Hernar 26 September 2012 - new species for the island

Calm and very pleasant conditions.

I was obviously not alone in thinking Hernar might produce the goods today with two other birders travelling from town to catch the early morning boat out to the island.

 New for the island - Collared Dove tykerdue

 Colour ringed Great Black-backed Gull svartbak

 Adult colour-ringed Herring Gull gråmåke (only noticed later when looking at the photo - I was understandably a bit more interested in the right hand bird...)

Whinchat buskskvett

However, things were rather quieter than anticipated. Highlight, if it can be called that, was a new species for the island in the form of a Collared Dove tykerdue - incredibly also the first I've seen in Øygarden this year.
Other migrants included a Common Redstart rødstjert, a few Chiff-chaff gransanger, several Lapland Buntings lappspurv, a Whinchat buskskvett and a couple of Wheatear steinskvett.

A colour ringed Great Black-backed Gull svartbak with number JP954 had been ringed by this gull fanatic.

Plenty of thrushes, Goldcrests fuglekonge and finches about too - including approximately 70 Twite bergirisk.

Tjeldstø 25 September 2012 - Grey Wag

Fresh easterlies with rain.

Movements still restricted so it was the reserve yet again today - resulting in another new for the year in Øygarden in the form of a Grey Wagtail vintererle flying over.

Golden Plover heilo out in the reserve

Several small flocks of Golden Plover heilo present today and a mixed flock of waders scared up by a White-tailed Eagle havørn that I did not manage to relocate. Small numbers of Swallows låvesvale, Brambling bjørkefink and other migrants on the move.

Rather promisingly quite a lot of Goldcrest fuglekonge about the last few days.....

Tjeldstø 24 September 2012 - Peregrine

Yet another day of calm and sunny weather. Birds seemed thin on the ground and yet there were a few decent sightings in a local context.

Peregrine vandrefalk

A Nuthatch spettmeis was an unusual sighting as was a rather early (and freshwater) record of Little Grebe dvergdykker.

A Peregrine vandrefalk hunted in the reserve where there were only a few waders - several Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin, a Lapwing vipe, a Golden Plover heilo and Ringed Plover sandlo heard passing over.

A couple of small flocks of Brambling bjørkefink were amazingly the first I've seen in Øygarden this year.

Herdlvevær 23 September 2012

Another day of fantastic weather and few birds.

Migrating Kestrel tårnfalk

Not much going on with just Kestrel tårnfalk and Sparrowhawk spurvehauk seen migrating. Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett, a Reed Bunting sivspurv and a few thrushes were the only other migratnts seen.

Ringing report

In a post on 8th August I mentioned a ring found in an Eagle Owl's nest. I heard back from the BTO and this too was an Oystercatcher tjeld ringed in the UK.

Here is an extract from the report I received from the BTO:

Ringing Scheme: London         Ring Number: FV04446         Species of bird: Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

This bird was ringed by Wash Wader RG as age 2nd year , sex unknown on 12-Aug-1975 at Friskney New Marsh, Lincolnshire OS Map reference TF4954, co-ordinates 53deg 4min N 0deg 13min E As the nest was "new" to me I have no idea how long the ring had been there - but this bird could certainly have been pretty old when it was taken. An amazing parellel with the previous ring I found in an Eagle Owl's nest! For details of the previous find see this post

Tjeldstø 22 September 2012 - Unblocking LSW

Fantastic clear and sunny weather - much more to my liking than off western Australia from where I have just returned.

A lazy stroll around the reserve produced very little - the ideal migration weather meaning most birds will have cleared off or passed right over. However, after several years of waiting I FINALLY unblocked my Øygarden bogey-bird - Lesser-spotted woodpecker dvergspett. The only previous record for Tjeldstø was nine years ago almost to the day - 21 September 2003. Other records for this species are concentrated in this period with two other records from 20 September.

Tjeldstø 14 August 2012 - another garden tick

Sunny with light eastlerly winds.

Belated news from yesterday were two Rough-legged Buzzard fjellvåk seen at Knappen - an excellent find for Øygarden especially given that it is so early.

A flock of 12 Knot polarsnipe flying past my house were new for the house list - now at 163 and also a new species for Tjeldstø (amazingly not recorded here before despite being a common autumn migrant in Øygarden).

Today's stroll around the reserve produced the first Sparrowhawk spurvehauk I've seen this autumn and a Peregrine vandrefalk hunting Golden Plover heilo out in the reserve. A Tree pipit trepiplerke flying over the garden was the first I've had in Øygarden this year.

Skogsøy 13 August 2012 - Little Gull!

Calm and sunny, just the whiff of an easterly breeze.

Spent three hours seawatching from 06:00. Most routine fare (i.e. waders) but a first year Little Gull dvergmåke feeding offshore was far from expected. Unfortunately it kept out of photo range as it fed largely alone but sometimes in the company of Arctic Terns rødnebbterne.

A few mixed flocks of unidentified waders passed and other wader flocks passed without being seen (just heard). Small numbers of waders landed on the shore - these included a a couple of Sanderling sandløper, two Knot polarsnipe and several Turnstone steinvender.

At least 241 Oystercatcher tjeld headed south as did several Whimbrel småspove. Other stuff included eight Great Skua storjo, a flock of over 40 Greylags grågås, a flock of Grey Heron gråhegre and a Black Guillemot teist.

Once again a light northerly passage of Shags toppskarv.

Onshore the best of the sightings was a flock of 15 Twite bergirisk.

Tjeldstø 12 August 2012

Overcast, light southerly breeze.

A stroll around the reserve produced the first Sand Martin sandsvale of the year for Øygarden. Other migrants included at least one Greenshank gluttsnipe, a few flocks of Snipe enkeltbekkasin and a small flock of Crossbills grankorsnebb - the first for ages.

A Whimbrel småspove flying over was another new species for year in the reserve.

Tjeldstø 11 August 2012 - New species!

VERY calm indeed in the morning.

Little about in the reserve but a small flock of waders proved to be four Ringed Plover sandlo and a Sanderling sandløper - amazingly the first record of the latter species for the reserve! This brings the total number of species seen at Tjeldstø up to 202 (and the 100th species I've seen here this year).

Herdlevær 10 August 2012 - One less mink

Obviously lots of mink activity again today. This time one of them didn't get away despite making it into the sea - normally this means a clean getaway but today the dog leapt in after it and amazingly still managed to catch it.

The one that didn't get away....

Generally lots of birds about with highlight being a Whimbrel småspove flying south. Otherwise the usual Great Skua storjo, White-tailed Eagle havørn.

Onshore a flock of Redpolls brunsisik showed some amazing variation.....

Gannet havsule

This very pale bird had no streaks on the undertail coverts.....

This Redpoll  was about as red as they come....

Another Redpoll showing very little streaking

Young Wheatear steinskvett

Hernar 09 August 2012

Light westerlies, mostly cloudy.

Very little in the way of migrants today - single Spotted Flycatcher gråfluesnapper being the only one. And the first I've seen in Øygarden this year.

Plenty of birds about though with an absolute minimum of 60 Twite bergirisk present along with plenty of Meadow Pipit heipiplerke, a few Wheatear steinskvett and the usual Willow Warblers løvsanger and Whitethroats tornsanger.

Øygarden 08 August 2012 - new nest, new ring

Today I found a "new" Eagle Owl hubro nest site - though unfortunately it didn't look like it had been used this breeding season. This nest too contained an BTO (British) metal ring from a wader or duck!

Details of the ring have been sent to the BTO so hopefully I'll know more in a couple of months or so. The chances of it being quite as interesting as the previous ring I found in an Eagle Owl nest are slim but one can alway hope...

Skogsøy 07 August 2012

Strong northerly winds meant no insects today. Unfortunately not much on the move either...

 Above three pictures: Gannets havsule

 Great Skua storjo

Shags toppskarv

What passed today generally came past a lot closer than a couple of days ago. Plenty of Gannet havsule, a couple of Great Skua storjo, White-tailed Eagle havørn and most of the usual.

Best sighting was a flock of around 25 Knot polarsnipe heading north - first I've seen in Øygarden this year.

Tjeldstø 06 August 2012

Calm and sunny again with a light northerly.

Not the best of conditions for grounded waders but good for migration. A flock of approximately 150 Greylags grågås flew south.

In the reserve a couple of Greenshank gluttsnipe and several Golden Plover heilo present.

Skogsøy 05 August 2012

VERY calm indeed and therefore plenty of biting insects. Nice.

Crested tit toppmeis

Shags toppskarv - already heading north

White-tailed Eagle havørn

Some typical early autumn passage today. In 2.5 hours the following were seen on the move:

Shelduck gravand south 4
Oystercatcher tjeld 80 south
Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove 1 south
Unidentified waders 5+ south
Red-throated Diver smålom 3 south
Common Gull fiskemåke 150 south
Arctic Skua tyvjo 1 north
Great Skua storjo south 9
Great Skua storjo north 1
Common Scoter svartand 9 south
Shag toppskarv 55 north
Black Guillemot teist 1 north
Greylag grågås 37 south

Best sighting was a pod of around 20 Pilot Whales feeding in the distance. Quite a few salmon jumping too - easy to pick up in the calm conditions.

White-tailed Eagle havørn and most of the usual suspects also noted.

A total of six Storm Petrels havsvale were caught and ringed at Herdlevær during the night. For a superb portrait of a bird caught last week see this link.

Herdlevær 04 August 2012

A couple of Golden Plover heilo and a Common Sandpiper strandsnipe were the only indications of autumn migration.

These Greylags grågås will soon be leaving...

Mink - too near the water for the dog to catch

Lots of Willow Warbler løvsanger about

At least two mink were seen, one of which only just escaped the dog. Better luck next time!

Tjeldstø 03 August 2012

Another calm day.

Best birds were two Swift tårnseiler feeding with good numbers of Swallows låvesvale.

Tjeldstø 02 August 2012

Calm and with light rain during the morning.

A stroll around the reserve produced some typical birds for the time of year - highlights being a couple of Green Sandpiper skogsnipe and at least two Greenshank gluttsnipe.

Good numbers of recently fledged Tree Sparrows pilfink and House Sparrows gråspurv around the farms.

Skogsøy 16 July 2012

Finally got out for a couple of hours.

Not the most promising of weather conditions for seawatching so I was surprised to see so much on the move. Typically for July not very many species involved:

Gannet havsule 330 north
Great Skua storjo 12 north
Whimbrel småspove 1 north
Puffin lunde 2 south
Guillemot lomvi 1 north
Razorbill alke 2 north
Common Gull fiskemåke 14 south (autumn migration...)

Breivik 07 June 2012

Light southerly winds and sunny.

Female Reed Bunting sivspurv

A few House Martin taksvale were the only indication of any movement.

Singing Sedge Warblers sivsanger and Reed Buntings sivspurv seen at the usual place - very much business as usual in other words.

Hernar 06 June 2012

Finally a change in the weather, light winds from various directions and feeling rather warmer.

 Singing Grasshopper Warbler gresshoppesanger

 Above and below Meadow Pipit heipiplerke

One of many Willow Warblers løvsanger seen today

Spent the day on the island of Hernar. Hightlights here were the singing Grasshopper Warbler gresshoppesanger that has been present for at least a couple of weeks.

The only other migrant of any note was a Garden Warbler hagesanger.

However, plenty of birds and plenty of activity. Redpolls brunsisik, Twite bergirisk and Willow Warblers løvsanger very plentiful.

Small numbers of Red-throated Diver smålom heading still heading north - eight seen during almost an hour of seawatching.

Tjeldstø 05 June 2012 - More young ones

Light northerly winds and sunny.

 Crow kråke skull - not sure what this died of but it seemed to have to extra holes in the back of its head

 Newly hatching (and still hatching!) Herring gull gråmåke chicks

 Lapwing vipe chick

Feamle Teal krikkand leading her young to safety

No migrants of note other than a Ringed Plover sandlo feeding beside Husvatnet - an unusual time and place for this species.

More and more species now have young. More Lapwiing vipe, Redshank rødstilk chicks seen today along with at least three Teal krikkand families. Herring Gulls gråmåke are still mainly sitting on eggs but at least one brood had started hatching with a young one in the nest and another on its way out of the egg.

A handful of Arctic Tern rødnebbterne pairs also sitting on eggs.

Solberg 04 June 2012 - 20 minutes

Still strong northerly winds, but cloudy instead of sunny.

Male Snow Bunting snøspurv - an apt sighting given the chilly northerly winds for the last week or so....

Meadow Pipit heipiplerke

A quick dash to Solberg proved surprisingly productive with a cracking male Snow Bunting snøspurv as the highlight. This is probably the first June sighting of this species in Øygarden.

Other stuff included a Great Northern Diver islom heading north and a lone Ringed Plover sandlo on the shore.

Skogsøy 03 June 2012 - last of the poms?

Rather predictably the strong northerly winds continued....

 Above and below: almost all the Gannets havsule passing were immature

 Still small numbers of Oystercatcher tjeld and other waders heading north

 Above and below: Red-throated Divers smålom

A few hours spent seawatching at Skogsøy proved reasonably productive with a flock of three Pomarine Skua polarjo being the highlight. Possibly the lat birds of the spring...?

Other stuff included 30 Red-throated Diver smålom, 38 Oystercatcher tjeld, approximately 100 Arctic Tern rødnebbterne and small numbers of the usual auks, Gannets havsule and Fulmar havhest. Heading south were a total of 50 Common Scoter svartand.

Tjeldstø 02 June 2012 - more young

Sunny with cold northerlies yet again.

 Just a few of the Greylag grågås young present on Husvatnet today

 Newly fledged Meadow Pipit heipiplerke

 Anxious Redshank rødstilk parent

Adult White-tailed Eagle havørn being mobbed by Hooded Crow kråke

Even more young birds to be seen today with Redshank rødstilk chicks beside Husvatnet (probably hatched a few days ago) alongside young Lapwing vipe. Out in the reserve a well grown Meadow Pipit heipiplerke has probably left the nest a little early...

An adult White-tailed Eagle havørn made a few attempts to catch a gosling but the parent geese defended well and the goslings dived so in the end the eagle moved on. A little under 100 Greylags grågås put to flight by the eagle today.

A Sparrowhawk spurvehauk was a relatively rare breeding season sighting today.

Skogsøy 01 June 2012 - Chilly seawatch

Finally some birding time!

Sunny but very cold in the fresh northerly winds.

Wearing the same gear as in December with the exception of a warm hat- something that was sorely missed today.

 Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås

 Part of the Brent Goose ringgås flock

Heavily cropped record shot of the Sanderling sandløper

A fairly steady passage of birds throughout the four hours or so we sat there:

Arctic Tern rødnebbterne north ca 90
Kittiwake krykkje north 30
Pale-bellied Brent Goose ringgås north 30
Puffin lunde north 24
Gannet havsule north 20
Red-throated Diver smålom north 12
Razorbill alke north 9
Common Scoter svartand north 7, south 8
Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås north 7
Fulmar havhest north 5
Long-tailed Duck havelle north 2 (fairly late observation)
Common Guillemot lomvi north 4
Black guillemot teist north 2
Dunlin myrsnipe north 1
Sanderling sandløper north 1 (unusual spring sighting)
Arctic Skua tyvjo (dark phase) north 1

Elsewhere in Øygarden a hunting Peregrine vandrefalk was an encouraging sight.