Øygarden 23 August 2008 - Alarm clock blunder

Goldcrest fuglekonge
The flare at Kollsnes....any effect on nocturnal migrants?

New tripod head.....Manfrotto 501HDV
Northbound Shags toppskarv - one of the few species on the move today

Finally a few hours birding.....and this time with my new tripod head, a Manfrotto 501HDV. A necessary purchase since my trusty old head well and truly gave up the ghost during a recent trip to Falsterbo.

Started the day off unwittingly early, having set my alarm clock to 00:30 and not the more conventional 04:30. Despite a number of not-so-subtle clues to this mistake I remarkably didn't notice this until after I had watched a hunting Eagle Owl hubro (seeminlgy at a Hooded Crow kråke roost) for several minutes at 01:30.....



I continued out to Skogsøy where nocturnal migrants heard passing included Ringed Plover sandlo, Common Sandpiper strandsnipe and Oystercatcher tjeld.





A couple of hours seawatching were generally quiet but a Peregrine vandrefalk flew past, at least one Red Knot polarsnipe fed on the rocks and a couple of Red-throated Diver smålom meant it wasn't a waste of time.



Few seabirds, just several Gannet havsule, a Fulmar havhest and at least 30 "guillebills" alke/lomvi in groups on the sea.

Migrants seen on the way home included a couple of Whinchat buskskvett at Herdlevær and a Spotted Flycatcher gråfluesnapper at Breivik - the latter being the first I have seen in Øygarden this year.

Tjeldstø 21 August 2008

STILL not getting out! However, not quite birdless as a Spotted Redshank sotsnipe flew over the garden in the evening.

Øygarden 19 August 2008

The boat to Hernar
Approaching Hernar
Some promising areas on Hernar....

Half an hour in the early morning beside Husvatnet, Tjeldstø proved productive. Highlight was a Wood Sandpiper grønnstilk actively feeding around the edge of the lake. A couple of Ruff brusfugl flew in and a Merlin dvergfalk buzzed the reserve - promptly scaring out some Dunlin myrsnipe.

Overhead migrants included Tree pipit trepiplerke, Golden Plover heilo and Ringed Plover sandlo. Roaming flocks of up to 20 Fieldfare gråtrost now seen daily.

A tourist trip to Hernar in the afternoon proved that this island is quite promising - during an absolutely not birding half an hour ashore I had a Great-spotted Woodpecker flagspett and a Garden Warbler hagesanger. Hopefully there will be time for some daytrips there during the autumn.

Tjeldstø 18 August 2008

Not getting out and about much at all. However, a few minutes out of the house today produced a flock of four Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb flying over and the first Wigeon brunnakke of the autumn - a flock of three on Husvatnet.

A Whimbrel småspove and a Grey Wagtail vintererle were seen a Hellesøy a couple of days back during a fishing trip.

A flock of Ruff brusfugl dropping into the reserve
A juvenile Blackbird svarttrost rests after feasting on berries....from my garden.

At least one Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb flying over the garden was the 151st species for the garden list.

A productive walk through the reserve today produced 10 Ruff brusfugl, several Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin, a Greenshank gluttsnipe, a Green Sandpiper skogsnipe and a Collared Dove tyrkedue as best birds. Other waders in the area included a couple each of Oystercatcher tjeld (most have now departed) and Common Sandpiper strandsnipe as well as migrating Ringed Plover sandlo and Golden Plover heilo.

Tjeldstø 12 August 2008 - Tall ships

Only the briefest of walks today resulted in a Merlin dvergfalk hunting over the reserve. Bird of the day was a Wood Sandpiper grønnstilk migrating over the house at 23:30 - first this year in Øygarden.

Other stuff seen from the house included a Greenshank gluttsnipe and a juvenile Black-headed Gull hettemåke.

The spectacle of the day must have been the Tall Ships race heading up to the start point of the next leg of the race.

Skogsøy 05 August 2008

Collared Dove tyrkedue, Skogsøy

Seawatching was a total disaster, a deluge stopped any passage there might have been from 06:00 onwards. A Shelduck gravand was the only bird of interest.

Soaked through I waited and although the rain eased off it didn't stop so I headed back. A Peregrine vandrefalk meant the walk wasn't a total waste of time.

A drive-by at Herdlevær produced quite a bit of actvity - the rain had obviously deposited migrants in the gardens there - among them a Pied Flycatcher svarthvitfluesnapper and a Sedge Warbler sivsanger. "Only" one confirmed Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb today - a male in the "bombehagen".

A couple of Collared Dove tyrkedue and a Tree Sparrow pilfink were also worth a mention.

Tjeldstø 04 August 2008 - not birding

Raven ravn
Muscovy duck at Toft

Green sandpiper skogsnipe

Didn't really get out but managed a hour on the terrace in the evening. A good flock of 130+ Greylags grågås headed south, bang on time. During the last week or so there has been much practise flying and some minor movements but this was the first big flock of the autumn.

Other stuff included a flock of three Greenshank gluttsnipe together with a ruff brusfugl heading south and a Green sandpiper skogsnipe flew over.

At Toft a Muscovy duck fed by the roadside.

Tjeldstø 03 August 2008 - the last Cuckoo?

Typically for the time of year the reserve held a Green sandpiper skogsnipe and a couple of Greenshank gluttsnipe. A Cuckoo gjøk was possibly the last of the year for the reserve - typically a few are seen around this time of year then none until the next spring.

Tjeldstø 02 August 2008 - yet more Two-barred Crossbill

Crested Tit toppmeis
Greenshank gluttsnipe
Lesser Redpoll brunsisik
Lesser Redpoll brunsisik

The Two-barred Crossbill bånkorsnebb influx / invasion continues with a flock of six flying over Tjeldstø - a patch first for me but not the first record for the reserve.

The southerly winds and rain during the night were no doubt responsible for two Greenshank gluttsnipe out in the reserve - first of the autumn at Tjeldstø. Migrating Golden Plover heilo and Ringed Plover sandlo were also in the area. Other birds of note included a flock of seven Twite bergirisk -typically they become more obvious at this time of year.

Toftøy 01 August 2008

Sinensis Cormorant mellomskarv
sinensis Cormorant mellomskarv
Goldeneye kvinand

Visiting the woods / lake / reedbeds at Toftøy was well worth the trip. Highlights today were at least 10 Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsnebb and about the same of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb. Many more must be waiting to be found in Øygarden alone. The area was full of activity with several each of Sedge Warbler sivsanger and Whitethroat tornsanger along with all the usual woodland stuff.

The lake held threee sinensis Cormorants mellomskarv - all positively identified birds I have seen on freshwater in Øygarden have been of this race. The first Goldeneye kvinand of the autumn also present.

Skogsøy 30 July 2008

Juvenile Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb - this bird was together with the male and female pictured below.

Male Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb
Female Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb
Raven ravn

Almost identical weather to the previous visit but very different birdwise. Very few waders passing, very little of anything in fact with just four Great Skua storjo and the first two southbound Red-throated Diver smålom.

However, all was not lost, the woods seemed to be full of Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb, although I only ever saw five simultaneously. Plenty of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb too, though the two species tended to keep to themselves. Very difficult to photograph and with the baking heat I just took a few record shots, gave up and went home.

The male Red-backed Shrike tornskate was seen briefly on a drive-by past Herdlevær.

An unusual Starling stær on the wires outside my house made me look twice but it was just an abnormally pale bird....A Starling stær trying to be something more exciting and almost getting there....

Tjeldstø 29 July 2008 - Green Sandpiper

Euarasian Teal krikkand

Pretty much the only birds of note were a flock of three Green Sandpiper skogsnipe in the reserve - a typical late July species at Tjeldstø. Some small flocks of Greylags grågås heading south for the winter and a few Ringed plover sandlo heard flying over.

Skogsøy 27 July 2008 - Two-barred Crossbills

Male Red-backed Shrike tornskate at Herdlevær
Male Two-barred Crossbill bånkorsnebb at Skogsøy

As usual Skogsøy provided plenty of interest. The highlights were a few Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb in the woods - part of an ongoing influx. 15 were seen further south in Øygarden at Toft yesterday. Other good birds included a female Merlin dvergfalk and a few flyover Greenshank gluttsnipe.

With such calm conditions it was not surprising that it was just waders passing with almost 550 Oystercatcher tjeld in a couple of hours around dawn. A Knot polarsnipe and several migrating Grey Heron gråhegre were among the few other birds seen.

Oystercatcher tjeld at Herdlevær

A drive-by at Herdlevær produced another good bird - a male Red-backed Shrike tornskate.

Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke

Tjeldstø 26 July 2008 - Summer

White-tailed Eagle havørn
Coal tit svartmeis

Took an early morning stroll to escape the worst of the heat. Not much activity, although a White-tailed Eagle havørn made a pass through one of the gull colonies which are now emtying fast. Few waders on the move - only a few migrating Golden Plover heilo out in the reserve and most of the breeders now moved south.....

Still some Common Crossbill grankorsnebb about, a few Black-headed Gull hettemåke, a couple of Swifts tårnseiler and at least one sinensis Cormorant mellomskarv on Husvatnet.

Øygarden 08 July 2008

Merlin dvergfalk

Hedge accentor jernspurv

Checked out the White-tailed Eagle havørn nest found yesterday from a safe distance - one young which looks like it could fly at any moment. The Merlin dvergfalk were also very active close by - but all that was to be found was a plucking post.

A very lost looking Hedge accentor jernspurv called for its parents....could easily have become merlin food.

Øygarden 07 July 2008

Gannet havsule trailing fishing line - this bird must be doomed
Redpoll brunsisik

Seawatching might not have been the most obvious choice with a brisk easterly blowing off the land - accompanied by light rain. However, Skogsøy proved productive enough as usual with a flock of three Green Sandpiper skogsnipe heading south as the highlight - the first of the year in Øygarden. Five summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove were also the first of the autumn. A few Shelduck gravand and a Whimbrel småspove were other migrants of note.

A light passage of Swifts tårnseiler was also noteworthy - all were seen a long way out to sea heading south.

Other birds included over 160 Northern Gannet havsule and at least seven Great Skua storjo. and small numbers of Puffin lunde, Guillemot lomvi and Razorbill alke.

Elsewhere in Øygarden I stumpled upon a White-tailed Eagle havørn nest and two rather vocal Merlin dvergfalk.

Øygarden early July 2008

Common Swift tårnseiler

Goldcrest fuglekonge
Coal Tit svartmeis
Above and below Crested Tit toppmeis

Not birding as such, but some continued indications of return wader passage with the first Ruff brusfugl of the autumn accompanying a small flock of Lapwing vipe south over Tjeldstø on 03 July and three southbound Whimbrel småspove over Herdlevær on 04 July.

Swifts tårnseiler, no doubt on extended feeding trips began to show on 05 July. Other indications of movement are small flocks of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb "everywhere". This seems to be part of a larger movement mirrored both on the Shetlands and offshore.

Otherwise the woods are full of fledged passerines and their overworked parents...

Øygarden 01 July 2008

Great Skua storjo
Willow Warbler lovsanger

Kicked the day off with a couple of hours seawatching at Skogsøy - well rewarded with a Manx Shearwater havlire, a 2cy Great Northern Diver islom, an Arctic Skua tyvjo and nine Great Skua storjo (including a flock of six) heading north.

Approximately 150 Northern Gannet havsule, a Northern Fulmar havhest and the usual auks also with a predominantly northerly movement.

At Breivik the Reed Warbler rørsanger was still singing along the the Sedge Warblers sivsanger and a Lesser Whitethroat møller sang in the same area.

Tjeldstø late June 2008

Young Wren gjerdesmett
Reed Bunting sivspurv
Young Robin rødstrupe

Not really birding at all, just catching up with things after a crewchange in Iceland.

Most of the passerines are feeding young, some of the waders have left already and some gull chicks still hatching. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of the terns - Arctic Terns rødnebbterne had begun to lay eggs earlier in the month but these are now gone, along with the birds.....

Lesser Whitethroat møller heard in the woods - looks like they may have bred at Tjeldstø. Skylark sanglerke still singing so it seems these too have bred close by this year....

Small numbers of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb knocking about and a few waders heading south the only sign of migration.