Øygarden 20 September 2014 - Common Terns

South westerly winds with heavy showers at first, clearing nicely later.

A quick look at Tjeldstø produced nothing much other than a few flocks of Golden Plover heilo and a few Chiff-chaff gransanger.

The young Common Terns makrellterne sat on the sea and begged whenever they saw adults catch anything - despite the fact that they caught fish themselves.

The rain wasn't the main problem - it was rather dark and gloomy meaning it wasn't easy to take pictures - it was necessary to use obscene ISO values to get anything worthwhile.

Herdlevær was relativelt quiet - the hoped-for waders didn't show and there were few new passerines in. Highlight here were a flock of 10 Common Terns makrellterne . a few adults and several young. Chiff-chaff gransanger, Willow Tit granmeis, plenty of Goldcrests fuglekonge and a hunting Peregrine vandrefalk were the best of the rest.

Elsewhere a Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger was seen at Skjold.

Øygarden 19 September 2014 - Another cracking day!!

Light south easterly winds, warm and sunny.

Another excellent day's birding. Kicked off with a very vocal Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger at Alvheim and then went back to Hernar.....

First stop was Lyngøy where there were a lot of Goldcrest fuglekonge in the few bushes on the island, a Chiff-chaff gransanger and a Willow Warbler løvsanger were also present so there were high hopes for Hernar....

Red-breasted Flycatcher dvergfluesnapper

Hernar was generally a lot quieter than yesterday - perhaps due to an overnight clear-out or perhaps because it was just later in the day. However it was quality not quantity today and the east end of the island produced two Red-breasted Flycatchers dvergfluesnapper which were very vocal. Initially infuriatingly difficult to take any decent pictures of they settled down nicely and with some patience allowed us to obtain some good pictures.

Still plenty of Twite bergirisk present on both Hernar and Lyngøy

Also present on Hernar were a Garden Warbler hagesanger and a few each of Blackcap munk and Chiff-chaff gransanger.

Three Shags toppskarv and a Cormorant storskarv

Two adult and one young White-tailed Eagle havørn

Common Seal steinkobbe

The boat ride home produced a Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt and a Black Guillemot teist or two.

The Willow tit granmeis movement seems to have picked up the pace a bit with birds seen at a few localities today.

Hernar 18 September 2014 - Back where the action is!

Light southerlies, warm and sunny.

I wasn't alone in thinking Hernar was worth a shot today and was joined by Frode for a very enjoyable morning on Øygarden's best rarity hotspot. And I can only sympathise with poor Rixy who is now obviously chafing at the bit to get "out west". Believe me - I was at Fornebu on Monday!

Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove - looking a bit bedraggled due to feeding in wet grass

House Sparrow gråspurv - as rare as Richard's pipit tartarpiplerke on Hernar!

Redstart rødstjert

Starling stær - many feeding on snails today

Twite bergirisk with white feathering on its head - made me look twice!

Rarity wise the best bird was undoubtedly the first Richard's pipit tartarpiplerke of the autumn - although in a Hernar context a House Sparrow gråspurv gave the pipit a run for its money in the rarity stakes. However, the island was full of birds and the feeling that something big might happen never left us. The bushes were full of Goldcrests fuglekonge and various species of tit - including several Willow tit granmeis.

Other migrants included several each of Blackcap munk and Chiff-chaff gransanger, a Redstart rødstjert, a Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove and a Grey Wagtail vintererle (only the second record for the island and the first in Øygarden this year)

All the usual finches including about 30 Twite bergirisk were present - one of which had rather a lot of white feathering on its head. A male Black Grouse orrfugl, a Kestrel tårnfalk and several White-tailed Eagles havørn were also among the almost 50 species seen today.

Øygarden 05 September 2014 - More stuff on the move

Light southerly winds and sunny

Not out in any meaningful way but obviously a fair bit on the move with Garden Warbler hagesanger, Blackcap munk and a variety of other migrants seen at Tjeldstø,

Housework back home produced at least one Tree pipit trepiplerke and another new species for the house list - Jay nøtteskrike.

Herdlevær 04 September 2014 - mini fall

Southerly winds with showers.

A good day out with enough going on to keep interest up. First migrant was an obliging Tree Pipit trepiplerke. This was closely followed by Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper and a Yellow Wagtail gulerle.

Tree pipit trepiplerke - this shot shows all the key ID features - short hind claw, finer flank streaks and the bulker bill. This bird also called several times.

Tree pipit trepiplerke in a tree.

Good numbers of pipits in the area, several Wheatear steinskvett, Whinchat buskskvett, a Garden Warbler hagesanger and a selection of the usual waders were also seen.

A Swift tårnseiler fed over Husvatnet on the way home - beginning to be late for this species.

Herdelvær 03 September 2014 - Not birding again

Southerly winds, more or less overcast but warm.

Obviously stuff on the move. A non-birding stroll at Herdlevær showed that there was obviously stuff on the move with Whinchat buskskvett present along with a number of other species.

Later in the evening routine family stuff produced a number of Twite bergirisk among the usual run of the mill stuff.

Tjeldstø 02 September 2014 - Just about out

Calm, warm and overcast

Spent half an hour in the area I found yesterday's shrike. There was never much optimism as a number of birders spent a fair bit of time combing the area yesterday afternoon.

All I had was a Wood Sandpiper grønnstilk,a flock of 14 Twite bergirisk and small numbers of the usual Ruff brushane and Golden Plover heilo.

Back at Nautnes a Greenshank gluttsnipe fed in front of the house as has been the case for the last few days.

Tjeldstø 01 September 2014 - First mega of the autumn.

Overcast with southerly winds

Guiding at Tjeldstø proved to be the best choice today. A walk through the reserve produced a singing Wryneck vendehals as the best bird and a selection of the usual autumn migrants including Ruff brushane, Golden Plover heilo, a Ringed Plover sandlo and Teal krikkand.

Note the powerful bill and extensive black on the forehead 

Long primary projection. Peachy front varied with lighting

Approaching the last of the pools at the north end of the reserve a bird suddenly turned up on an overhead wire. It was obviously a shrike - and any shrike is a good find in Øygarden so I was immediately keen to nail the ID. The time of year was off for the more usual Great-grey and closer inspection in the scope showed that it was in fact a male Lesser Grey Shrike rosenvarsler - the first for Øygarden and only the third for the county of Hordaland.

Not sure if the hint mottling on the forehead helps indicate the age

Relatively small white wing patches

The bird was quite flighty (and/or active) and did not allow a close approach so I had to settle for some long range shots and left the bird feeding on large insects - it was seen to catch at least one big beetle.

Nautnes 31 August 2014 - Day of the Wrynecks

Light southerly winds, warm and sunny.

I had pretty much written the day off after some late night work stuff. However, a walk at Tjeldstø produced a surprise Wryneck vendehals (despite having thought of exactly where I had today's bird whilst watching the bird at Herdlevær yesterday).

Back home a couple of hours on the terrace proved well worth it. First off another Wryneck vendehals sang close by - yet another new species for the house. After hearing about yesterday's raptor bonanza at Tjeldstø it was no surprise to see at least six Kestrel tårnfalk and five Sparrowhawk spurvehauk heading south. Several Swifts tårnseiler, a Sand Martin sandsvale, Greenshank gluttsnipe and a decent mix of other species meant that being stuck at home wasn't so bad after all......

Herdlevær 30 August 2014 - Just what the doctor ordered.

Light easterlies after rain in the night couldn't really go wrong....

Quite a productive couple of hours early on at Herdlevær today. Finally got out and about and there was plenty of interest. Stuff obviously on the move with things passing overhead in addition to resting birds.

Little Stint dvergsnipe

Highlight was a cracking Little Stint dvergsnipe which gave the best views I've had of this species in Øygarden - they are often just fly-bys or seen on offshore islands. Today's bird feed on the shore and was also very vocal.

Dunnock jernspurv

Golden Plover heilo

 

Above and below first year Ringed Plover sandlo

Adult Ringed Plover sandlo

Plenty of other waders including a Knot polarsnipe, several flocks of Golden Plover heilo, Ringed Plovers sandlo, Snipe enkeltbekkasin and a Greenshank gluttsnipe.

A Peregrine vandrefalk put in an appearance a few times as did a Kestrel tårnfalk.

Plenty of passerines too with the best being a Wryneck vendehals.

Back at Nautnes another Kestrel tårnfalk and more waders flying over.

Hellesøy 29 August 2014 - Otter and Ice Cream

Light easterly breeze, warm and sunny

A stroll at Sæle revealed that there is stuff on the move. No real opportunity to check the place thoroughly but I did get a glimpse of a Garden Warbler hagesanger.

Adult Common Tern makrellterne

Otter with catch at Hellesøy

At Hellesøy the main goal was an ice cream but whilst eating this an Otter surfaced with a fish - always nice to see. Another encouraging sight was a flock of seven Common Tern makrellterne of which at most three were adults - so at least some pairs have fledged young. A couple of Twite bergirisk, the usual White-tailed Eagles havørn and most of the usual suspects also seen here.

Herdlevær 28 August 2014 - Woodland irruption?

Calm and mostly sunny.

A stroll at Herdlevær quickly produced some rarities in the form of at least two Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb. At least as interesting were a couple of Nuthatches spettmeis- obviously migrants at this locality.

Migrant Nuthatch spettmeis

Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb. Wrong camera settings - but wing-bars still obvious

Heavily censored picture of the same bird. Wing bars conveniently hidden by foliage....

The appearance of these woodland species, coupled with the apparent migration attempt of some Willow Tits granmeis a couple of days ago could be an indication that there will be an irruption of woodland species again this autumn.

Oslo 20 August 2014 - Twitching?

Most people who know me know I don't twitch. Ever.

So is this twitching or not?:
Whilst sitting at Bergen airport waiting for a plane to Oslo I heard about the first Pallas's Gull steppemåke for Norway turning up only a few hundred metres from where I was headed. There was never any real dilemma - I'm not daft enough to walk right past such a bird just to prove a point.

First year Pallas's Gull steppemåke, Oslo opera house

And as rarities in the east of Norway, especially slap bang in the middle of Oslo are not exactly thick on the ground I had no choice but to take a fifteen minute diversion to see this cracking bird - the first I've seen since I was off Israel a few years back.....

Accidentally picked up Caspian Gull kaspimåke at the same time. Makes leaving Øygarden a little easier.

Not twitching - honest!

Solberg 19 August - Golf anyone?

Strong northerly winds all day.

Curlew storspove at Solberg.

Not out in any sense of the word. A Greenshank gluttsnipe from the house and bog-all at Solberg.

Some random moments with the scope from the kitchen window showed there were lots of Gannets havsule passing.

I'll be taking up golf and / or ending it all in the immediate future,

 

At home 18 August 2014 - Lucky house

Northerly winds, heavy showers during the morning.

Still no prospect of ever getting out, thankfully I live where I do and not getting out doesn't necessarily mean no birds - just not knowing what has been missed.

Hanging out the washing after the worst of the morning's rain produced a nice Merlin dvergfalk chasing Redpolls brunsisik over the garden,

Later a trip to the shops meant that I caught up with a nice mixed flock of Ruff brushane and Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Tjeldstø. If I had got as far as actually getting out of the car who knows what might have turned up....
 

Øygarden 17 August 2014 - If not in this life then the next

Southerly winds with rain at times.


At Nautnes a flock of three Green Sandpiper grønnstilk and a flock of nine Ruff brushane were both new for the house list. A flock of Greylags grågås heading south, a White-tailed Eagle havørn and most of the usual suspects were also seen from the trrace.

Ruff brushane at Tjeldstø

Tjeldstø produced another Green Sandpiper grønnstilk a small flock of Ruff brushane, five Snipe enkeltbekkasin, a couple of Common Sandpiper strandsnipe, a few Grennshank gluttsnipe and generally a lot of stuff on the ground in the flooded fields.

One of three flocks of Greylag grågås seen migrating today

A late walk at Herdlevær produced more of the same including a couple more flocks of Greylag grågås on the move, a few Golden Plovers heilo, Ringed Plovers sandlo, a Peregrine vandrefalk and a few Redshank rødstilk.

All in all obviously plenty on the move and somewhat frustrating to get out birding- One day soon I'll actually get out and about.....honest!

Tjeldstø 14 August 2014 - Waders on the move

Calm and sunny

A couple of Ruff brushane at Tjeldstø

Back in Øygarden at last but with no prospect of getting out and about in the immediate future. A five minute pause at Husvatnet on the way to the shops produced at least nine Ruff brushane, two Bar-headed Geese stripegås, five Teal krikkand and a Sand Martin sandsvale of note.

Back home at Nautnes the best birds were a Tree pipit trepiplerke flying over (a predictable new for the house), a Greenshank gluttsnipe and a Green Sandpiper skogsnipe along with a variety of other waders.

Skogsøy 18 July 2014

Calm and sunny.

A short seawatch 06:30 - 08:30 was fairly quiet. Probably the best bird was a single Great Skua storjo - incredibly the first I've seen this year in Øygarden. Something rather wrong there somehow. Otherwise just small numbers of Gannets havsule, a Guillemot lomvi and the usual suspects. Some light southward passage of Oystercatcher tjeld and Common Gull fiskemåke.

Gannet havsule

Oystercatcher tjeld

Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke

Shag toppskarv

In a Skogsøy context a Swift tårnseiler was an unusual sighting. Plenty of Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke and a small flock of Twite bergirisk.

Tjeldstø 17 July 2014 - Welcome home!

Calm and sunny.

Bar-headed Goose stripegås

A very short stroll in the reserve produced very little but the traditional stop beside Husvatnet produced the Bar-headed Goose stripegås found a week or two ago. This is the second time this species has turned up in Øygarden - the previous occasion were a couple reported from Hernar a few summers ago.

Arriving home yesterday evening I hadn't got the key in the front door before I heard a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett. Not the worst welcome home....