King Eider in Bergen

The King Eider, which is present around Bergen for a few years already showed well today at Hylkje within the community border of Bergen (this winter it stays mostly at Osterøy just outside Bergen). It was present in a large group of noisy Common Eiders.
At Unnelandsneset I saw a touch and go male Pied Wagtail. No pic of that one...

THE Tawny Owl of Bergen

I saw today the well known Tawny Owl at Fjøsanger. Never managed to see it before. The light was not very good due to the harsh sunlight (and moment of the day...)

Firecrests!!

This weekend two Firecrests were found at Knarrevik, just outside Bergen. I didn't have time until this morning. After an hour or so searching in bad weather I found them back. Egil and Laila Frantzen and Walter Lemme joined me after a little while. The two birds were calling frequently and although it was impossible to take pictures, they showed rather well every now and then. Without doubt the most beautiful bird of Europe.
Otherwise a (sub)singing Hawfinch this morning in my garden. Yesterday a flyby Peregrine over my house and last week the Hawk Owl of Trengereidåsen. Not many pictures lately though. Bad weather!!

Glaucous Gulls in Bergen

They are every winter around in Bergen, but it doesn't happen very often that two together visit the centre of Bergen...

one ringed, the other not

Herdla 21th of November

Well, November on Herdla with grey and mild weather can be nice and it was today. Not many birds but a nice juvenile Goshawk made the day. It was feasting on a Wigeon, together with two Hooded Crows patiently waiting for their turn.
Further the usual suspects with Common and Velvet Scoters, a few Long-tailed Ducks and a Great Northern Diver.
At Kjerreide a group of seven flyby Two-barred Crossbills.

young Goshawk protecting it's prey

Siberian Chiffchaff on the house list

This morning a tristis was calling when I got out of the house with Hickman. It was calling good, but I didn't have camera or telefone on me, so no documentation so far. A quick search afterwards did not produce. May be later...
And yes, I found it back in the afternoon! Only calling twice then, but showing well.

Phylloscopus tristis

This bird shows all the characteristics of tristis, being a light and grey warbler, with no green and yellow in it's plumage.  Only on the closed wing is a little bit green visible, formed by the fringes of the secondaries. No yellow tones on the eyebrow, a white eye-ring and a faint wing bar are otherwise good characters, as well as the very dark bare parts. The call, which I would describe as a plaintive and high "seep" reminiscent of a down chick, makes the ID safe and sound.

More

Today I had to try for more, even though I am ill. Succeeded in finding (probably) new birds at Smøråsfjellet. Made some satisfying pictures this time, together with Kjetil Salomonsen and Petter Thornes. The only male we saw came down for drinking! A total of 20 birds today and 20 Two-barred Crossbills there as well. Below some of the day's results...
Further 12 Two-barred Crossbills at Skagetjern. That species is around in good numbers!

stunning male Pine Grosbeak

More Pine Grosbeaks

A really big invasion is going on with these birds. Today at Smøråsfjellet a group of four and a group of 10 and really confiding, although most of them only rest for a short period. Haven't got THE picture yet...in the afternoon I had three birds flying over my house to the north!

confiding birds

Pine Grosbeaks on the move

Currently there is a big influx of Pine Grosbeaks going on around Bergen. Yesterday I had 2 flyby's at Herdlevær and today I found a group og 32 birds here in Bergen.
Frode Falkenberg reported 152 birds passing today at Løvstakken. They have to fly over my house as well. Very spectacular!! Below not the best pictures (had to park the car, walk back and had strong light against...), but anyhow, I won't complain.
Last week I had a Siberian Chiffchaff at Turøy, which moved too quick to get decent pictures. It called 4-5 times: the well-known high-pitched and plaintive "pseep"!

female, male and a part of the group

Ring-necked Duck

On Sunday a male Ring-necked Duck was found by Bjornard Skjold on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø. I didn't have a possibility on Sunday and the following days it wasn't reported. However, today Julian Bell saw the bird again. So I took a shot. Still present, albeit a few minutes after I arrived. Luck!
New bird for Hordaland for me and only my second in Norway. Finally I saw something rare too this autumn after many trips on Herdlevær and Turøy...

record shot of immature (second calander-year) Ring-necked Duck

I have also visited hy homeland some weeks ago for a short period and did some birding with my brother, not finding anything big, but saw three Firecrests and five Long-eared Owls, both not common in Norway.

Long-eared Owl. photo's by Sybrand de Bruin