Skogsøy 09 September 2007

Otters oter


Northern Gannet havsule

Highlight today was a family party of four otters oter which I just about managed to take a few pictures of.

Birdwise it was fairly quiet with the best bird being a Sooty Shearwater grålire heading north, there were a few other species of interest including a Shelduck gravand, a Great Skua storjo, the first few Red-throated Diver smålom of the autumn and waders including a couple of Turnstone steinvender and a Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove.

A Kestrel tårnfalk was also the first of the autumn.

Seawatching from Svellingen produced another Sooty Shearwater grålire later in the day, a Little Gull dvergmåke, 3-4 Arctic Skua tyvjo, a couple of Great Northern Divers islom and at least 60 "commic" tern.

Skogsøy 02 September 2007

Strong onshore winds and a succession of heavy showers made seawatching somewhat difficult.
A few hours in the middle of the day produced almost 60 Northern Fulmar havhest and around 80 Northern Gannet havsule heading north.

Other than that just a few Great Skua storjo knocking about and 26 Ruddy Turnstone steinvender flew south.

Tjeldstø 30-31 August 2007

Not birding at all but a Whimbrel småspove flew over on the evening of 30 August and Merlin dvergfalk sat on a neighbours tree on 31 August.

Tjeldstø 29 August 2007

Adult Arctic Tern rødnebbterne
Juvenile Arctic Tern rødnebbterne

A small flock of terns, largely Arctics rødnebbterne but with a few Common tern makrellterne with them taking advantage of the plentiful small fry in the area today.

Waderwise business as usual with a Greenshank gluttesnipe, a couple of Ruff brusfugl and a Turnstone steinvender as the best of the bunch. The other wader species were Curlew storspove, Golden Plover heilo, Ringed Plover sandlo and Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin.

Skogsøy 28 August 2007

Part of a flock of Ruff brusfugl at Breivik

Queit at Skogsøy today with the only birds of note three Great Skua storjo heading north and a Peregrine vandrefalk knocking around.

A flock of 11 Ruff brusfugl at Breivik on the way home...

Tjeldstø 27 August 2007

Greenshank gluttesnipe

A sinensis Cormorant mellomskarv on Husvatnet was yet more evidence that this sub-species is, or has been, grossly under recorded in Hordaland. The first two Wigeon brunakke of the autumn also turned up.

Small numbers of waders included a few Ruff brusfugl and a Greenshank gluttenipe,

Passerines flocking with some big flocks of Linnet tornirisk, Redpoll brunsisik and Meadow Pipit heipiplerke feeding in the area. A couple of Reed Bunting sivspurv were the first for a while.

Skogsøy 25 August 2007

Peregrine vandrefalk

A quiet yet productive day at Skogsøy - a couple of Sooty Shearwater grålire being the highlights. Other stuff included three Great Skua storjo and several Turnstone steinvender. Small numbers of Gannet havsule and only one Kittiwake krykkje....

Repeated views of at least one Peregrine vandrefalk, a White-tailed Eagle havørn. Passerine migration was represented by a couple of Wheatear steinskvett and the first Twite bergirisk flock (ca 20) of the autumn.

Tjeldstø 23 August 2007

Some of the Ruff brusfugl at Tjeldstø today

Back in the country again after a trip to Mallorca.

Calm and sunny conditions meant it was a pleasant walk around the reserve. Waders were the highlight with 13 Ruff brusfugl, four Golden Plover heilo, a Spotted Redshank sotsnipe, a Green Sandpiper skogsnipe, 14 Snipe enkeltbekkasin, a Lapwing vipe and a Common Sandpiper strandsnipe in the area.

Other species worth a mention were two Whinchat buskskvett, a Tree Pipit trepiplerke, two adult White-tailed Eagle havørn, a Great spotted Woodpecker flaggspett and a very early Goldeneye kvinand. And a Carrion Crow svartkråke

Tjeldstø 14 August 2007

Two ruff brusfugl and a Greenshank gluttesnipe

Waders included at least four Greenshank gluttesnipe and two Ruff brusfugl.

Other migrants worth noting were the first Great Spotted Woodpecker flaggspett for some time, a Whicnchat buskskvett and a Swift tårnseiler.

Tjeldstø 12 August 2007

The only birds of note on an early morning walk with the dog were two Whinchat buskskvett.

Tjeldstø 12 August 2007

Some wader movement with at least three Greenshank gluttesnipe in the reserve, along with a Whimbrel småspove and six other species of wader. Big flocks of Meadow Pipit heipiplerke, Redpoll brunsisik and Barn Swallows låvsvale also in the area.

A record flock of 20 Black-headed Gull hettemåke was the best sighting of the day, normally this speices is seen only in small numbers.

At Nautnes a Great spotted Woodpecker flaggspett may be an indication that it will be another woodpecker autumn out here at the coast....

Skogsøy 11 August 2007

Whitethroat tornsanger

An eternity since I last got out and about. A quick trip to Skogsøy was all there was time for, but it paid off with an adult Spotted Redshank sotsnipe heading south. The vast majority of stuff passing were waders with 140 Oystercatcher tjeld, a Greenshank gluttesnipe and several other species all on the move.


Back in the garden a Whitethroat tornsanger and a fly over Tree pipit trepiplerke were the only things of note.

Skogsøy 19 July 2007 - Shearwaters

Great Black-backed Gull svartbak

At last! Finally some time spent actually out birding. Paid off nicely in the form of a single Manx Shearwater havlire. July is the peak time to see this rare visitor to these parts - see here for more details. Another good record was a Sooty Shearwater grålire - my earliest ever at Skogsøy. This species has been reported very early at other locations in Europe this year.

Other birds of interest included three Ruddy Turnstone steinvender and a Red-throated Diver smålom. Only a few Northern Fulmar havhest, 66 Gannet havsule and 14 Black-legged Kittiwake krykkje.

One interesting thing today were Gannets havsule REALLY struggling to swallow Garfish horngjel of up to 0.7m in length! The fish were only fractionally shorter than the length of a gannet's wing. These fish were the source of some amazing battles between Gannets and Great Black.backed Gulls svartbak. The Gannets won - but only just!

Willow Warbler løvsanger - absolutely everywhere at the moment

Skogsøy 15 July 2007

Despite strong onshore winds a short seawatch around lunchtime produced little of interest. A Great Skua storjo headed north and nine southbound summer plumaged Dunlin myrsnipe were the only birds of note.

Tjeldstø 14 July 2007

An early morning walk through the reserve produced some birds with the best being a male Merlin dvergfalk being chased by over 20 Barn Swallows låvsvale, a Ringed Plover sandlo and an Arctic Skua tyvjo riding on a piece of driftwood out in the fjord.

Tjeldstø 02 July 2007

Not birding at all. Again. However, as is often the case such days can produce interesting stuff. A male Ruff brushane, complete with "collar" beside Husvatnet was the best bird and a Merlin dvergfalk flew over during a trip to the shops.

Tjeldstø 30 June 2007

Arctic Tern rødnebbterne

Nothing special about, just a White-tailed Eagle havørn and most of the usual species.

Tjeldstø 13 June 2007

Oystercatcher tjeld
Redshank rødstilk

Common Tern makrellterne

Not out birding as such, and then only in the heat of the day. Correspondingly little to be seen, just the usual local breeders. Common Tern makrellterne has recently been added to the Red Data List for Norway due to concerns over declining populations. Thankfully it seems there are still some around in Øygarden.

The local White-tailed Eagle havørn have, as usual at this time of year, become unpredictable. However, an adult flew over causing panic and concern among the gulls.

Yesterday a sinensis Great Cormorant mellomskarv rested beside Husvatnet, Tjeldstø. This scarce visitor to Hordaland seems to be becoming more regular. A guide to identification of this race can be found here.

Øygarden 09 June 2007

Kick started the day at 03:00 with singing Spotted Crake myrrikse at Tjeldstø again.

Seawatching at Skogsøy, typically for the time of year, produced quality rather than quantity - with highlights including one each of Arctic tyvjo, Great storjo and Pomarine Skuas polarjo. In an Øygarden contex a flock of five Pinkfeet kortnebbgås were the best birds. Especially good in that I was guiding and trying to show off the area! Otherwise small numbers of Red-throated Diver smålom, Velvet Scoter sjøorre, Northern Fulmar havhest (VERY close in despite next to no wind) and the usual suspects

Greylags grågås continue to move south in small flocks 0f 15-20 birds - autmun migration already!

Two Collared Dove tyrkedue at Herdlevær were a typical late spring / early summer observation.

After Øygarden it was off to the Hardangervidda......WOW!

Tjeldstø 08 June 2007 - Spotted Crake

Having been housebound working on a report all week which I finally sent it off at 01:00; taking a cold beer out on my terrace the sound of the can opening coincided with the calling of a Spotted Crake myrikse! This too was a new species for Øygarden, the second this week. However, the nature reserve at Tjeldstø is a perfect place for the species so it wasn't totally unexpected.

It sang for at least an hour, easily audible from the cycle path by the main road (or my house!). Typically it threw its voice all over the place, sometimes sounding as if it was at my feet, at other times distant. I even began to wonder if there were two...

Other sightings during this time included roding Woodcock rugde and a few deer.

Tjeldstø 05 June 2007 - Hobby!

Hobby lerkefalk over Tjeldstø nature reserve

Having been stuck in the house with work the last few days I finally took a quick stroll through the reserve and was rewarded with a first for Øygarden - a Hobby lerkefalk! Wicked! Unfortunately the only pictures I managed were a few record shots.

Other birds of note have been few and far between but a Collared Dove tyrkedue flew over my garden yesterday and an Arctic Skua tyvjo did the same on Saturday afternoon.

Skogsøy 01 June 2007 - Brents on the move

A short spell at Skogsøy gave good results, despite almost windless conditions. Well over 300 Brent Geese ringgås headed north, with the first seen over land not long after 05:00. Most of these were in a single flock of at least 250 a little after 10:00.

Other birds on their way north included well over 30 Red-throated Diver smålom, four Arctic Skua tyvjo and 10 Velvet Scoter sjøorre. Around 130 Common Scoter svartand headed south.

At Tjeldstø at least one of the Curlew storspove pairs hatched three young....

Solberg 31 May 2007

Weasel on the prowl...

Not birding at all but White-tailed Eagle havørn, two Common Sandpiper strandsnipe and most of the usual seen. Highlight was a Weasel giving good views as it hunted through a pile of stones.

At Tjeldstø a Swift tårnseiler was the first of the year.

Øygarden 15 May 2007

White Wagtail linerle, Hjelme

No chance to get to Skogsøy today, which was a pity. Good numbers of Red-throated Diver smålom along with other migrants including Tufted Duck toppand and Oystercatcher tjeld were seen during a short seawatch from Svellingen.

Adult Greylag grågås leading chicks to safety

Greylag grågås families are now to be seen everywhere in Øygarden - hopefully the recent expansion in numbers will continue such that the local White-tailed Eagle havørn, Eagle Owl hubro and Peregrines vandrefalk will have plenty to eat despite the reduction in the number of seabirds.

Greylag goslings grågås such as these are a common sight at present

The cleanup after the "Server" oil spill is nearing completion, however, oil booms, absorbents and bags of oiled debris are still be seen in a few locations in Øygarden.

Oil booms still deployed at Sæle.

Herdelvær 14 May 2007

White wagtail linerle
Lapwing vipe nest

Eider ærfugl nest

Went to see if the Wryneck vendehals reported at Herdlevær yesterday was still around, needless to say there was no sign of it.

Stumbled over an Eider Duck ærfugl nest and a Northern Lapwing vipe nest as some small compensation.

Øygarden 13 May 2007

A big day at Skogsøy - which I managed to miss - almost 300 Red-throated Diver smålom, White-billed Diver gulnebblom, small numbers of both Pomarine Skua polarjo and Arctic Skua tyvjo along with single Great Skua storjo and a small flock of Barnacles kept observers busy until around 13:00. A Carrion Crow svartkråke and a Common Whitethroat tornsanger were reported from Herdlevær.

A similar selection of species were seen from Svellingen where three Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker were also seen.

At Tjeldstø I heard the first Cuckoo gjøk of the year, the Sedge Warblers sivsanger were still singing and a few Common Terns makrellterne also arrived.

Skogsøy 11 May 2007

Great Black-backed Gull svartbak

Northern Gannet havsule

Over 150 Red-throated Diver smålom, a Great Northern Diver islom and a White-billed Diver gulnebblom all headed north, as did three Arctic Skua tyvjo. Two small flocks of Barncale Geese hvitkingås gave hope of a "big day" but this failed to develop. Little else moving over the sea, just some small flocks of distant terns.

Once again a White-billed Diver sat on the sea around dawn but soon disappeared.

Bird of the day was a Rook kornkråke that seemed to come in off the sea around dawn.

Øygarden 10 May 2007

Not out much but saw a female Merlin dvergfalk hunting over Breivik where the Sedge Warbler sivsanger was still singing.

At Tjeldstø a Peregrine vandrefalk took what was probably a Teal krikkand. Two Sand Martins sandsvale and a House Martin taksvale joined the abundant Swallows låvsvale feeding in the reserve.

Two pairs of Wigeon brunakke and the long staying Barnacle Goose hvitkingås still on Husvatnet.

Øygarden 08 May 2007 - First Pom

Sedge Warbler sivsanger, Tjeldstø

Not a hope of using autofocus on this typical view of this species!

Willow Warbler løvsanger, Herdlevær

Somewhat predicatably started the day off seawatching at Skogsøy. Generally fairly quiet with the highlight being virtually the first bird of the day - and my all time favourite - a splendid summer plumaged Pomarine Skua polarjo. Also seven Arctic Skua tyvjo and at least one Great Skua storjo.

Just 24 Red-throated Diver smålom and two White-billed Diver gulnebblom today along with most of the usual species including Velvet Scoter sjøorre, Whimbrel småspove and several Fulmar havhest.

At Breivik the second new species for Øygarden this year was a singing Sedge Warbler sivsanger. At least two, probably three more present at Tjeldstø where I also found a Curlew storspove nest containing three eggs.

Øygarden 07 May 2007 - big day missed?

Few opportunities for birding today but a flock of five Barnacle Geese hvitkingås resting at Solberg indicated that things were happening. On returning home a flock of around 70 flew over the house - proving that Barnacles regularly pass over land and up the east side of Øygarden. This is not the first time migrating Barnacle Geese have been observed at Tjeldstø.

Tjeldstø 06 May 2007

An abrupt change in the weather to strong southerlies with rain. Best bird was a Yellow Wagtail gulerle out in the reserve, there was also a pair of Wigeon brunakke and a Black-headed Gull hettemåke beside Husvatnet.

At least two families of recently fledged Greylag geese grågås also on Husvatnet will no doubt have problems with becoming dinner for the ever present White-tailed Eagles havørn. A few Northern Gannets havsule headed down the fjord.

Skogsøy 04 May 2007 Yet more divers...

Otter with wrasse at Skogsøy

Flock of resting Red-throated Diver smålom

With a brisk NNW wind blowing I was hoping for some skuas, instead there were five White-billed Diver gulnebblom, 212 Red-throated Diver smålom, a Great Northern Diver islom and an unidentified WB/GN Diver kjempelom. Unusually one of the White-billed Diver landed on the sea for a short while, a couple of Red-throated Diver flocks also landed briefly, actively feeding before moving on.

Nine Velvet Scoter sjøorre and 18 Atlantic Puffin lunde were among the other birds that passed.

Probably the best observation, however, was an Otter that came swimming past with a fish in its mouth - not exactly an everyday sight.

Skogsøy 02 May 2007 More White-billed Diver

Northern Gannet havsule
Flock of migrating Red-throated Diver smålom

Yet another great day at Skogsøy with plenty of sun, wind and divers. A total of 129 Red-throated Diver smålom, a massive 18 White-billed Diver gulnebblom and a single Black-throated Diver storlom were the highlights. An Arctic Tern rødnebbterne was the first of the year at Skogsøy and a pale phase Arctic Skua tyvjo had a go at a Common Gull fiskemåke before continuing northwards.

Amazingly there have now been more White-billed Diver gulnebblom seen between 29.04 and 02.05 than were seen during the entire 2006 season! This is more a reflection on what a poor spring 2006 was for this species. However, double figure counts three days in a row may well be a record.

Small numbers of other seabirds also noted including a Northern Fulmar havhest, 21 Black-legged Kittiwake krykkje, nine Atlantic Puffin lunde, two Black-headed Gull hettemåke and a Velvet Scoter sjøorre.

One of three Collared Dove tyrkedue at Herdlevær

Female Merganser, Skogsøy


White-billed Diver gulnebblom

Not a breath of wind until around 11:00 after which a barely perceptable northerly breeze began to blow. In other words, not ideal diver migration conditions - it therefore came as something of a surprise to see a total of 17 White-billed Diver gulnebblom head north.

The crap photo above in no way does justice to these birds - but it does show the typical pot-bellied look of this species.

Well over 100 Red-throated Diver smålom, a Shelduck gravand and two Velvet Scoter sjøorre were among the other species heading north. The only passerine of note out at Skogsøy was a Tree Pipit trepiplerke coming in off the sea.

In a local context three Collared Dove tyrkedue at Herdlevær were a much rarer, if rather less interesting, find than the White-billed Divers.....

Øygarden 29 April 2007 - Diver day

Seawatching at Skogsøy

Not quite as good as the same day in 2006 (see here), however, this traditionally good diver day produced the goods despite something of a slow start.

Highlight was undoubtedly a total of seven White-billed Diver gulnebblom, a Great Northern Diver islom and 98 Red-throated Diver smålom all heading north. A few more unidentified large divers also passed.

The one that got away was a medium sized raptor seen by observers at Skogsøy and Kollsnes, probably a Common Buzzard musvåk. Other raptors included several White-tailed Eagle havørn, hunting Merlin dvergfalk and Kestrel tårnfalk.

New for the year were several Whimbrel småspove on the move.

Two Collared Dove tyrkedue and two Greenshank gluttesnipe and a Carrion Crow svartkråke were reported from Herdlevær. All good birds for the time of year.

At Tjeldstø the highlight was three Black-tailed Godwit svarthalepsove and a Barnacle Goose hvitkingås.

Skogsøy 26 April 2007 - Barnacles on the move

Barnacle Geese hvitkingås winging their way past Skogsøy in the fog

Two Red-throated Diver smålom pass overhead

White wagtail linerle

Having heard that "Godzilla" and other satellite tagged Barnacle Geese hvitkingås had calready rossed the North Sea there was no way I wasn't going seawatching today. Despite somewhat foggy weather and rather reduced visibility several flocks of Barnacle Geese passed during the course of the morning. No "big" day, but around 170 was better than nothing given the conditions.

Other noteable birds included the first Arctic Skua tyvjo of the year, a Northern Fulmar havhest, 40 Red-throated Diver smålom and, birds of the day: a pair of Shoveler skjeand heading north together with a flock of Common Scoter svartand.

Land birds in the area included Northern Wheatear steinskvett and a hunting Merlin dvergfalk.

Back home at Tjeldstø a Kestrel tårnfalk made its way north.

Herdlevær 24 April 2007

Chiff-chaff gransanger

Rather a dull day and little time out and about. A quick look at Herdlevær produced little other than a flock of five Black-headed Gulls hettemåke and a Chiff-chaff gransanger among all the usual suspects.

Tjeldstø 23 April 2007

Golden Plover heilo

A look around the reserve was quite productive with a fly over Waxwing sidensvans being the best bird, with excellent views of a male Merlin dvergfalk competing for first place. Other birds of prey included White-tailed Eagle havørn scaring up the geese and a male Peregrine vandrefalk which caused blind panic in one of the gull colonies.

Plenty of small stuff to see too with singing Reed Bunting sivspurv and Chiff-chaff gransanger both setting up territories in the reserve. Most of the breeding waders have now returned including several Redshank rødstilk. A few Golden Plover heilo also rested out in the reserve.

Male Pied Wagtails svartryggerle still obvious around Husvatnet and the farm building.

News from yesterday included a couple of Black-headed Gull hettemåke and a Barnacle Goose hvitkingås beside Husvatnet.

An evening stroll produced the first Barn Swallows låvsvale and House Martins taksvale of the year with three of each feeding over the lakes and woods. A Northern Wheatear steinskvett also showed in the reserve and the 2 cy Iceland Gull grønlandsmåke turned up on Husvatnet.

Skogsøy 02 April 2007 - Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull grønlandsmåke, Herdlevær

Not really birding but "couldn't help noticing" that the Scaup bergand first reported last Saturday (24.03) was still around and the first flock of Linnet tornirisk I've seen this year flew over a few times.

Obviously some passage today - a few small flocks of Oystercatcher tjeld, a few hundred Common Gull fiskemåke and a single flock of 28 Curlew storspove all heading north.

The Iceland Gull grønlandsmåke was back at Herdlevær - managed a few pictures despite the first cloud and rain for at least 10 days....

Øygarden 01 April 2007 - Eagles galore

Part of a flock of scared geese....

Not out birding at all today but two Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke were the first for Tjeldstø this year and at one point there were six White-tailed Eagles havørn visible from my terrace. These made the geese very nervous and flocks flew up in panic throughout the day.



Elsewhere in Øygarden two different Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett were heard singing and A Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker was seen on the sea north of Sæle.