Mute Swan and Black-tailed Godwits

Only the second time this year on Herdla...Quiet, but highlights were a group of seven Black-tailed Godwits, two Mute Swans (!), a Cuckoo and two Whimbrels

Oystercatcher new for my houselist

Saw an Oystercatcher from my house at the Nordåsvannet through my telescope. This was species number 89 for the houselist!

Junco revisited

Was in Groningen again during easter holidays and took the chance to visit the Dark-eyed Junco again and was eager to take some breathtaking pics. But it was cold and the bird was skulking...
At least this is a picture I took myself.

record shot of the long staying Dark-eyed Junco

Three in a row, real twitching in the Netherlands!!!

We were for a few days in the Netherlands and I had the opportunity to add three new species to my Dutch list in one day only! Oriental Turtle Dove at Vlaardingen near Rotterdam, Spotted Sandpiper at Medemblik near Alkmaar and Dark-eyed Junco at Groningen.

Oriental Turtle Dove

Spotted Sandpiper

Dark-eyed Junco

The junco-pics are taken by my brother Sybrand, the others by myself. The junco was only the second for the Netherland (after one in 1962). The Oriental Turtle Dove was the fourth and the Spotted Sandpiper the fourth as well...

Driving through my home country made me realise how lucky the dutch are. There are birds all over the place. We saw some ten Great White Egrets, about 50 Common Buzzards, two White Storks and thousands of ducks and geese. 

Anyhow, I've seen 447 species in the Netherlands now. Next three already this year?

Robin

Not much birding this weekend with my daughter Robin having a cold. Another Robin at the feeding instead...

Robin. Picture taken through the window...

Male Blackbird

Another try for the Jack Snipe...

No luck with the Jack Snipe at the Ortuvannet today either. Only a Common Snipe, Water Rail and the usual winter stuff...

young Whooper Swan

February starting: cold weather, winter birds.

After a week in Switzerland, without birding and being sick, I tried the Jack Snipe at the Ortuvannet in the morning, without any luck. Had two Water Rails, though and two singing Starlings. In the afternoon I visited Nygårdsviken to see the first-winter Iceland Gull and after that a quick look at Kirkebukten in Laksevåg, where I saw the female Greater Scaup and a flyby Little Auk, the latter only the second time in Bergen. Typical winter birding.

Wandering Glaucous Gull

I saw the first-winter Glaucous Gull today at the Tveitevannet. Looked for it in the city centre, where it was ringed earlier this year. After that it was seen at the Ortuvannet, but couldn't find it yesterday either.

first-winter Glaucous Gull

King Eider

Bird of the day without doubt a male King Eider at Meland. It's bill was not very swollen, so it may be a subadult bird. It was foraging in a large group of Common Eiders. Too far away for pictures. A week later I could tick it for my Bergen list at Salhus!
Further at the Ortuvannet the Carrion Crow still present, as well as a Water Rail. At Flesland a flyby Goldfinch and a group of seven Mute Swans.

Water Rail

Carrion Crow

Pink-footed Goose in Bergen

Started the year good with a Pink-footed Goose, new for my Bergen list. It was still present at Bahus bru near Kalandsvannet. Bird nr 164.
A little bit of birding in the area also resulted in a Water Rail at Mildevannet, the wintering Pintail at Birkelandsvannet, 14 Goldfinches and two Chaffinches at Kismul, several Whooper Swans, a few Long-tailed Tits and other common winter birds. On the way back home two flyby geese near Nesttun, while driving...Wonder which species these may have been

Pink-footed Goose. Shy, but showing well