Øygarden 22 March 2008

Northern Gannet havsule at close range
Migrating Oystercatchers tjeld
Shelduck gravand
White-tailed Eagle havørn

A superb days birding in fantastic weather.

Kicked the day off at Skogsøy just before 06:00 with an Eagle Owl hubro.

A couple of hours seawatching was very productive with over 200 Atlantic Puffin lunde moving north - a huge total for recent years. Other stuff on the move included just under 400 Oystercatcher tjeld, a couple of Red-throated Diver smålom, a Shelduck gravand, two little auk alkekonge and small numbers of migrating Common Gulls fiskemåke.

A 2cy Iceland Gull grønlandsmåke and a 2cy Glaucous Gull polarmåke were also seen here.

A flock of 11 Snow Bunting snøspurv, a Pied Wagtail svartryggerle, the first Lesser Redpoll brunsisik of the year and a Meadow Pipit heipiplerke were the highlights at Tjeldstø.

At Svellingen the best birds were a Peregrine vandrefalk and a Great Northern Diver islom. A flock of 20 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt were also seen here.

A minimum of 11 White-tailed Eagle havørn were seen during the day.

Øygarden 21 March 2008

Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker
Part of a flock of about 100 nNewly arrived Starlings stær
Lapwings vipe

Clearer weather today but a house full of visitors meant I didn't do that much. At Tjeldstø the first Ringed Plover sandlo and Meadow Pipits heipiplerke of the year flew over and at least one Pied Wagtail svartryggerle still around.

Obviously some movement going on at Herdlevær too with eight Lapwing vipe, a few Chaffinch bokfink, a pair of Teal krikkand and a Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin. Other birds of interest included at least three Velvet Scoter sjøorre, a Sparrowhawk spurvhauk and a Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker.

Tjeldstø 20 March 2008

Female Red-breasted Merganser siland - looking either punk or "goth" sporting a spiky hair-do and heavy eyeshadow.
A pair of Great Black-backed Gulls svartbak - note the "his 'n' hers bills - male on the left.

Just a quick trip out in raging southerly gale and heavy snowfall. Predictably little to be seen - just the usual suspects. However, obtained nice views of an Otter oter.

Tjeldstø 19 March 2008

Snow Buntings snøspurv in snow shower

Record shot of Pied Wagtail svartryggerle
Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke

Cold northerly winds and hail / snow showers put an effective stop on migration today but there were still a few birds about including a flock of five Snow Buntings snøspurv, a Pied Wagtail svartryggerle and at least four Rock pipits skjærpiplerke which showed an enormous amount of plumage variation.

Rock pipit skjærpiplerke in hail shower

Alvheim 17 March 2008

Immature White-tailed Eagle havørn
Female Goldeneye kvinand

Nothing much out of the ordinary although six immature White-tailed Eagles havørn, at least four of which were immatures were worth a mention. Otherwise just a couple of Black Grouse orrfugl in the woods.

Best observation today was a family of Orcas spekkhoggere feeding in Hjeltefjord - seen from my living room. The second half of March is the best time to see these wonderful creatures as they follow the herring shoals.

Tjeldstø 16 March 2008

Eagle food has arrived.....

Barely out of the house today but a brief look produced the first two Pied Wagtails svartryggerle of the year - chasing a Sparrowhawk spurvhauk. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flaggspett was also worth mentioning.

Plenty of Oystercatcher tjeld, Lapwing vipe and ever increasing numbers of Greylags grågås - repeatedly put to flight by unseen raptor(s).....

Tjeldstø 15 March 2008

The first Teal krikkand for the year turned up on Husvatnet and a Sparrowhawk spurvhauk were the only birds of note. Greylag grågås numbers rapidly increasing with around 50 now present.

Øygarden 14 March 2008

At Solberg a few Skylark sanglerke headed north and 6 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt fed on the shore.

Hjelme Vest was a little better with a Great Northern Diver islom on the sea and over 35 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt seen. Long-tailed Duck havelle numbers up slightly but still nowhere near the pre-Server oil spill levels. Eiders ærfugl topped three figures for the first time this winter - the species has been virtually absent until now.

A 2cy Iceland Gull grønlandsmåke flew past the house and the first roding Woodcock rugde of the year was also seen. Four White-tailed Eagle havørn over Husvatnet meant the geese were somehwat nervous.

Øygarden 13 March 2008

Mouse skull from owl pelletOwl pellet - probably from Long-eared Owl hornugle
Woodpecker hole

Went to check out an interesting area which was surpisingly birdless - it was all about tracks and signs today. However, a White-tailed Eagle havørn nest, some very interesting owl pellets - probably Long-eared Owl hornugle or possbily Tengmalm's Owl perleugle. Any owl other than Eagle Owl is a rarity in Øygarden so this is quite an interesting find.

Also plenty of Woopecker spett holes - some obviously old and others seemingly much fresher.

Otherwise just a Woodcock rugde and a small flock of unidentifed Crossbill korsnebb.

Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin heard singing for the first time this year at Tjeldstø.

Skogsøy 12 March 2008

Male Long-tailed Duck havelle
Female Long-tailed Duck havelle
Raven ravn
Eider Ærfugl
Shelduck gravand

Surprisingly little migration given the good conditions. However, spring very much in the air with Rock Pipits skjærpiplerke now in full song, a Lapwing vipe rested on the rocks and the first Snow Bunting snøspurv at Skogsøy this year flew over. On my way back to the car a Shelduck gravand flew over - another new species for Skogsøy this year.

A Peregrine vandrefalk was finally at its "usual" place and made a hunting foray at least a couple of kilometres out to sea where it dived at "something". A Great Northern Diver islom headed south.

A couple of Woodpigeon ringdue at Herdlevær were the first there this year and a White-tailed Eagle havørn beat up on the gulls.

As darkness fell yet another Eagle Owl hubro site was confirmed.....

Øygarden 10 March 2008

Long-tailed Duck havelle really living up to its name...

Grey Heron gråhegre at Tjeldstø

Red-breasted Merganser siland at Tjeldstø

Strong winds, heavy showers and a late start meant there wasn't much in the way of passage - the only birds of note were a diver lom heading south and the first Black-headed Gull hettemåke for Skogsøy this year.

Around lunchtime it cleared up nicely but it was a case of too little too late. Back home at Tjeldstø an Oystercatcher tjeld was back on its territory, Lapwing vipe around and numbers of Greylags grågås and Starling stær still increasing daily.

The wind dropped in the evening so it was off out again to get nice views of an Eagle Owl hubro in the telescope. Also worth noting was a Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin seemingly migrating.

Øygarden 08 March 2008 - Eagle Owl

Strong winds and driving rain meant that it was far from tempting to get out and about. However, not getting out is not an option, and it was far from disappointing.

Superb views (weather taken into consideration) of Eagle Owl hubro, White-tailed Eagle havørn and Woodcock rugde meant although the number of species seen today was small there were no complaints about the quality....

Found some old trees with plenty of woodpecker holes - worth checking out when the weather improves.

Øygarden 07 March 2008

Male Goldeneye kvinand at Tjeldstø today

Lapwing vipe

At Tjeldstø a newly arrived Lapwing vipe and a Snipe enkeltbekkasin were the best birds. Most of the usual stuff including nine Whoopers sangsvane and a White-tailed Eagle havørn also seen.

A very breif stop at Hellesøy produced the first Woodpigeon ringdue in Øygarden this year.

Hjelme Vest was quite productive with the best observations being a Great Northern Diver islom on the sea, a Turstone steinvender and 30 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt. Two Siskin grønnsisik were the first I have seen in Øygarden since December.

Skogsøy 07 March 2008 - finally some migration

Gannet havsule
Velvet Scoter sjøorre
Migrating Oystercatcher tjeld
Kittiwake krykkje

A couple of hours seawatching at Skogsøy proved to be quite productive with 55 Oystercatcher tjeld, 54 Gannet havsule and 45 Kittiwake krykkje heading north. A few Guillemots lomvi and a razorbill alke, both species that have been extremely scarce during the winter also flew past.

Other birds of interest included a female Sparrowhawk spurvhauk, three Curlew storspove (which may well have been new arrivals) and a couple of Velvet Scoter sjøorre.

Alvheim 05 March 2008

Female Merganser siland at Dåvøy today

Foul weather with strong winds and driving snow meant there was no point trying to look at anything over the sea so I took a stroll in the woods instead - visiting an area near Alvheim for the first time. At least four Woodcock rugde seen in the woods, one of which landed practically at my feet.

Much more unexpected was a singing Black-bellied Dipper fossekall - a "good" Øygarden bird where the species is not recorded annually. This bird was picked up on song, this combined with the very mild winter may just point to a breeding bird....

Hjelme Vest 04 March 2008

Common Scoter svartand
Herring Gull gråmåke
Lyngøy
Winter seas
Goldeneye kvinand

Winter returned with a bang today. A north westerly gale and snow showers meant that conditions were far from easy. A trip to "Hjelme Vest" produced an adult Glaucous Gull polarmåke heading north and little on the sea other than eight Common Scoter svartand and a Black Guillemot teist. A few Gannets havsule did battle with the elements offshore

An Oystercatcher tjeld and 10 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt also present.

Alvheim 03 March 2008

White-tailed Eagle havørn

Great Black-backed Gull svartbak stealing a herring
Whooper Swan sangsvane

No sign of the "good" gulls today - had hoped to have some photo opportunities in the fantastic light today. However, there was still plenty of action at the herring holding-pens.

Three Oystercatcher tjeld were the first I've seen in Øygarden this year as was a single northbound Skylark sanglerke.

A Curlew storspove and 20 Purple Sandpiper fjærelplytt were at Solberg which was otherwise rather quiet.

Plenty of eagles about today too - courtship flights / territorial disputes a common sight the last week or so.Oystercatcher tjeld at Alvheim today