Herdlevær 24 September 2011

Southerly and overcast.

Waders included a Common Sandpiper strandsnipe, a Dunlin myrsnipe and some small flocks of Golden Plover heilo. A Common Tern makrellterne flew past - no doubt one of the last we will see this year.

A heavily oiled Gannet havsule dived into the sea after fish but did not manage to take off again - seemingly waterlogged.

A couple of Wheatear steinskvett, Rock Pipits skjærpiplerke and most of the usual suspects also seen.

 Above and below: Dunlin myrsnipe on the shore

 Oiled Gannet havsule looking rather worse for wear

Shag toppskarv shwoing off a fine "beer belly".

Later in the day a Spotted Flycatcher gråfluesnapper and a Common Redstart rødstjert were seen.

Skogsøy 23 September 2011 - Onshore winds

With the wind firmly onshore since yesterday the only choise for a seawatcher was Skogsøy. However, as usual, onshore winds in autumn failed to produce the hoped for seabirds.

 Gannets havsule

For the first couple of hours there was at least plenty to see:

Gannet havsule S 166
Red-throated Diver smålom S 4
Great Skua storjo N 2
Kittiwake krykkje S 1
Guillemot lomvi S 3
Black Guillemot teist S 1
Arctic Tern rødnebbterne S 4

Other stuff included small numbers of the usual waders, some distant auks, a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn and a Peregrine vandrefalk giving chase to a Curlew storspove.

Migrant passerine included a feeding flock of Fieldfare gråtrost and a lone Wheatear steinskvett.

Tjeldstø 22 September 2011

Strong SW with a few short but heavy showers.

Little at Solberg, just the usual White-tailed Eagle havørn etc.

At Tjeldstø the highlight was the Grey Plover tundralo still in the reserve with around 20 Golden Plover heilo.
A flock of 30-40 Meadow Pipit heipiplerke also present together with a couple of Wheatear steinskvett.

Tjeldstø 21 September 2011

Strong southerly, mostly dry.

Checked Breivik breifly without anything much of interest.

 Part of a Golden Plover heilo flock

 Grey Plover tundralo

Raven ravn

At Tjeldstø around 60 Golden Plover heilo, a Grey Plover tundralo and four Ruff brushane were present. Other birds of note included a Peregrine vandrefalk and a Kestrel tårnfalk.

Øygarden 20 September 2011 - Richard's Pipit

Southwesterly wind, sunny after a wet start.

A late start to seawatching showed that I managed to catch the tail-end of some movement. Around 15 Red-throated Diver smålom, a flock of eight Pale-bellied Brents ringgås and a couple of Arctic Terns rødnebbterne all headed south along with a selection of waders and a small flock of Common Scoter svartand.

 View at Skogsøy

 Gannet havsule

 Herring Gull gråmåke

Ruff brushane at Tjeldstø

Whilst thinking about giving up and heading elsewhere a report of a Richard's Pipit tartarpiplerke at Breivik meant there wasn't much to think about anymore. After a thorough search I gave up - only to hear (and see) it flying over.

Migrants at Herdlevær included a Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper and a couple of Chiff-chaff gransanger.

Øygarden 19 September 2011

Calm and wet.

Little new to be seen at the few localities I checked. Obvious increase in the numbers of thrushes on the ground - many feeding on the abundant rowan berries.

Small flocks of Snpe enkeltbekkasin, Golden Plover heilo and Twite bergirisk.

Herdlevær 18 September - frustration

Calm conditions continue.

A very vocal Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger proved all but impossible to see. Even a rather skulking Garden Warbler hagesanger proved easier to see.

Quite a bit about but a little quieter than yesterday - largely thrushes but most of the usual suspects too.

Overhead migrating Swallows låvesvale were very obvious and a flock of 50+ Greylags grågås headed south - around 40 more were seen later in the day over Tjeldstø.

The Hen Harrier myrhauk was seen again at Breivik and a Common Redstart rødstjert was reported from Solberg.

Herdlevær 17 September 2011 - YB Warbler and Hen Harrier

Easterly winds, sunny and calm.

Herdlevær came good again today. Highlights were a ringtail Hen Harrier myrhauk and at least one Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger - probably at least two. Lots of activity with several phylloscopus warblers that "got away".

 Hen Harrier myrhauk

Peregrine vandrefalk

Hen Harrier myrhauk

Other birds included a Spotted Flycatcher gråfluesnapper (same from yesterday?), a Peregrine vandrefalk, a Kestrel tårnfalk, several Goldcrest fuglekonge and another Wren gjerdesmett showing that some of these are heading to the coast or perhaps even further afield.

Øygarden 16 September 2011 Rosefinch and Red-backed Shrike

Calm and sunny. Plenty of migrants about without anything really mega.

Spent the morning on Hernar. Highlights here were a Rosefinch rosenfink and a fly over Pinkfoot kortnebbgås. Other stuff included a couple each of Lesser Whitethroat møller and Blackcap munk, Willow Warbler løvsanger, Common Whitethroat tornsanger and a Chiff-chaff gransanger. Two Wrens gjerdesmett were the first for ages - hopefully the coming winter will not finish the species off completely.

A couple of hundred Starling stær and a Peregrine vandrefalk were at Hellesøy

A quick look at some other places produced Brambling bjørkefink, Blackcap munk and Chiff-chaff gransanger at Sæle and a Spotted Flycatcher gråfluesnapper and a Garden Warbler hagesanger at Herdlevær.

 Record shot of Common Rosefinch rosenfink at Hernar

 Adult Peregrine vandrefalk at Hellesøy

Willow Warbler løvsanger

To finish the day off a distant Red-backed Shrike tornskate at Tjeldstø was a new species to the garden list.

Skogsøy 15 September 2011

Strong NW, showers

Don't really like to use the words "waste of time" but there really was nothing much to see today during a short mid-morning seawatch. Several Gannets havsule, an Arctic Tern rødnebbterne and a few Common Scoter svartand. That's pretty much it.

Tjeldstø 12 September 2011 - Lap Bunting

Strong southerly winds and heavy rain.

Highlights today were a Black-throated diver storlom flying over the reserve and at least one Lapland Longspur lappspurv - the first of the autumn.

At least 45 Golden Plover heilo, 12+ Snipe enkeltbekkasin, some small flocks of Wigeon brunnakke and Teal krikkand and a White-tailed Eagle havørn were among the other birds seen.

Tjeldstø 11 September 2011

Small numbers of the usual waders including Ruff brushane and Golden Plover heilo were out in the reserve.

A flock of 18 Tree Sparrow pilfink was the largest for some time - not sure if these are migrants arriving for the winter or local breeders that have now flocked together.

Herdlevær 10 September 2011 - Barred Warbler

Light SE and sunny.

Plenty of birds about today - the fields full of White Wagtails linerle and Meadow Pipits heipiplerke and an obvious passage overhead. At least a dozen Wheatear steinskvett and plenty of migrating thrushes also present.

Small numbers of the usual waders on the shore and / or passing overhead.

 Dunlin myrsnipe

Meadow Pipit heipiplerke

Highlight was a Barred Warbler hauksanger which gave brief views before disappearing into a bush and not coming out again during the time I had left. A female Blackcap munk was the only other warbler seen.

Tjeldstø 09 September 2011

First bird of the day was a Grey Plover tundralo flying over the house - a new for the year in Øygarden.

Later on a stroll in the reserve produced a Spotted Redshank sotsnipe, a Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove or two and around 30 Golden Plover heilo. Small numbers of other common waders, a Kestrel tårnfalk and a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk also noted.

At least 12 Teal krikkand and well over 100 Meadow Pipits heipiplerke were others signs of migration.

 Above and below: Golden Plover heilo

Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove with Golden Plover heilo

A small calidrid - a stint of some description was the one that got away today - if pushed I would have said Temminck's Stint temminksnipe.

West of Shetlands, 30.08-07.09

Not that much in the way of birds but up to four Sooty Shearwater grålire daily, Storm Petrels havsvale and all the usual suspects at sea. Only a few common passerines seen offshore.

Best bird was seen south of Shetlands on the way south to Peterhead - a Citrine Wagtail sitronerle which gave brief flight views as it attempted to land on the deck. The bird also called a few times.

This find highlights once again that vessels are like islands in that they attract a much higher percentage of rarities than mainland locations.....

Citrine Wagtail sitronerle

Location of vessel when the Citrine Wag turned up

Intriguingly a Citrine Wagtail was observed on North Ronaldsay earlier the same day - tempting to think this may have been the same bird...?

Solberg 30 August 2011

A couple of Great Skua storjo and an Arctic Skua tyvjo were the best sightings. Also a White-tailed Eagle havørn and several waders including Common Sandpiper strandsnipe and a few Turnstone steinvender.

Two Jays nøtteskrike flying over Tjeldstø later in the day were the first of the year for that locality.

Herdlevær 29 August 2011 - Curlew Sandpiper

Light northerly wind, partyl cloudy.

Another productive few hours at Herdlevær though once again few passerines about. Numbers of resting / feeding wader well down from the other day but still Sanderling sandløper, Knot polarsnipe, Turnstone steinvender, Ringed Plover sandlo, Dunlin myrsnipe and Common Sandpipers strandsnipe about. Unusually a single Curlew Sandpiper tundrasnipe was among the resting birds.

 Above and below: Curlew Sandpiper tundrasnipe

 Above and below: Sanderling sandløper

Whinchat buskskvett

A couple of Black-tailed Godwit svarthalespove headed south along with small numbers of other waders. Cormorants storskarv were the most numerous species on the move today with around 140 heading south in 1.5 hours. Several Great Skua storjo and at least two Peregrines vandrefalk about meant that there was always something to see.

Øygarden 28 August 2011 - Peregrines

Strong southerly, mostly sunny

A trip to Solberg showed that it would have been good for seawatching - lots of Gannets havsule, a small flock of Common Scoter svartand and a Red-throated Diver smålom passed in the few minutes I spent there. Best bird here was a Peregrine vandrefalk that gave excellent views - typically I had left the camera in the car....

Peregrine vandrefalk at Tjeldstø

Tjeldstø produced another Peregrine vandrefalk, a couple of Kestrel tårnfalk, a Wood Sandpiper grønnstilk, a Greenshank gluttsnipe, about 30 Golden Plover heilo and at least 12 Snipe enkeltbekkasin.

Skogsøy 27 August 2011 - One less mink

Almost no wind. Very overcast and more or less constant rain.

Not the best of seawatching weather and nothing like the level of activity as at Herdlevær yesterday.

One less Mink to worry about

Some birds on the move with the best one being a Manx Shearwater havlire heading south shortly before I gave up and went home. An obvious passage of Great Black-backed Gulls svartbak again today as well as smaller numbers of waders including Ruff brushane, a couple of Little Stint dvergsnipe, a few Whimbrel småspove, a Spotted Redshank sotsnipe along with most of the usual passage waders.

On the way home the dog and I managed to catch and kill a Mink - a good team effort. Not far from where the dog nailed his previous one...

Herdlevær 26 August - Little Gulls!

Southerlies with light showers

A quick look at Solberg produced small numbers of waders and an Otter eating a huge flatfish but little else.

Herdlevær was very quiet for passerines but for everything else it was a different story. Despite the late and lazy start there was non-stop action at the coast. Flocks of waders were passing constantly - most too far off to be identified. Oystercatcher tjeld, Golden Plover heilo and Ruff brushane were the commonest identified but plenty of Dunlin myrsnipe, Ringed Plover sandlo, Knot polarsnipe and other species. Several hundred waders passed in total.

 Dunlin myrsnipe

 Ringed Plover sandlo

Many waders also stopped to feed on the islands - largely Knot polarsnipe, Ringed Plover sandlo, Dunlin myrsnipe and Sanderling sandløper.

However, the undoubted highlight was a flock of FIVE Little Gulls dvergmåke - an adult summer and four first year birds. This is probably the biggest flock ever recorded in the county. Two Little Stint dvergsnipe - always a good bird in Øygarden passed in a mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover.

Other sightings of interest included the first pale-bellied Brent Geese ringgås of the autumn heading south, a couple of dark phase Arctic Skua tyvjo, a Great Skua storjo and a Red-throated Diver smålom - the first of the autumn for me.

Tjeldstø 25 August 2011 - Common Tern

An evening stroll in front of the house produced little out of ordinary but nice views of a couple of Common Tern makrellterne feeding young - almost a rare sight in itself these days

Hernar 25 August 2011

Southerly winds and partly cloudy at first.

One of the first birds seen was a Common Rosefinch rosenfink - probably the same bird also seen later on together with another. Other migrants included a couple of Garden Warbler hagesanger, a Tree Pipit trepiplerke, a Spotted Flycatcher gråfluesnapper and a Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper with a hint of a second wing bar.

Over 60 Twite bergirisk, plenty of waders flying over, a couple of flocks of Greylags grågås and most of the local breeders still present meant things were pretty busy for most of the morning.

 Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper with hint of second wing bar

 Loads of Twite bergirisk about

 Dead sheep in trawl net

 Whitethroat tornsanger

 White Wagtail linerle

Record shot of one of the Rosefinches rosenfink

A strange find was a dead sheep entangled in a trawl net floating in the sea....perhaps the animal became caught in it whilst grazing on seawed at low tide only to be drowned at high tide?

Tjeldstø & Herdlevær 24 August 2011

Calm and overcast.

A couple of Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb and a flock of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb flying over the garden promted a trip out to Herdlevær.

Herdlevær produced little other than a few Whinchat buskskvett, two Greenshank gluttsnipe and some Fieldfare gråtrost on the move.

An evening stroll through the reserve produced the first Wigeon brunnakke of the autumn, 25 Golden plover heilo, three Ruff brushane, six each of Snipe enkeltbekkasin and Lapwing vipe, two Wood Sandpiper grønnstilk and a Greenshank gluttsnipe.

Øygarden 23 August 2011

Not out yet again.

A couple of Jay nøtteskrike flying over the road at Rong were a little unseasonal.

Six Teal krikkand and the usual Whinchat buskskvett, Wheatear steinskvett etc as I drove past Kollsnes.

Tjeldstø 21 August 2011

Waders included a couple of Dunlin myrsnipe and several Ringed Plover sandlo. Highlight was the first Lesser Whitethroat møller at this locality for some time.

After dark a bat flaggermus flew around the house for a while - a rare sight indeed. Might also be a migrant...?

Tjeldstø 20 August 2011

South-easterly winds and some light rain.

Before the rain started a walk in the reserve produced a flock of three Green Sandpiper skogsnipe and a single Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove flying over.

Tjeldstø 19 August 2011

Not out at all but had Spotted Redshank sotsnipe and a couple of White-tailed Eagles havørn over the garden.

Herdlevær 17 August 2011

An excellent day at Herdlevær with a good fall of migrants reported. Highlights were an Icterine Warbler gulsanger and a Wryneck vendehals. Supporting cast included Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper, Lesser Whitethroat møller and another unseasonal Brambling bjørkefink.

Unfortunately I only managed 15 minutes there and managed only to connect with the Wryneck vendehals.....

Hernar 16 August 2011

Light westerlies with showers early on.

A decent morning in the field. Highlights at Hernar were the first Garden Warblers hagesanger in Øygarden this year and a fly-by Pinkfoot kortnebbgås - also the first in Øygargen this year.

Other migrants included a couple of Whinchat buskskvett, Greenshank gluttsnipe, an early Brambling bjørkefink and plenty of Willow Warbler løvsanger. At least 40 Twite bergirisk and most of the Hernar regulars meant there was lots to see most of the time.

 Dunlin myrsnipe

Pinkfoot kortnebbgås (right) with Greylag grågås

Sanderling sandløper

On the islands waders included several small flocks of Knot polarsnipe, several Dunlin myrsnipe and a Sanderling sandløper. A Merlin dvergfalk obviously had its eye on the waders too....

Back at Tjeldstø a flock of eight Swifts tårnseiler was the biggest flock thus far in 2011.

Øygarden 15 August 2011

Not out much. However, two Great-spotted Woodpeckers flaggspett at two different locations showed things are on the move and are a good indication of an irruption later in the autumn.

A couple of Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove flew over with a flock of Ruff brushane at Breivik but little else of note.

Herdlevær 14 August 2011

Overcast with light southerlies.

Generally a lot about - large numbers of the usual finches and Meadow Pipits heipiplerke dominiating. Also a couple of Whinchat buskskvett and at least two Swifts tårnseiler - things are obviously on the move.

Willow Warblers løvsanger, Whitethroats tornsanger and a Chiff-chaff gransanger also present.

Along the shore a minimum of seven Common Sandpiper strandsnipe were among the waders; more waders were seen heading south over the sea inlcuding Knot polarsnipe and Ruff brushane.

Singles of Arctic Skua tyvjo and Great Skua storjo in among all the usual suspects.

Øygarden 13 August 2011

I received text messages in the early hours of the morning reporting a successfull Storm Petrel havsvale ringing trip at Herdlevær. A good start to the day - better if I'd actually been there.

Otherwise little time in the field and correspondingly little seen - although female Scaup bergand remained at Tjeldstø.

Small numbers of waders seen at Hjelme West included a several Tursnstone steinvender.