Birders often have a very different take on what good weather is. At this time of year southerly winds and rain count as good and towards the end of the period this is exactly what we got. This brought down some decent birds. I am not complaining about the weather at least:)
Still some Greylags grågås around although the migration is definitely underway.
Some of the Greylags grågås at Nautnes 4th August
Thursday 6th August was spent guiding around my old haunts prior to the move to Øygarden. So Unneland, the lower reaches of Gullfjell and "the back roads". Not quite as many species as last time but a number of different ones including Grey Wagtail vinterle, Tawny Owl kattugle, Spotted Flycatcher gråfuesnapper, Yellowhammer gulspurv and Jay nøtteskrike. A most enjoyable day out:) Non bird sightings included an Adder hoggorm (roadkill) and lots of tiny toads.
Tawny Owl kattugle at Unneland
I didn't leave the house on 7th August but as usual a White-tailed Eagle havørn flew over and the first Cormorant storskarv of the autumn fished in front of my house. Otherwise just the usual Common Sandpipers strandsnipe and so on. A light but noticable passage of Common Gulls fiskemåke heading south over the house too.
Cormorant storskarv at Nautnes
Adult White-tailed Eagle havørn photographed from the terrace
Strong winds and at times heavy rain set in at the weekend. This meant that I really did have to get out and about!:)
My usual round at Herdlevær on 8th August gave eight species of wader including a Ruff brushane and the first Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt of the autumn. A lone Lapwing vipe was also present. On my way to and from Herdlevær a Carrion Crow svartkråke was at Breivik - incredibly shy it flew up well ahead of the local hoodies. A quick check at Tjeldstø on the way home produced a Greenshank gluttsnipe, a flyover Dunlin myrsnipe, several Curlew storspove, some Snipe enkeltbekkasin and a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk.
Carrion Crow svartkråke at Breivik
I did pretty much the same the following day picking up a nice Green Sandpiper skogsnipe and a Whimbrel småspove at Herdlevær. The Stonechats svartstrupe performed again at Kollsnes. Tjeldstø produced a couple of White-tailed Eagles havørn, a young Merlin dvergfalk chasing crows, a Spotted Redshank sotsnipe and a Greenshank gluttsnipe among other things. Another nice day out in "bad" weather.
With my mum visiting from the UK there was something of a reunion and I also ended up looking after a non-birding dog:) So, rather predictably, not much in the way of time in the field. Good migration conditions for most of the period and we did manage some short walks, drive-bys and of course my terrace provided for much of the interest.
Butterflies came into my garden in good numbers with up to 10 Red Admiral and a Painted Lady visiting simultaneously.
Jays nøtteskrike typically became more obvious with several sightings during the period, waders were moving through, increased numbers of Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett, a Willow Tit granmeis and Coal Tits svartmeis seem to be on the move - perhaps indications of something bigger going on.
I arrived back in Øygarden on the afternoon of 2nd September to find a small flock of Golden Plover heilo at Breivik.
Golden Plover heilo at Breivik
On 6th September things started to get frustrating with obvious migration seen from the terrace, including a flock of nine Common Crossbill grankorsnebb, Sparrowhawks spurvehauk, a Greenshank gluttsnipe and more seen.
An afternoon stroll at Tjeldstø the next day was more of the same with a Spotted Redshank sotsnipe dropping in briefly, a few Kestrels tårnfalk, flocks of Golden Plover heilo, Common Gulls fiskemåke and more heading south.
Stonechats svartstrupe and a couple of Whinchat buskskvett were the best sightings on 11th September but again visible migration was obvious with Golden Plover heilo and Kestrels tårnfalk passing.
Some rain on 12th September had an immediate effect with more Ruff brushane grounded. From the terrace Greenshank gluttsnipe, Peregrine vandrefalk , White-tailed Eagles havørn and more.
Ruff brushane at Breivik
Whinchat buskskvett at Kollsnes
Otter photographed from my terrace
White-tailed Eagles havørn from the terrace
On 13th September I managed to do my Herdlevær walk which produced two Merlin dvergfalk, good numbers of Golden Plover heilo and a few Stonechat svartstrupe before I even got there. The walk itself produced a Lapland Bunting lappspurv, small flocks of Teal krikkand and Wigeon brunnakke, a Lapwing vipe and small numbers of the usual waders.
Stonechats svartstrupe at Kollsnes
Teal krikkand, Dunlin myrsnipe and a Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke at Herdlevær
Sunday 14th September was another productive day, the morning walk with the dog produced Willow Tit granmeis, Ruff brushane, Ringed Plover sandlo and more at Tjeldstø and a roadside Grey Wagtail vinterlerle on the way home.
A Collared Dove tyrkedue and a Chiff-chaff gransanger turned up in the garden and a walk at Sæle produced a nice selection of birds including Blackcaps munk, a Treecreeper trekryper, Chiff-chaff gransanger and more.
Collared Dove tyrkedue in the garden
Grey Wagtail vinterle near Nautnes - the first I have seen locally this year
Treecreeper trekryper at Sæle - the first I have seen in Øygarden this year!
On 15th we drove past a few places on the way to the airport. Very much the usual suspects with White-tailed Eagles havørn and more Stonechats svartstrupe seen.
A rather late Lapwing vipe - probably the same bird seen at Herdlevær a couple of days previously
Work continues to be as relentless as ever, gone it seems are the days of a few hours out midweek:(
Nevertheless this is Øygarden and my home office can produce as does a trip to the shops. I was out each morning briefly before work (thank goodness the days are significantly lighter now!).
I returned home on the afternoon of 18.03 and a grocery run gave several Lapwing vipe at Breivik.
Lapwing vipe at Breivik
On 19.03 a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett, a nice flock of Teal krikkand and just being outside listening to displaying Lapwing vipe and Oystercatcher tjeld meant that half an hour at Tjeldstø were absolutely worth it. After work I managed a couple of drive-bys and caught up with two Rook kornkråke and two Jackdaw kaie at Breivik.
The last two winters have been used to remove the sitka plantation in the middle of the reserve at Tjeldstø. This will undoubtedly benefit waders and wildfowl in the area.
More trees have disappeared at Husvatnet too - as has the bird hide bus stop which vanished during some work on the footpath. This is a shame as this bus stop / hide was better than the one beside Rotevatnet
Teal krikkand at Tjeldstø
Rook kornkråke with two Jackdaw kaie at Breivik
Robin rødstrupe at Dåvey
Lapwing vipe at Kollnes
Jackdaws kaie at Breivik
Up to three Otters and three White-tailed Eagles havørn provided entertainment even when I was stuck at home:)
On 20.03 I checked Hjelme briefly before work, turning up a nice White-tailed Eagle havørn, a pair of Bullfinch dompap, singing Chaffinches bokfink, a couple of Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett, Common Crossbills grankorsnebb and more.
Bullfinches dompap
Although I do like my point and pray it is somewhat slower than the DSLR at getting going. This could have been a good picture if the camera was quicker at starting up.
From the terrace a few Teal krikkand, a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn, two Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, a couple of Gannet havsule and plenty more besides kept interest levels up.
After work I did a quick walk at Breivk which produced a Rook kornkråke, 120 Starling stær, a few Snipe enkeltbakkasin and several Lapwing vipe among other things.
A pre-work check at Tjeldstø on 21.03 gave more views of the Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett. A Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåveøy and a male Stonechat svartstrupe at Kollsnes were among the other sightings.
On 02 March I managed my usual round at Herdlevær. Some signs of spring with Oystarcatcher tjeld, Starling stær now back. A flock of 20 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt , White-tailed Eagles havørn and the usual also seen.
Best bird was a female Stonechat svartstrupe at Kollsnes - a bird that turned up whilst I was away.
A quick look at Hjelme in the afternoon produced the first local Jay nøtteskrike of the year along with a flocks of Fieldfare gråtrost, Brambling bjørkefink, Chaffinch bokfink and Starling stær.
Spring is well on the way, Crocuses at Herdlevær
Siskin grønnsisik have been common "all winter" but have suddenly started visiting my feeder.
