Hjelme West 27 February 2016 - Spring is in the air

Calm and sunny most of the day.

Spent an hour or so at Hjelme Vest. Here eight Oystercatcher tjeld resting on one of the islands and 12 more heading north were a sure sign of spring. Long-tailed Duck havelle numbers have increased with about 50 present along with smaller numbers of the usual seaduck. Singles of Guillemot lomvi and Black Guillemot teist were also present along with a Peregrine vandrefalk with prey and a flock of 18 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt. On land there was not much in the woods other than a flock of 60 Common Redpoll gråsisik.

A drive-by at Sæle produced the first Fieldfare gråtrost I've seen in Øygarden this year and another flock of about 30 Redpoll gråsisik.

A brief stop at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø saw a Lapwing vipe flying over and five Greylag grågås on the lake - both sure signs of spring. A Goshawk hønsehauk upset the local Hoodies kråke here too.

Tjeldstø 07 February 2016 - Onwards and Upwards

South westerly winds with rain during the morning, clearing in the afternoon.

Female Velvet Scoter sjøorre - picture taken from my terrace

Took things very easy today. A Velvet Scoter sjøorre in front of the house was unbelievably the first of the year in Øyarden. How it took so long to see this regular winter visitor remains a mystery.

Brief stops / drive-bys at Solberg and Dåvøy produced little - just the usual White-tailed Eagles havørn and the Heron  gråhegre roost (22 birds today).

The first Greylag grågås of the year

Adult (or very close to it) White-tailed Eagle havørn - one of a minimum of five seen today

A quick check at Tjeldstø once again proved quite productive with the first Greylag grågås of the year - possibly confirming the ID of a lone goose seen in flight from the car a few days ago. More White-tailed Eagles havørn here along with a single Razorbill alke on the sea along with singles of Common Gull fiskemåke, Long-tailed Duck havelle and Common Scoter svartand.

Øygarden 06 February 2016 - Just another couple of days on the costa

Southerly and mostly clear.

Curlew storspove flying past a Shag toppskarv

Typically the only rain that fell came whilst trying to seawatch at Skogsøy. Nothing special to report at all - just a Curlew storspove, nine Gannets havsule and a light northward passage of large gulls.A few White-tailed Eagles havørn were almost the only other birds about.

Two young otters

and mum with fish (short-spined sea scorpion by the looks of things)

At Nautnes a couple of young Otters chased after their mother in front of the house - a very common experience but still delightful,

A drive at dusk to pick up my youngest produced a sighting of an Eagle Owl hubro in the top of a tree.

I did Hjelme Vest yesterday seeing very little. A single Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt was a very poor showing indeed and in common with Skogsøy today very few seaduck about,

Herdlevær 04 February - I'm going to regret this but it was worth it

Another day of north westerly winds with wintry showers, however mostly sunny whilst I was out.

I decided I had to get out and stretch my legs today and put work on the back burner for a couple of hours. This is something I am already regretting and will continue to do so over the weekend as I try to catch up.

Redshank rødstilk - I can crop an image when I need to!

Besides getting some much needed exercise I also saw quite a few birds, some of them were even interesting. Highlight was a very unseasonal Redshank rødstilk - mirroring a similar recent record further inland in the county. This is the first January record for the area - although there is a record from 31 December 1993 as the only real previous winter sighting.

Another nice experience was the first spring migration of the year - a flock of 30 Guillemots lomvi heading north. Most of the usual stuff was also seen including a Curlew storspove, a Little Auk alkekonge on the sea, a few Gannets havsule, White-tailed Eagle havørn etc.

Almost as rare a sighting as the winter Redshank - I met another birder - at the Skogsøy "parking lot" - here there was a Jackdaw kaie - another new species for the year in Øygarden and a typical winter record for this species.

Dåvøy 03 February - A short diversion

Strong north westerly winds with wintry showers

Managed to squeeze in a short diversion and spent whole half an hour at Dåvøy today - pick of the sightings was the overwintering Slavonian Grebe horndykker. The usual selection of stuff including a Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke getting quite upset about a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk.

Bird of the day was seen from the car whilst continuing with the afternoon school / shop run - a nice Goshawk hønsehauk over the road at Tjeldstø.

Back home a Curlew storspove flew over the house - first I've seen thus far this year at Nautnes, normally this is quite a regular winter bird from the kitchen window.

Tjeldstø 02 February - Another first for the year but don't get excited

Southerly winds and rain for most of the day.

Black-headed Gull hettemåke with Herring Gulls gråmåke at Tjeldstø

As ever, not out in any meaningful way. A short breath of fresh air with the dog gave a single Brambling bjørkefink at Breivik and the first Black-headed Gull hettemåke I've seen in Øygarden this year was at Tjeldstø as I popped into the supermarket on the way home.  This latter species is a relatively rare species in Øygarden during the winter.

Crossing fingers about getting out and about later in the week.....

Nowhere 01 February 2016 - Siskins

Strong SW, sleet, rain etc

Hardly surprisingly I didn't get out today in any meaningful way. Siskin grønnsisik were the bird of the day with roadside flocks a couple of places whilst I was running errands and another flock in the garden.These birds were actually feeding by the roadside - seemingly on pine seeds that have been released during the recent winds. A few Common Redpoll gråsisik were with them.

Otherwise just a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn over the house.

Skogsøy 31 January 2016 - Enduro test

Basically quite nice, even sunny weather most of the day but with NW winds which strengthened during snow / hail / sleet showers.

The walk out to Skogsøy was quite pleasant but a few minutes after I got there a heavy snow shower with stronger winds meant it was all but impossible to see and generally rather uncomfortable. I waited it out and was rewarded with a 5 minute period of lighter wind and good visibility before the next wave of snow hit. In the end I gave up and headed back - almost immediately the weather cleared but I was out of time.

There was stuff passing, several Gannets havsule, a couple of Kittiwake krykkje and a flock of 10 auks which disappeared into a snow squall before I could identify them were seen. Otherwise some indication of larger gulls trying to head north.

This weekend was the Norwegian Garden Bird count - a decent flock of 30 Siskin grønnsisik made this the most numerous species in my garden along with Greenfinch grønnfink, 8 Chaffinch bokfink, two each of Blackbird svarttrost and Robin rødstrupe along with the Blue Tits blåmeis and Great Tits kjøttmeis.

I was barely outside yesterday but had a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett heading off to roost at Nautnes in the evening.

Thursday 28 January Tjeldstø - Wasting time on yellow-legged gulls

Brisk westerly winds with occasional showers

It has gone all mild and spring-like again. The Whoopers sangsvane are spreading out to their usual haunts again and things seem to be returning to normal.

The only chance I got for any birding turned out to be a big time waster. I turned up to pick my youngest up from school but being a few minutes early was compelled to scan through the gull flock outside the school. One bird immediately drew my eye - largely due to the front heavy look and then the yellow legs.

Luckily it flew before I had to move the car 100m to get back to the school. P5 with broad black band on both sides of the web, heavy angled bill with large red spot. Yes, there are yellow-legged features there but all in this is going down as an omissus. Whatever the literature says they are not common in Norway (at least not where I live!) and I see only one or two a year.

Some images:

Broad white trailing edge to the secondaries is meant to be a feature of something more exciting

Underwing pattern also looks fine for Y-L gull - but plenty of Herring look like this too

No arguing with the yellow legs....

Looks front heavy and bulky chested here. Didn't get a better side view.

The "Be like a birder" seems to have been a success so predictably I've added a few more on the "Be like a birder page". It looks like this will be a never ending series.....

Here is one of them:

Be like a birder

A combination of some recent birding experiences and one of the latest Facebook crazes prompted me to make some hopelessly unfunny "Be like" memes.

Here are a couple of them. The rest are on this page.

Tjeldstø 19 January 2016 - Another bunch of new species

Calm and sunny most of the day with one short snow shower.

Little Auk alkekonge

Redwing rødvingetrost

Woodcock rugde

The fantastic weather continues. Tjeldstø has been grossly neglected of late so it was good to get in a short but quite productive walk there today. Highlights were a few Goldfinch stillits, a couple of Redwing rødvingetrost, a Woodcock rugde and a Little Auk alkekonge. Plenty of other finches there too with Brambling bjørkefink, Redpoll gråsisik and Siskin grønnsisik. Also had my first House Sparrows gråspurv in Øygarden this year.

Solberg was again rather quiet but a couple of Black Guillemot teist, more Redpoll gråsisik and five Starling stær were present.

Brambling bjørkefink

Coal Tit svartmeis

Mealy (Common) Redpoll gråsisik

 

Brambling bjørkefink

Back home at Nautnes there was plenty too too. Best birds were a distant Great Northern Diver islom on the sea, a Woodcock rugde flying past the terrace, singing Eagle Owl hubro. And a LOT of birds at the feeder - including at least 10 Brambling bjørkefink, Redpolls gråsisik, Siskin grønnsisik and more.

Dåvøy 18 January 2016 - Slav grebe test shoot

Calm with some snow showers.

Porpoises nise

Slavonian Grebe horndykker taken with point and pray superzoom

...and with the usual DSLR & 400mm telephoto lens

Went to Dåvøy to see the regularly wintering Slavonian (Horned) Grebe horndykker that was seen there a few days ago. This showed quite well and I took some pictures with my latest point and pray superzoom - very happy with the results from this cheapo camera.

Other stuff in the area included a family of Porpoises nise, a few Guillemot lomvi, a Curlew storspove, a Woodcock rugde, a Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke and most of the usual suspects. Some fresh Water Rail vannrikse tracks also here.

Whoopers sangsvane with point and pray coming out of the bag for the second time today.

The Dipper fossekall remained at Alvheim whilst six adult Whoopers sangsvane and a female Tufted Duck toppand were on Storavatnet.

Back home a Nautnes a couple of Brambling bjørkefink in the garden along with 15 Siskin grønnsisik, a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and all the garden regulars - numbers of Robin rødstrupe and Blackbird svarttrost both seem to be increasing.

Nautnes 17 January 2016 - The second new species for the house list this year

Calm, sunny and frozen.

Best bird today came in the form of a female Tufted Duck toppand which flew past the house and landed nearby. This was in fact the second new for the house list this year - the first being Razorbill alke a few days ago but I didn't consider the possiblity that this was a garden tick at the time. Other stuff at Nautnes included a couple of flocks of Common (Mealy) Redpolls gråsisik heading over. House list is thus now up to 112 species.

After this I checked out Hjelme Vest where there was generally a lot more on the sea but none of the hoped for species were seen. Best birds were a Red-throated Diver smålom, a Guillemot lomvi and several Black Guillemot teist. Long-tailed Duck havelle numbers were up to a bit more than 50 and there were several Common Scoter svartand present too.

Elsewhere the first Golden Eagle kongeørn of the year was reported.

Skogsøy 16 January 2016 - Productive first trip to Skogsøy

Calm and sunny. Very frozen again after some tendency towards a thaw.

A stroll out to Skogsøy - the first of 2016 - produced most of the expected species. Highlight were a couple of Peregrines vandrefalk - one of which was busy devouring whatever it was it had caught. A huge flock of around 400 Common Redpoll gråsisik fed in the woods and was joined by about 15 Siskin grønnsisik and several each of Chaffinch bokfink and Greenfinch grønnfink.

The lagoons were relatively quiet with two White-tailed Eagles havørn watching over the area. As expected there were Whoopers sangsvane here - five adult and five young. A Common Gull fiskemåke feeding here was a relatively uncommon winter sighting.

The sea was fairly quiet with just 11 Eiders ærfugl, several Long-tailed Duck havelle and a few Black Guillemot teist about.

Hjelme Vest 15 January 2016 - Snow

Windy and snowy for much of the day.

Spent a large part of the day stuck in traffic mayhem - the wintry weather seems to come as a shock over here too,

Before I left I made a quick trip out to Hjelme Vest but even when there were breaks in the snow there was virtually nothing on offer on the islands or sea - just a couple of White-tailed Eagles havørn. In the woods a lone Woodcock rugde was the best sighting.

Back home a couple of Brambling bjørkefink joined the Greenfich grønnfink and a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk flew over.

Herdlevær 14 January 2016 - Finally out of the house and out of the car!

Brisk southerly wind, largely cloudy. Temperatures higher than of late with some thawing going on - but it DEFINITELY didn't feel any warmer!

There was not a lot of note to be seen with singles of Woodcock rugde and Curlew storspove as best birds.

The new species for the year were very predictable in the form of Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke and small numbers of Common Scoter svartand.

At least 200 Herring Gull gråmåke fed around the fish farm but I couldn't find anything special among them. Having said that there was an adult Gannet havsule swimming around inside one of the fish pens - it kept putting its head underwater to have a look but the salmon there must have been way to big for it to catch!

At Harkestad the geese were back again after having been absent again yesterday - seems like they only like those fields every other day.....The Starling stær flock was reduced to a single bird there today but there was another flock of 18 at Skjold.

Harkestad & Nautnes 12 January 2016

Amazing weather again with no wind and temperatures around zero. Although the flu seems to be loosening its grip on me my youngest is now down with it and work isn't giving any breaks either.

Rossicus Bean Goose sædgås

The birds were sat on their feet  grazing around themselves - presumably to preserve heat

Albifrons Whitefront tundragås

Somewhat predictably therefore this was yet another day without being out in any meaningful way. However, the daily trip to the shops produced the goose flock back at Harkestad - having not been seen there yesterday either by me or others attempting to twitch them. The four albifrons Whitefronts tundragås and the rossicus Bean Goose sædgås were sat on their feet grazing around themselves. I snapped a few quick pictures and moved on without disturbing them.

A small flock of Starling stær were present there too.

The only other new for the year was from the house - in the form of a Razorbill alke heading south. Other sightings from the kitchen window included a couple of White-tailed Eagles havørn robbing an Otter oter, a couple of Porpoises nise and a couple of Long-tailed Duck havelle.

Nautnes / Tjeldstø 11 January 2016 -. Flu (almost) stops play day III

Fantastic weather, but despite some initial optimism flu stopped play with much of the day spent on the sofa - yet again.

Still managed to notch up a few new for my 2016 Øygarden list - two species from the house in the form of a few Gannets havsule and a small flock of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb.

The daily trip to the shop produced none of yesterday's goodies but a lone Tree Sparrow pilfink and a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk were seen at Tjeldstø.

Harkestad-Alvheim 10 January 2016 - Flu (almost) stops play day 2

Slightly warmer with some snow today.

Spent the majority of the day on the sofa in a vegetative state apart from a brief drive to the petrol station to buy some Coca Cola - a drink I normally despise but with both me and my youngest suffering from dehydration it was the necessary medicine.

Tundra Bean Goose sædgås

Albifrons Whitefronts tundragås

Not always easy to see - here hiding in long grass

Of course a drive to the shop is not often just a drive to the shop. On the way there I stopped at Harkestad where I was rewarded with four albifrons White-fronted Geese tundragås and a Tundra (rossicus) Bean Goose sædgås - always good birds to see and especially welcome today. It was so dark that I used ISO values I didn't know I had - something approaching about 100000 I think.

Dipper fossekall - not normally an easy species in Øygarden

The way home was just about as good with Water Rail vannrikse and Dipper fossekall at Alvheim.

Øygarden 09 January 2016 - Flu (almost) stops play

Calm, cold and sunny again

Roadside Black Grouse orrfugl

Spent most of the day asleep on the sofa fighting flu. However, a trip to the shops saved the day with a nice roadside Black Grouse orrfugl.

Other stuff included a Song Thrush måltrost at Nautnes, Snipe enkeltbekkasin and the usual.