Øygarden 02.09-15.09.2025 - Family time

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

More Stonechats svartstrupe

Øygarden 29.09-04.10 Some migrants at last!

After a couple of days at work in Aberdeen I was back home again. 

A  quick look at Sæle on 29.09 proved quite productive with the highlight being a 1cy Arctic Redpoll polarsisik - no photos as it disappeared too quickly but the white rump and unstreaked undertail coverts were seen. Other birds included my first local Garden Warblers hagesanger of the year and several Blackcap munk.

A Goshawk hønsehauk hunted past the home office window later in the day.

On 30th September I gave Skogsøy a go in, to put it mildly, challenging conditions. A strong onshore wind and showers didn't help and the birds were mostly flying either a long way out or with their backs to me or both. Several flocks of Red-throated Diver smålom and a flock of Barnacle Geese hvitkingås headed south as did a probable large shearwater, pale back and dark wings were the only features noted.

A flock of 30 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt at Tjeldstø were the first of the autumn for me whilst a Woodcock rugde at Hjelme was probably one of the local breeders.

It was a different story on 1st October with (finally) some passerines on the move. As I took my morning coffee on the terrace I had my first local Grey Wagtail vintererle and Bramblings bjørkefink passing over. 

I spent the morning out and about doing my usual round at Herdlevær first - here at least two Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger, a Yellow Wagtail gulerle, Whinchat buskskvett, Blackcaps munk, Garden Warbler hagesanger, Wheatear steinskvett, Common Sandpiper strandsnipe, Chiff-chaff gransanger and Reed Bunting sivspurv were among the many migrants noted. Flocks of finches and Meadow Pipits heipiplerke passed overhead constantly.

Whinchat buskskvett

Next up was Breivik which was fairly quiet - but flocks of Chaffinch bokfink and Meadow Pipits heipiplerke continued to pass. The usual Snipe enkeltbekkassin and Skylark sanglerke were also present.

At Tjeldstø a young White-tailed Eagle havørn gave good views as did a Dunlin myrsnipe together with two Golden Plover heilo. The first Goldeneye kvinand of the autumn also turned up here.

Dunlin myrsnipe with Golden Plover heilo

Young White-tailed Eagle havørn at Tjeldstø

On Monday I took the day off work and made an all too infrequent trip to Hernar. The southerly winds were rather stronger than forecast but there were plenty of birds about at least during the morning. Things tailed off after lunch and birds became harder to find. One interesting warbler evaded ID as it flew up from the grass and disappeared into sitka spruce never to be seen again - quite possibly a Reed Warbler rørsanger.

Birds that I did manage to identify included the first Tree Sparrows pilfink (a flock of six) for the island this year along with a female House Sparrow gråspurv which hung around for a bit. Migrants included several small flocks of Brambling bjørkefink, a Merlin dvergfalk, several Blackcap munk, a Willow Warbler løvsanger, a  Chiff-chaff gransanger, a few flyover Skylark sanglerke and a feeding Ruff brushane. Small numbers of Twite bergirisk remained, five White-tailed Eagle havørn simultaneously, the long-staying Great spotted Woodpecker flaggspett and a passage of Common Gulls fiskemåke, Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke and Red-throated Diver smålom were among the other sightings.

Female House Sparrow gråspurv - an island rarity - probably not even annual on Hernar

Just one Linnet tornirisk left on the island

Ruff brushane

Didn't really leave the house on Tuesday and concentrated on work.

A walk at Breivik on 04 October was quite productive with at least four Jack Snipe kvartbekkassin, 10 Common Snipe enkeltbekkassin, Goldfinch stillits and more.

On the way home Tjeldstø produced no less than three Pintail stjertand. Sæle held at least five Blackcap munk and a couple of Chiff-chaff gransanger.

Pintails stjertand on Husvatnet

Breivk and Hernar 24-25 May 2023 - No rarities

 The 24th brought southerly winds and rain and with rarities turning up everywhere else I thought something might turn up in Øygarden too. I didn't find anything:( 

However, all was not lost - at Breivik another Lapwing vipe pair now have three young and others at Tjeldstø are now also guarding chicks. A pair of Stonechat svartstrupe also obviously have young:)

Plenty of White-tailed Eagle havørn food about:)

Stonechats svartstrupe

UK9 at Skjold - always interesting to see where these birds have been seen:)

On 25th I decided to go to Hernar, more because I could than anything else. The place was lifting with birds but other than a single Whichat buskskvett there were no migrants to be seen. Sedge Warblers sivsanger were nest building whilst Greenfinch grønnfink were feeding fledged young and Twite bergirisk were feeding on "weeds". I had slightly more species on the island than my previous visit at the end of March but plenty of new for the year for my favourite island:)

Lesser Whitethroat møller and most of the usual suspects were back on the island:)

Common Terns makellterne on Hernar

One of this years's Greenfinches grønnfink

Displaying Snipe enkeltbekkassin near Sæle

Twite bergirisk clearing up some dandelion seeds - birds need weeds at various times during the year.

Whinchat buskskvett

Herdlevær 28 August 2019 - (almost) Before the weather breaks.....

With work to do in the morning I left it until the last minute before the forecast torrential rain hit. I almost made it but was thoroughly soaked on the way home.

Sanderlings sandløper

Fresh westerly winds with rapidly approaching clouds may have been responsible for putting down a few waders. Best of the bunch were four of this years Sanderling sandløper. Other waders were three Knot polarsnipe, a couple of Golden Plover heilo, four Redshank rødstilk, Snipe enkeltbekkasin, and a Common Sandpiper strandsnipe. The only other migrant was a Kestrel tårnfalk.

On the way home a few Whinchat buskskvett joined the usual Wheatears steinskvett at Kollsnes.

Herdlevær 03 October 2018 - Yellow-browed brunch

Northerly winds, mostly sunny with occasional short showers.

Cormorant storskarv - not a species I take a lot of pictures of but the water and colours prompted a few frames....

Yellow-browed warbler gulbrynsanger playing hide and seek. It won.

Had time for a  cup of coffee and a couple of sandwiches at Herdlevær. A very vocal Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger was the highight but although it came very close it typically did not exactly pose for the camera. Chiff-chaff gransanger and small numbers of the usual migrants knocking about.

Small numbers of Gannet havsule and Kittiwake krykkje passing over the sea.

Whinchat buskskvett at Breivik

At Breivik a few Skylark sanglerke and a Whinchat buskskvett were the only species of note.

Øygarden 23-25 August 2018 - A brief update

On 23 August I did had a cheeky couple of hours of seawatching before work. This produced the usual late August fare including a single pale phase Arctic Skua tyvjo and a Turnstone steinvender heading south. Otherwise it was just the usual Common Gull fiskemåke, Oystercatcher tjeld and Gannet havsule combo. Small numbers of other waders including Dunlin myrsnipe and Curlew storspove also headed south.

Golden Plover heilo fleeing the mad horses of Tjeldstø

Snipe enkeltbekkasin also getting out of the way

Whinchat buskskvett feeding beside Husvatnet

A stop at Tjeldstø later in the day produced a Whinchat buskskvett and some waders scared up out of the reserve by the mad horses that live there charging around. Flocks of finches continue to increase in size with over 40 Linnet tornirisk and several each of Brambling bjørkefink and Chaffinch bokfink

One of several Brambling bjørkefink on Hernar

Peregrine vandrefalk

Young Sedge Warbler sivsanger on Hernar

A trip to Hernar on 24 August produced no rarities but still plenty of birds about with over 30 Twite bergirisk, a Peregrine vandrefalk, a selection of the usual waders, some newly fledged Sedge Warbler sivsanger and so on.

A drive-by at Tjeldstø on 25 August saw the first Wigeon brunnakke of the autumn together with 16 Teal krikkand. Passerines included Wheatear steinskvett and Whinchat buskskvett.