Local patch Hafrsfjord

Getting to know your local patch and regular birding in and around local patch is a first step towards many fulfilling outings with very low investment in money and time. Many a times you'd be able to simply zip by that favorite spot  to scan the horizons for your quarry and zip off to work with a big smile on your face having seen a feathered friend.

I did quite a lot of that when I was living in Sarawak, Borneo. An early day would see me on the beach watching a Chinese Egret, Malaysian Plover or waders sporting summer colors (in the correct season) from as early as 6:30am; I'd be at my desk just as the tropical sun starts to warm up by 8:00am. It makes for an enjoyable day at work too.

The Hafrsjord birding circuit, with mange mange takk to Neil, Inger and Hera (Map from www.visitnorway.com, I added the red squares).

Having arrived in Norway last May, my birding clock has been somewhat skewed and requiring adjustment. New place, different seasons and timings had me birdwatched much less than before. Therefore it was with great joy when a local birding couple Neil and Inger (and their daughter, Hera) offered to show me around Hafrsfjord, a location 10mins drive from the house. Though I've been going there before several time, nothing beats personal insights. Everyplace seems a great place to birdwatch being a new birder here, however knowing a proper place to park can make or break that well-planned outing.

Northern Pintail at Sommevagen, apparently it's been around for the past few years. High on the list of lookouts of local birders are American Teal and American Widgeon.

One Sunday morning, we met at Mollebukta near Three Swords and set off on our way for my birdwatching orientation around Hafrsfjord. We covered all the great places where interesting records have been made by local birders. Most importantly a detailed low-down on what species to expect, which roads to take, and where to park without raising the ire of farmers and local residents. There's a fine line dividing birders and farmers here in Norway, I'm not going to be the person crossing it at this early stage of Norway birding.

Velvet Scoter which can be seen from many of the stops, they tend to be more relaxed towards the end of the day and can be seen frolicking close to shore just before sunset.

Sommevagen has ducks, waders and waterbirds on offer; this was the first site I noticed as I was passing the airport on the way to the hotel when I visited Stavanger for the first time in my life for that job interview. The rest they say is "Birding! Fuglekikker!"

Within less that 4 hours of a sunny Sunday, we stopped by Stokkavatnet (Water Rail was sighted here in recent times), Revsheim (we spotted Velvet Scoter, Northern Teal, Northern Pintail, Great Cormorant, Red-breasted Merganser, waterbirds), Pighella (nesting Arctic Tern last year), Smavagen (Shelduck and waders), Kolnes North (waders), Kolnes South (waders), Sommevagen (Kitiwake, waders, ducks), Sornesvagen (nesting European Nuthatch, divers, cormorants) and last but not least Granebukta (gulls, waders, waterbirds). All these places have convenient parking areas with the exception of Kolnes which requires some judicious placement of the vehicle along the verge to avoid being trampled upon by farm equipment.

Many many thanks ("Mange, mange takk" in Norwegian) to Neil, Inger and Hera for sharing their favorite spot. Being a new birder to this local patch, it was a tremendous help. With summer fast approaching and birding season kicking into high gear it was also most timely!

Sommevagen, Hafrsfjord is an important wintering site for Scaup in Norway.