 

Spotted Redshanks sotsnipe at Tjeldstø

Hernar 15 Augusr 2019 - Vis mig

The weather turned out better than expected with light easterlies and clear skies.

So there was not much in the way of grounded migrants. However, all was not lost as there was a bit of passage which resulted in a number of new species for the island for the year and indeed even a new species for Hernar - a Spotted Redshank sotsnipe that was picked up heading south together with a couple of Greenshank gluttsnipe, a Redshank rødstilk and another smaller unidentified wader. The Spotted Red split off from the group and headed in to land. Unfortunately this was only seen in the telescope.

Young Fieldfare gråtrost

First year Kestrel tårnfalk

Ravens ravn

The other new species for Hernar for the year were Golden Plover heilo, Greenshank gluttsnipe, Ruff brushane, Dunlin myrsnipe, Sand Martin sandsvale and Kestrel tårnfalk.

Several flocks of Greylags grågås headed south too.

Among the usual suspects were plenty of Twite bergirisk and a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn.

Meadow Pipit heipiplerke

A cooperative Ruff brushane

Worth lying in a marsh for.

After a couple of hours working I headed back out again - this time to Tjeldstø. No surprises there - just a couple of Ruff brushane, a Greenshank gluttsnipe and the usual.

Northumberland 05-12 October 2018 - Still not birding....

The autumn half term was spent in the UK visiting family.

Although I didn't actually go birding as such coastal Northumberland is such that it is almost impossible not to see plenty of birds.  I only took my point and pray camera as I knew the chances of birding were slim at best.

From  over1000 Pinkfeet kortnebbgås flying over a beer garden in Bamburgh to Stonechats svartstrupe in the dunes at Druridge Bay there was something to see as long as we got outside.

One of several Med Gulls svartehavsmåke on the beach at Newbiggin

The "hide" at Church Point now has this  very fitting plaque.

I spent many happy hours seawatching in this cramped brick construction with Jimmy. I couldn't think of a better way to be remembered. 

A walk along the promenade at Newbiggin produced the inevitable Mediterranean Gulls svartehavsmåke. We paused for a couple of minutes at Church point - seeing plenty of auks, Gannets havsule, terns, Common Scoter svartand and Red-throated Diver smålom. Could easily have spent a few more minutes (or even hours) there....

Polish ringed Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Stag Rocks, Bamburgh

Stag Rocks at Bamburgh produced one of the most interesting sightings in the form of a colour ringed Black-headed Gull hettemåke all the way from Poland! I've submitted the sighting and will hopefully hear more about this bird soon. Waders here on this short stretch of shore were 45 Oystercatcher tjeld, 40 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, 25 Turnstone steinvender, a Dunlin myrsnipe, a Sanderling sandløper, a Curlew storspove and 6 Redshank rødstilk.

Black-tailed Godwit svarthalespove at Monkshouse

A couple of the Black-tailed Godwits svarthaespove at Monkshouse

Three Spotted Reds sotsnipe at Monkshouse.

A 10 minute stop at Monkshouse Pool on our way home produced 10 Black-tailed Godwit svarthalespove, three Spotted Redshank sotsnipe and plenty of the usual suspects.

Throughout the week flocks of Redwing rødvingetrost, Brambling bjørkefink and other migrants were seen flying in off the sea - brilliant to see what may well be Norwegian birds having made a successful crossing of the North Sea to their wintering grounds.