Hernar 10 February 2010

Waiting for dawn...eating breakfast and taking pictures of the moon.
Woodcock rugde remains - all overwintering Woodcock have either perished or moved on

Intriguing feather at a raptor kill....

Very frozen and predictably rather quiet with only a little over 20 species to be seen.

Best birds were a Great Northern Diver islom flying over, a flock of 10 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt (amazingly a new species for this grossly underwatched locality) and a Curlew storspove.

At least six White-tailed Eagle havørn, a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and the usual selection of seaduck present.

Remains of Woodcock rugde and what was probably once a Fieldfare gråtrost show how tough this winter is continuing to be.

The only drama today was that the boat broke down and was unable to make the 1200 departure - luckily one of the residents was heading back to the mainland and very kindly gave me a lift....otherwise I might still have been on the island.

Øygarden 09 February 2010 - Eagle Owls

Waiting for the main event....

Stuck inside for most of the day. A large flock of gulls feeding on what was probably herring out over the fjord was the only thing other than the usual Tree Sparrows pilfink etc in the garden.

A drive by at Herdlevær produced two of the Little Grebes dvergdykker that are overwintering there.

In the evening I checked out a second Eagle Owl hubro locality where at least one bird "sang" strongly for several minutes - a fantastic experience. This is the second of two of the regular territories confirmed as active thus far this season......

Skogsøy 08 Febraury 2010

Record shots of the Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker at Skogsøy

A Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker was pretty much the first bird seen - and the best.

No sign of the Smew lappfiskand today and only a few Whoopers sangsvane remain.

Very little movement over the sea, just several Gannet havsule, a couple of Little Auk alkekonge, a Guillemot lomvi and a light passage of large gulls heading north. Highlight here was a Peregrine vandrefalk which typically headed a long way out to sea at great height - presumably to hunt auks.

A Rock pipit skjærpiplerke was the first I've had at Skogsøy this year.

Hjelme Vest 07 February

Starling stær at Tjeldstø
Magpie skjære

House Sparrow gråspurv

Absolutely brilliant weather, sun shining, no wind and temperatures above freezing.

At least one, probably two White-billed Diver gulnebblom on the sea. A single Puffin lunde and a lone Guilemot lomvi on the sea. Waders consisted of an Oystercatcher tjeld, a Curlew storspove and 20 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt.

Long-tailed Duck havelle numbers increased to 165. Other duck included six Common Scoter svartand and two Velvet Scoter sjøorre.

A Sparrowhawk spurvehauk hunted through the woods.

A Grey Seal (not a common sighting) and two Otters were also present.

Øygarden 06 February

Check out the bulging crop on this White-tailed Eagle havørn - the reason why is given below. Ravens ravn were also seen collecting wool from the same corpse.

A rather sad picture - Norway's last weathership, the Polarfront, is now retired and currently moored at Blomvåg.

With temperatures just above freezing it was incredibly hard going underfoot today. The dog became at least double his normal weight with the amount of snow stuck in his fur.

This prevented the planned walk but nevertheless we connected with a few Black Grouse orrfugl and a Goshawk hønsehauk in addition to a few White-tailed Eagles havørn, Crested tits toppmeis and Common Crossbills grankorsnebb.

A Starling stær in the garden and a Common Scoter svartand on the sea in front of the house were both new species for Tjeldstø this year.

Øygarden 04 February 2010

Slavonian (horned) Grebe horndykker at Dåvøy
Wigeon brunnakke at Dåvøy

Female Siskin grønnsisik

Female Chaffinch bokfink

Solberg was quieter than usual with only a couple of Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt of note.

At Dåvøy the Slavonian Grebe horndykker and the male Wigeon brunnakke were both still present. At least one Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke also in the area. This species is untypically very hard to find this year no doubt due to the cold and this bird is the first one I've seen in Øygarden this year.

A Siskin grønnsisik joined the ever growing flock of birds in my garden.

Skogsøy 03 February 2010 - Merlin

Calm and sunny but even more snow on the ground than last time.

The female Smew lappfiskand remains with the Goldeneye kvinand on the "lagoons" which again were more frozen than last time. Only a couple of Whoopers sangsvane today.

Pretty quiet over the sea with just a few each of Guillemot lomvi and Razorbill alke. A single Kittiwake krykkje and a light passage of large gulls (mostly distant) were the only other things on the move.

A couple of Black guillemot teist and the usual Long-tailed Ducks havelle etc all feeding in the area.

Highlight was a male Merlin dvergfalk which flew in and sat on the rocks - possibly eying up a distant flock of approximately 100 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt. This may be the same bird seen during the New Year's bird race still hanging on in there.

Common Crossbills grankorsnebb. Greenfinch grønnfink and Coal tit svartmeis all singing today - quite a springlike feel despite all the snow. The only other sighting of interest was a flock of 12 Siskin grønnsisik feeding with crossbills.

Hjelme Vest 02 February 2010

Crested tit toppmeis
Otter chomping on a fish

Still relatively few birds on the sea but when one of them is a White-billed Diver gulnebblom one can't complain. Looked more like an adult and different from the previous bird at this site.

Also at least 80 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt and a couple of Curlew storspove.

At least three Otters oter fed close in and gave excellent views in the scope

Alvheim 02 February 2010 Parrot Crossbills

Male Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb
Crested Tit toppmeis

Winter strengthening its grip even further with heavy snowfall for much of the day.

Took a walk in the woods at Alvheim where there was not much to be seen - just the usual Crested Tits toppmeis, Goldcrests fuglekonge, Coal Tits svartmeis and a few flocks of Crossbills korsnebb. One of these flocks was mostly Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb.

A flyby Tufted Duck toppand was the first I've seen in Øygarden this year and as usual a few White-tailed Eagle havørn knocking about.

Øygarden 31 January 2010

Robin rødstrupe
House Sparrow gråspurv

Coal Tit svartmeis

Blackbird svarttrost

Chaffinch bokfink

After yet more snow today was spent skiing and suchlike with the family. However, as this is Øygarden there were also some good incidental birds. The first Goldfinch stillits of the year allowed close approach despite dog, children and skis - but without camera!

At Hjelme about four Jays nøtteskrike were seen - a very localised species in Øygarden and not that easy to see in the area.

Tjeldstø 30 January 2010

Snowstorms obviously not dampening hormone levels in these Mergansers siland
Goldeneye kvinand displaying in the snow too

Several Tree Sparrow pilfink returned to the garden after a period of absence. The Chaffinch bokfink flock increased to around 20 and a few Coal Tit svartmeis also used the feeders. Although very common in the surrounding woods the latter species tends not to come into the garden much.

With so many birds at the feeders it was no surprise that a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk had a go at catching one of them.

Otherwise it was business as usual with a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn over the garden along with most of the usual stuff.

Skogsøy 27 January 2010

Grey Heron gråhegre
some BIG waves today - no Purple sands feeding here under these conditions!

Small group of Whooper Swans sangsvane

Smew lappfiskand

Strong Northwesterly winds meant that there was little choice other than get out to Skogsøy. This was easier said than done - it was even more treacherous underfoot that last time.

The redhead Smew lappfiskand was still present and still associating with a flock of Goldeneye kvinand. At least 11 Whoopers sangsvane also feeding on the "lagoons".

There was some activity over the sea with at least 13 Gannets havsule - the first I've seen this year, along with four Kittiwakes krykkje, a Velvet Scoter sjøorre, a Guillemot lomvi and a Little Auk alkekonge.

Had two Little grebe dvergdykker at Herdlevær whilst I was turning my car around - didn't even do a "drive by" today.

Ono 26 January

Nothing special today, just a lone Curlew storspove, three Velvet Scoter sjøorre and at least six White-tailed Eagles havørn.

Øygarden 25 January

Black-throated Diver storlom
Goshawk hønsehauk

Slavonian (Horned) Grebe horndykker

Mallard stokkand

Much the same as yesterday both weather and birdwise.

At Hjelme Vest at least two Great Northern Divers islom, a Curlew storspove, 20+ Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt and at least 65 Long-tailed Duck havelle.

The Black-throated Diver storlom remained at Heggøy and the Slavonian Grebe horndykker was still at Dåvøy - and still just as far away. The only new bird today was a Goshawk hønsehauk which scared up a roost of 49 Grey Herons gråhegre.

A few Velvet Scoter sjøorre also on the sea at Dåvøy

Øygarden 24 January - Black-throated Diver

Above and below adult Black-throated Diver storlom

Cormorant storskarv struggling with cod head

Above and below record shots of Slavonian Grebe horndykker

Otter oter

Scarce winter visitor - Wigeon brunnakke

A late and lazy start at Dåvøy seemed to work well with a Slavonian Grebe horndykker on the sea as the best bird and a male Wigeon brunnakke as runner up. The usual roost of over 30 Grey Herons gråhegre, an Oystercatcher tjeld, a Black Guillemot teist and a flock of over 30 Siskin grønnsisik along with most of the regular stuff.

Next stop was Heggøy where an adult Black-throated Diver storlom gave good views - never a common species at the best of times this was a most unusual winter observation. At the same place a Cormorant storskarv struggled with a cod head - first time I've seen this species scavenging like this - normally they catch stuff that is still very much alive.

Back at home a Black-headed Gull hettemåke was an unusual winter sighting and another first for the year.

Hjelme Vest 23 January - White-billed Diver

The first impression was that here was very little about with only small numbers of the usual seaduck. However, that soon changed as good winter birds turned up one after the other.

Highlight was a White-billed Diver gulnebblom on the sea - a rare winter sighting in these parts; other unexpected birds were a Puffin lunde and an Oystercatcher tjeld. At least one Little Auk alkekonge, a couple of Curlew storspove, a flock of at least 35 Siskin grønnsisik and at least 50 Common Crossbills grankorsnebb meant there was plenty to see.

Among the usual suspects were few White-tailed Eagles havørn and Black Guillemots teist, several Common Scoter svartand and the small numbers of Long-tailed Ducks havelle.

Øygarden 21 January - Smew

Eagle Owl hubro

Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett

Two Little Grebe dvergdykker at Herdlevær

Female Smew lappfiskand (left hand bird) with Goldeneye kvinand

The prolonged big freeze is presumably to thank for the best sighting today - a female Smew lappfiskand on the sea with well over 20 Goldeneye kvinand.

Little passing although a number of distant auks headed south. At least three Black Guillemots teist and a Great Northern Diver islom on the sea.

In the woods a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett was probably the same one that has been in the area since December.

A very quick look at Herdlevær produced a couple of Little Grebe dvergdykker and a Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett.

Last, but by now means least, a walk in the woods produced nice views of an Eagle Owl hubro.

Øygarden 20 January - STILL cold

One of three Little Grebes dvergdykker at Herdlevær
Typical selection of species - Grey Herons gråhegre, Red-breasted Mergansers siland and Mallard stokkand

Returned from a couple of weeks in the Med to find Øygarden still frozen solid and under a layer of snow. Checked out a few places relatively quickly and had a reasonably productive morning out and about.

Solberg was very quiet on the sea - possibly due to the five White-tailed Eagle havørn hanging around. Only birds of note were the first Waxwing sidensvans I've had this year and a Great Northern Diver islom heading north.

At Tjeldstø the best sighting was a Carrion Crow svartkråke and the holly tree which has been keeping the thrushes alive for the last few weeks held four Redwing rødvingetost and three Fieldfare gråtrost.

Popped in at Herdlevær where there were no less than three Little Grebes dvergdykker fishing.

Øygarden 05 January

Spent most of the day running errands but had a short walk at Herdlevær where a Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett was a new species for the year.

Bird of the day was a Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin flying over the road at Kollnes næringspark.

A couple of 2 cy Common Gull fiskemåke seen from the living room were also new for the year.

Otherwise "just" White-tailed Eagle havørn, Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and most of the usual suspects.