Tjeldstø 16 May 2015 - Easy does it / Tragedy

Light southerly winds and sunny

After a long lie-in I took things easy and didn't get out until nearer midday - often a recipe for not much in the way of birds. I've not managed to find the time to check Tjeldstø very much of late and the main priority was to see if the Black-tailed Godwits svarthalespove reported from there yesterday were still around. Thankfully at least one of them was still present - but flew around a fair bit and was rather vocal.

Black-tailed Godwit svarthalespove

The stroll around the reserve also produced a singing Lesser-spotted Woodpecker dvergspett, a hunting Merlin dvergfalk and plenty more besides.

A Collared Dove tykerdue seen from the kitchen window was the first this year at Nautnes and coupled with yesterday's sighting at Breivik may indicate something of an influx of this species.

However, it was not all good news:

Dead Eagle Owl hubro lying under the power lines that killed it

I found this dead Eagle Owl hubro which was apparently killed by flying into overhead power lines - unfortunately not the first I've found killed in this way. Unfortunately planners don't seem to pay any attention to this kind of thing and tragically this will just keep happening over and over again.

Skogsøy 15 May 2015 - The morning after

Calm and sunny, warm after 0800.

It had to be done - would there be an aftermath after yesterday's skua bonanza or would things grind to a halt in the light winds? Both really - no skuas but a lot more divers.

2cy Black-throated Diver storlom .- this was the mistake of the day - it went into the notebook as GN Diver but the lack of collar indicates otherwise......

A flock of nine Whimbrel småspove

Always a nice start to the day - a 3cy White-tailed Eagle havørn at shortly before 06:00 this morning

Still small flocks of Oystercatcher tjeld heading north

I was at Skogsøy bright and early but there were no skuas at all. A MUCH better passage of Red-throated Diver smålom, at least one Black-throated Diver storlom, some Whimbrel småspove and a light passage of both Arctic Terns rødnebbterne and Common Gulls fiskmåke.

In 4 1/4 hours I had:

Red-throated Diver smålom: 143N
Black-throated Diver storlom: 1 2cy N and probably another
Gannet havsule:16N
Cormorant storskarv: 57N, 1S
Shag toppskarv: 17N, 26S
Barnacle Goose hvittkinngås: 2N
Common Scoter svartand: 8N, 9S
Long-tailed Duck havelle: just 2N (should be nearing peak passage for this species!)
Velvet Scoter sjøorre: 1N
Merganser siland: 18N
Oystercatcher tjeld:13N
Whimrel småspove: 12N
Black-headed Gull hettemåke: 4N
Common Gull fiskemåke: 105N
Kittiwake krykkje: 3N
ArcticTern rødnebbterne: 15nN
Black Guillemot teist: 1N (first I've seen for a while)

One of the better sightings in an Øygarden context was a Collared Dove tyrkerdue at Breivik.

Alse very obvious were Cuckoos gjøk - at Nautnes, Tjeldstø and Breiivk.

Skogsøy 14 May 2015 - Pom record trashed!

Fresh northerly breeze and sunny

I got up at 0415 full of well-founded optimism - today was always going to be good - but little did I know quite how good it would be.

I sat alone from 05:40 to 06:50 but knew people were on their way. My text message at 06:40 was "Where are you? 44 poms" and probably set some records for how fast folk made it out to the lookout.

Note 2cy bird front right

Poms!

The first few flocks of Pomarine Skuas polarjo came by nice and close but soon the majority passed further out. Poms were far and away the most numerous species of the day and by 09:00 when I reluctantly had to head in again a massive 125 had passed! This beats the previous day record of 80 and is more than were seen during the entire 2006 season when there was daily coverage.

Dark phase Arctic Skua tyvjo

Pale phase Arctic Skua tyvjo

Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås

Great Northern Diver islom

White-billed Diver gulnebblom

For a bit more about Pomarine Skua migration at Skogsøy see this page.

Other stuff included a decent count of Arctic Skua tyvjo, a couple of Great Northern Divers islom, a White-billed Diver gulnebblom, a few Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås and a smattering of wader including some Turnstone steinvender,

Some happy seawatchers too busy counting poms to pose for the camera

Some totals for 3 hours and twenty minutes of seawatching:

Red-throated Diver smålom: 5N
Great Northern Diver islom: 2N (1ad,12K)
White-billed diver gulnebblom: 1N
Gannet havsule: 14N
Shag toppskarv: 15S
Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås: 3N
Long-tailed Duck havelle: 2N
Velvet Scoter sjøorre; 1N
Oystercatcher tjeld: 12N
Ringed Plover sandlo: 2N
Golden Plover heilo: 13N
Turnstone steinvender: 4N
Pomarine Skua polarjo: 125N
Arctic Skua tyvjo: 27N
Kittiwake krykkje: 11N
Arctic Tern rødnebbterne: 1N
Razorbill alke: 6N

At Breivik a singing Sedge Warbler sivsanger on the way to Skogsøy and a Carrion Crow svartkråke on the way home seem to be barely worth a mention.

Not much doubt about which side of the country was the right one today....

Øygarden 13 May 2015 - Almost back

Sunny with strong northerly winds

Not out at all but my first Common Tern makrellterne in Øygarden this year fished in front of the house and a run to the shops produced the first House Martins taksvale and two male Tufted Duck toppand.

Herdlevær 03 May 2015 - The ultimate sacrifice?

Light winds, sunny.

Obviously a good day to be at Skogsøy - but I made the ultimate sacrifice by going ringing with my youngest instead of seeing the record breaking 40 White-billed Divers gulnebblom that passed today.She wanted to go ringing and I wanted to seawatch - but anything to encourage the next generation so it ended up being Herdlevær.

The ringing area at Herdlevær

Some of the nets....

My youngest with a Meadow Pipit heipiplerke. If she turns to ringing then missing the White-billeds was worth it and then some....

Lesser Redpoll brunsisik

Ringing at Herdlevær

Willow Warbler løvsanger in what must be the most photographed hand in Øygarden.

This was the first day of ringing at Herdlevær - and all of Øygarden's three resident birders were present for this momentous occasion. It will be very interesting to see what this area produces in the future. Today the species caught and ringed were Willow Warbler løvsanger, Chiff-chaff gransanger, the first Common Whitethroat tornsanger of the year, Lesser Redpoll brunsisik, Meadow Pipit heipiplerke and Blue Tit blåmeis.

Plenty of Wheatear steinskvett, a few Twite bergirisk and the usual suspects knocking about.

Tragically the only new species for me in Øygarden today were the long-staying Feral Pigeons bydue.

Øygarden 01 May 2015 - and the best bird was....?

Northerly winds and sunny.

Guiding again, popped in at a few localities in Øygarden and cleaned up on the target list of Eagle Owl hubro, White-tailed Eagle havørn and White-billed Diver gulnebblom - the latter at Skogsøy where a total of at least six were logged by one of the regular loonatics.

In a local context a Rook kornkråke, also at Skogsøy, was the bird of the day. Hard to understand how this could possibly beat the rest of the stuff we saw today....

A Great Skua storjo - the first of the year - was reported from Herdlevær.

Tjeldstø 30 April 2015 - First Cuckoo of the year and not enough seawatching

Overcast with very light rain much of the day.

Cuckoo gjøk

At Tjeldstø the first Cuckoo gjøk of the year put in an appearance and even gave a photo opportunity. This was the first reported in the county of Hordaland so far this year.

An hour at Herdlevær from 12:20 to 13:20 produced a White-billed Diver gulnebblom, a pale phase Arctic Skua tyvjo, plenty of migrating Red-throated Diver smålom, Common Scoter svartand and most of the usual suspects. A non-adult Peregrine vandrefalk flew over as I left.

Nautnes 29 April 2015 - Another new for the house list

Sunny with light winds

No chance to get out at all but despite this the day turned out not too badly.

The highlight was that all-too-boring of  "rarities" - a Carrion Crow svartkråke species #103 for the house.

Of more interest were the first Common Sandpipers strandsnipe of the year in Øygarden. I'm pretty sure I heard one a few days ago but today I had a pair displaying,

A trip to work meant I had to drive past Tjeldstø where I had a Peregrine vandrefalk soaring over the reserve - the first for some time.

Herdlevær 28 April 2015 - More seawatch sampling

Light SW winds, sunny

Still not making it out in a meaningful way so it was another late and short seawatch from Herdlevær today.In one hour I had 74 Red-throated Diver smålom and one White-billed Diver gulnebblom heading north. Common Gulls fiskemåke are still migrating and some 47 Common Scoter svartand also passed.

Other migrants in the area  included a Brambling bjørkefink and a flock of 12 Teal krikkand on the shore.

Skogsøy 26 April 2015 - More White-bills and some guiding

Fresh south westerly winds and sunny

Gannet havsule

Part of a Red-throated Diver smålom flock

Massively cropped record shot of one of the White-billed Divers gulnebblom

Almost obligatory White-tailed Eagle havørn picture

Not exactly the best conditions for spring seawatching but I spent a few hours out there anyway - and was not disappointed. Highlights were the first Arctic Skua tyvjo of the year and a fly-over Lapland Bunting lappspurv.

Red-throated Diver smålom: 54N
White-billed Diver gulnebblom: 2N
Gannet havsule: 19N
Cormorant storskarv: 7N, 1S
Shag toppskarv: 2N
Long-tailed Duck havelle: 37N
Common Scoter svartand: 21N
Velvet Scoter sjøorre: 2N
Oystercatcher tjeld: 3N
Arctic Skua tyvjo: 1N (pale phase)
Common Gull fiskemåke: 10N
Kittiwake krykkje: 2N

Golden Eagle kongeørn

One of many Ring Ousel ringtrost seen today

The afternoon was spent guiding near Bergen. Highlights were a big arrival of Ring Ousel ringtrost in Gullfjell and a couple of fly over Golden Eagles kongeørn over Unneland.

Herdlevær 24 April 2015 - Skogsøy f***-up!

Light winds, light cloud cover.

Obviously misjudged the day completely. It did not look like a typical good day for Skogsøy - but it was a BIG mistake to not do Skogsøy today.

As I often try to do whenever I can't make it to Skogsøy I did a "sample" seawatch from Herdlevær after completing various domestic chores.

Between 1300 and 1400 I had a massive 314 Red-throated Diver smålom! This means that had the day been spent at Skogsøy a new county record would probably have been set! I had more in an hour today that in five hours a few days ago. However, the highlight was the first two White-billed Diver gulnebblom of the year.

Common Scoter svartand passage picked up a bit but there was little else to report. At this time of year the early hours tend to produce the action and variety and as the morning wears on it goes over to divers, divers, divers.

Gullfjell 23 April 2015 - Out of Øygarden

I don't often post on anything outside Øygarden but today errands took me into town and I took the opportunity to visit my old stomping grounds in Gullfjell - partly as recon for some upcoming guiding tours and partly because it has been far too long since I was there. It was a fantastic morning out - but lots of snow at low altitude.

Ptarmigan fjellrype

The large amount of snow still on the lower slopes may be the explanation for seeing Ptarmigan fjellrype so low down. It is not often in my hundreds of walks here that I have seen this species below Redningshytten.

Svartevatnet

Redningshytten

The newly heightened dam

It was a relief to see that work on raising the dam is complete - looks like they have done a good job there.

Dipper fossekall

Goosander laksand

White Wagtail linerle

I picked up all the expected species including Ptarmigan fjellrype, lekking Black Grouse orrfugl, Rough-legged Buzzard fjellvåk and Ring Ousel ringtrost. Dipper fossekall were very obvious and many of the migrants had returned.

Best birds in a Gullfjell context were a Goodander laksand on Osavatnet and a Teal krikkand on Kurlatjern.

Tjeldstø 21 April 2015 - Slav grebe and best yet of hybrid gull

Largely sunny.

Hybrid Glaucous gull polarmåke

Really struggling to get out and about. However, a partial change of winter tyres at Tjeldstø gave me the best photo opportunities thus far with the long-staying hybrid Glaucous Gull polarmåke. Flyover Twite bergirisk also meant that changing the tyres on the car was not too bad....

The quickest of walks into the reserve produced a summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe horndykker on the sea - always a nice find.

Singing Chiff-chaff gransanger, a flock of five Swallow låvesvale and some Wheatears steinskvett were all signs of spring. 

Skogsøy 19 April 2015 - More seawatching

Very light northerly winds at first, dropping off to nothing. Warm and sunny.

Another decent seawatch! Sat for just over five hours - and had company from 0700 until 0900 when yesterday's Crane's trane were refound at Tjeldstø, It would take more than that to get me to leave a good days migration so I sat it out.

 Oystercatcher tjeld numbers are dropping now

Part of a Red-throated Diver smålom flock

Some of the almost 1400 Common Gulls fiskemåke that headed north today

Migrating Shelduck gravand

Good numbers and a decent variety of stuff, nothing terribly special but a great morning all the same - almost 2000 birds on the move today!:

Red-throated Diver smålom: 249N
Gannet havsule: 5N, 1S
Cormorant storskarv: 125N, 5S
Shag toppskarv; 21N, 41S
Heron gråhegre: 1N
Shelduck gravand: 4N
Common Scoter svartand: 30N still alarmingly low numbers
Goldeneye kvinand: 3N, 1S
Merganser siland: 10N
Oystercatcher tjeld: 63N
Ringed Plover sandlo: 2N
Curlew storspove: 2N
Black-headed Gull hettemåke: 5N
Common Gull fiskemåke: 1375N
Razorbill alke: 4N

A couple of Rooks kornkråke flew over the "car park" on the way home.

Flocks of White-tailed Eagle havørn everywhere today.

Herdlevær 18 April 2015 - A good diver day

Strong northerly wind and sunny.

A very late and lazy check at Herdlevær gave more than 35 Red-throated Diver smålom in less than an hour. More passing Nautnes in the evening - looks like it was a good day for diver migration.

The first Willow Warbler løvsanger of the spring sang whilst feeding - bang on time for the first of the year.

In the afternoon I heard about Cranes trane on the move and may well have seen one of the three reported flying over Tjeldstø. However, it was a view from behind of a bird losing height over the reserve and I cannot be 100% sure. Win some  lose some its all the same to me as Lenny from Motorhead would say....

Skogsøy 17 April 2015 - Diver migration picking up

Freash northerly wind again - but sitting sheltered from the wind in glorious sunshine it didn't feel cold

The first serious seawatch of the spring. Sat for getting on for five hours from 06:45 - and judging by the way the Common Gull fiskemåke passage I got there too late. I had more in the first 15 minutes than in the next hour - typical for this species.

Cormorant storskarv passage is reaching its peak

Above two: Common Gulls fiskemåke

 

Massively cropped record shot of three Shelduck gravand

Highlight was the first Black-throated Diver storlom of the year. A flock of Shelduck gravand were the first I've had in Øygarden this although they have been reported from both Skogsøy and Herdlevær earlier.

The only rarity was a Carrion Crow svartkråke seen flying out to sea.

Although still relatively early in the season there was a bit more variety today.


Some of the numbers:

Red-throated Diver smålom: 53N
Black-throated Diver storlom: 1N
Cormorant storskarv: 107N, 4S
Shag toppskarv: 6N, 77S
Shelduck gravand: 3N
Tufted Duck toppand: 2N first migrating birds of the year
Common Scoter svartand: 3N (normally into three figures at this time of year!)
Goldeneye kvinand: 8N
Merganser siland: 8N
Oystercatcher tjeld: 15N
Curlew storspove: 3N
Common Gull fiskemåke: 402N
Kittiwake krykkje: 1N
Guillemot lomvi: 1N
Razorbill alke: 1N
Puffin lomvi: 4N