Herdla on 30th of may

Quality, rather than quantity today. Two small ponds held two Black-tailed Godwits, a Temmincks Stint, two Curlew Sandpipers, a Whimbrel and a Wood Sandpipers. Further a flyby Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank.

Black-tailed Godwit with two Curlew Sandpipers

Cold night

Last night out on Lindås, Austerheim and Radøy. After a period with warm weather, this night was very cold. I found nothing. But the Great Reed Warbler was singing as was the Corncrake at Gaupås. Further a lot of Common Snipes, but no Long-eared Owl, no Grasshopper Warblers, no Sedge Warblers, so I have to again later in the year.

Little bit of local birding

Saturday morning, before work, Kalandsvannet, Myrdalsvannet and Flesland. Beautiful adult summer Arctic Diver and  Great Crested Grebe still present at Kalandsvannet with a singing Icterine Warbler new for the year (at Kismul). Myrdalsvannet had five singing Common Flycatchers and a Spotted Flycatcher, but couldn't find other interesting birds. At Flesland another singing Icterine Warbler and a Northern Wheatear.

male Northern Wheatear

Hernar

A day on Hernar with Egil Frantzen. Warm and sunny weather. Best birds were a pair of Red-backed Shrikes. Further a singing Grasshopper Warbler and the usual. Twites, Lesser Redpolls and Linnets were all over the island, together with two Common Cuckoos, a Garden Warbler, a Whinchat and lots of Northern Wheatears. An hour or so seawatching produced four Red-throated Divers and a Puffin.

male Red-backed Shrike

female RBS

Grasshopper Warbler

Corncrake

The reported Corncrake at Kalsåsvannet still present. Took some shots...
Further a Grasshopper Warbler at Rødland and I found out about the whereabouts of Santaclaus during the summer months.

angry Corncrake

poor man...

Wryneck still present

A quick visit at Kanadaskogen revealed that the Wryneck was still present, however calling infrequently. A singing Common Redstart was a new for me for Bergen. Maybe there were two present, but I'm not sure. Further three Spotted Flycatchers, two Pied Flycatchers and lots of Siskins.

I may be one of the first creatures this Siskin met

Wryneck in Bergen

After work twitched the reported Wryneck at Kanadaskogen in Bergen succesfully. Nervous bird, but I managed some pics. Tried at Kalandsvannet Grasshopperwarbler, may be it's a bit too early in the year. However, they are widely reported elsewhere in the county

Highly vocal but somewhat secretive Wryneck

second summer Common Gull

Long-tailed Skuas!

After a night shift I hurried to Herdlevær for a seawatch. The last days a lot of skuas were reported migrating. On the spot I met Dag Gjerde and Lars Ågren. A short seawatch of one-and-a-half hour produced good numbers of birds.
Best sighting was a group of four (!) adult Long-tailed Skuas migrating slowly north high above the horizon. They were easily identified due to their very long tail streamers (as long as the bodies), lack of white in the wings and their elegant flight.
Further a lot of Arctic Skuas (32) and seven Pomarine Skuas. Good migration of Kittiwakes as well as three Puffins, a few Gannets, a Black-throated Diver, some Red-throated Divers and three Dunlins all heading north. No large divers...

may 9th

The day started promising with a singing Garden Warbler in our garden (where else?). Later on the morning I couldn't find it again, so probably just an early, short-staying visitor.
It was a very  rainy day, thus a lot of car birding. Visited Gaupåsvannet. Redshank and Common Sandpiper there, as well as a singing Whinchat and lots of Barn Swallows and House Martins. At Myrdalsvannet lots of singing WillowWarblers, Chiffchaffs, Robins and so on. At Totland a flyby Rough-legged Buzzard.
Tried this morning the Gadwalls reported at Nordåsvannet, but could not find them. The first Common Terns present. Also a Marsh Tit.

flyby Rough-legged Buzzard

Male Blackbird

Banacles and other food

5th of may, so I couldn't resist a trip before work. Visited Tjeldstø, Ulvøya and Hellesøy. Not much about with cold, strong northerly winds and snow!!! However, I saw a flock of Barnacles at Hellesøy and a male Black Grouse. At Tjeldstø just some Wheatears and swallows on the move.

some fifty Barnacles just visisble

male Black Grouse on Ulvøya

northern winds

Herdla was suffering northerly winds today. Thus, not very much about. Had a Lapland Bunting and a Tree Pipit among others. At Åsebø the usual Nutcracker. This morning the first Pied Flycatcher of the year in my garden.

White Wagtail at Åsebø