Great Snipes

Last weekend we made a camping trip with the family and took the opportunity to try Great Snipes at Isdalsvatnet on the Hardangervidda. We had to walk around for about an hour with the three of us (Anne, Robin and me) through the fields which are good for the species. Finally Anne flushed two birds. We only saw them fly on several occasions. Anyhow, I'll try next year a little bit earlier in the year to see them display.
Further the usual Common Crane, thunbergi Yellow Wagtails, Bluethroats, Twites and Mealy Redpolls.

Twite and Arctic Tern

Had two new Bergen-species for the year today, both at Espeland. One was -much to my surprise- a Twite (is it breeding?) and the other an Arctic Tern, that flew by and didn't bother the Common Terns sitting on their nests. These two resulting in 133 species so far...Further a couple of singing Garden Warblers, an Eider with four chicks and a Great Spotted Woodpecker with begging young.
A morning walk at Herdla produced nothing interesting, only two flyby Eurasian Curlews are worth mentioning.

Common Redshank at Herdla

Long-eared Owl at last

Yesterday evening another try for the Long-eared Owl, found by Ola Moen the night before. He heard two young birds calling.
At the locality I would meet Terje Hansen, Anders Bjørdal and Kåre Skarsvaag. We didn't have to wait long before at least one of the birds began calling. It was quite a long distance. Tried to record it, but nothing to hear on the recording, alas. We heard two birds. Further Tawny Owl and two displaying Woodcocks.
Before that I heard one Quail calling infrequently at Mjøs. 

Still looking for Bergen species

Yesterday evening another try for night birds in Bergen for the year list, but no luck. Tried Kalandsvannet, but I had only a Woodcock.

Today Espeland and Grimstad, but no special birds here either. Have to see Arctic Tern, but can't find it yet.

Ring-necked Doves still present at Espeland

Great Grey and Ural Owl

Last weekend I made a trip to Hedmark and it paid off! Did some birding on my own on saturday evening and on sunday I visited the woods around Elverum together with Jonas Langbråten and Lars Christian Stømner. We found Ural Owl and Great Grey Owl! These birds were both lifers for me.
Further I saw some eastern Norway specialities such as Ortolan Bunting (5), a Treelark,  Red-backed Shrike (a pair) a Black Woodpecker as well as many singing Common Redthroats...
Below some pictures and  a few sound recordings.

female Ural Owl

Great Grey Owl on the nest with at least two juveniles

Not the best photo's as compared to some others on the internet, but anyway...

alarm call of Ural Owl: http://www.xeno-canto.org/180472

singing Ortolan Bunting: http://www.xeno-canto.org/180473 (two birds)

singing Woodlark: http://www.xeno-canto.org/180474

early morning Ring-necked Pheasant (not found in western Norway)


On the way back evening sun at the Hardangervidda

Nice stroll along Kismul at Kalandsvannet

This morning Robin, Hickman and I made a walk along the western side of Kalandsvannet, at Kismul. Beautiful scenery with lots of singing birds. Heard at least four singing Icterine Warblers, four Garden Warblers, two singing Spotted Flycatchers among others and a recently fled family of Long-tailed Tits.
Tomorrow leaving for Hedmark to try the big owls (Great Grey and Ural)!

Night birding

I've been birding several evenings lately without any luck, but yesterday I had a Grasshopper Warbler and a few Woodcocks at the Marinbiologisk Stasjon near Flesland. The recording of the Grasshopper Warbler is too bad to be published, but Woodcock is to be heard below.

song:http://www.xeno-canto.org/180095

Wood Warbler again, now Bergen

Just five minutes from my house a singing Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix in  the so-called Pitteskogen in Nattland (found by another birder yesterday). Good bird for the Bergen year list, on which 126 species up til today. Managed some shots and sound recording (below).

Male Wood Warbler with clear yellow throat, yellow eyebrow and contrasting dark eyestripe. Note also the elongated body with very long wings as well as the dark tertials with prominent yellow fringes.

song:

http://www.xeno-canto.org/180096

White-backed Woodpecker

I knew about a nest of White-backed Woodpeckers, so I had to go out and try to make pics and sound recordings. They were easy to find, making lots of noise, these woodpeckers, so I managed to take some pictures and recordings. Taking pictures in a mixture of sun and shade is not the easiest thing, but with some effort and patience I got some reasonable shots and recordings of the call (see below). I did not use tape to lure them, by the way. Further on the way back a Common Buzzard soaring over one of Lindås beautiful valleys.

female White-backed Woodpecker

call: http://www.xeno-canto.org/178892

adult and young birds at the nest site: http://www.xeno-canto.org/178902

In the afternoon a walk with Anne, Robin and Hickman at Myrdalsvannet. We had two singing Icterine Warblers, first of the year for me. Below a link to the song of one of them.

song: http://www.xeno-canto.org/178895

Regular morning walk

During the months I'm off jobb to take care of Robin (may, june and july), I use to walk in the neighbourhood with her and Hickman. Not many special birds about, but today my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year and some five or six singing Pied Flycatchers (sound recording below), which is always nice. House Sparrow are abundant around Sædalen and Sanddalen.

male House Sparrow

song of Pied Flycatcher in my garden:
http://www.xeno-canto.org/178785