Watching birds and enjoying the sun Apr 19 2025

Today my friend Chris and I took a road trip to the island Kvaløya, Norway’s fifth largest island. It was snowing, but the weather forecast was promising. Our first stop was “Eidehandel” – a local grocery store – in Eidkjosen. The second stop was Tisnes to check for migratory birds. They weren’t many, it may be still too early, but we saw small groups of greylag geese and some Eurasian curlews. The latter ones are recognisable by their large bent beak. When I took some photos I realised how beautiful they are when flying.

We continued following the southern coastal road where we spotted a flock of smaller birds. Two friends on Facebook confirmed it: These are snow buntings.

We saw Eurasian oystercatchers on different places. At the bay Austeinvika I used the opportunity to take some photos. The forecast was correct. It had stopped snowing and the sun had came out.

From there it was not far to the island Sommarøya where we took a lunch break eating the food we bought at Eidehandel. The sky was blue but in the wind it was still chilly. I was glad about wearing a woollen sweater plus a winter anorak. When we were full we left the rest of the food in the car and took a stroll over the hills. Sommarøya is incredible in all seasons because of the combinations of shallow bays with turquoise water and sandy coral beaches and the view of the high mountains of Kvaløya and the islands around.

And if you send your drone into the air and take a photo from above you see, how ridiculously turquoise and clear the water is. Like in the Caribbean as long as you ignore the water temperature.

When I came home in the late afternoon it started snowing again.