Marine mammals

The commonest sea mammals are Porpoises, these can be seen in good numbers both in the open sea and in the fjords; they are  especially obvious in calm weather. Other cetacea are less regular, Pilot Whales and Orcas are sometimes seen in Hjeltefjord amd occasionally at Skogsøy - both species seem less regular on the west side of the islands. Minke whale can be seen but this is a rare occurrence.

Seals are occasionally observed, but are far from numerous.


Land mammals

Red Deer are common in Øygarden and are most often seen around dawn and dusk, sometimes these animals swim over from the mainland. Rodents of several species seem to be quite common, lack of prey should not be the reason behind the abscence of breeding raptors  such as Kestrel.

Deer / Hjort, Breivik, May 2006	Vole sp / markmus Microtus agrestis, a common rodent in Øygarden

Toads are a common sight on summer nights...	Shrew sp, liten spissmus Sorex minutus, Tjeldstø

Mink are numerous throughout Øygarden and are often seen swimming over channels and along the shorelines as they hunt fish and crabs. Otter are seen a lot less frequently but there are several families in the area - often they are heard before they are seen - their piping contact call can sound rather bird-like. Unfortunately they are regularly found drowned in fishing gear.

Otter / Oter, Skogsøy, May 2006	Mink, Tjeldstø, May 2006

Most of the pictures on this page were taken using digiscoping and  two (weasel and otter swimming with fish) using a DSLR fitted with a 300mm telephoto lens.

Many thanks to Alf Tore Mjøs for Norwegian and scientific names for some of these animals

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