Siberian Rubythroat

Was the weekend in the Netherlands and had the opportunity to see the Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope, that is already present for a few weeks. A first for the Netherlands and a real pearl it is! Species 448 for my dutch list!
Saw the wintering Pallid Harrier near my home town as well...

The bird is mimicring some siberian species, such as Yellow-browed Warbler and Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler...

record shot of the first winter male Pallid Harrier

Ring-billed Gull

After a period of busy working and a trip to Switzerland (missed on the Ring-necked Duck) I was able to twitch the Ring-billed Gull at Knarvik near Bergen. My third for Hordaland...

a fine and easy-to-identify Ring-billed Gull

Little Bunting in Bergen

A Little Bunting is present at the same feeder as the Rofous Turtle Dove frequents. Saw it already yesterday, but managed only today to get a picture of this shy and skulking individual. New bird for Hordaland and Bergen. Hordaland is doing very well this winter so far...

Little Buntins

Pine Bunting

Rare and difficult to get: Pine Bunting. These days one male is staying in Hordaland in Aga, north of Odda. Twitched it today with Lars Ågren. The bird showed well, though we had to keep a bit of distance. The photo's are not the best, but show the characters well. It was a new species for Norway for me.
At the same time, a Little Bunting was reported in Bergen on the same spot as where the Oriental Turtle Dove is staying. We were some 15 minutes too late. Try it tomorrow!
Click on the pics for better views.

male Pine Bunting

Beautiful Blackbird

Today in my garden

Oriental Turtle Dove still present

Still lots of birds present at Espeland, Blomsterdalen in beautiful weather today. Some 30 Wood Pigeons, 20 Collared Doves and the Oriental Turtle Dove present, as well as lots of House Sparrows and other small stuff.
At the biological station a Treecreeper and 7 Mute Swans. At Flesland a Rock Pipit and also two Mute Swans.

Oriental Turtle Dove

Collared Dove

House Sparrow, photographed last week

House Sparrow, photographed last week

one of the Mute Swans, present at the Biological station

Kingfisher

A true rarity in Hordaland, Kingfisher. Saw it today at Lone on Osterøy! New one for Hordaland for me.
Further goodies were Oriental Turtle Dove, King Eider and Iceland Gull, all three present for a long time at their known spots. Also worth mentioning is a Water Rail, calling back the biological station near Espeland. Not bad on the 4th of january.

record shot of the Kingfisher, click for better views

Oriental Turtle Dove

After I saw this bird already on wednesday,  I went back today to take some pics in better light conditions. It kept up high in the trees. It has the characters of a meena, with the belly and undertail coverts very light and the tail feather tipped white.

Anyhow, a very good bird for Bergen. Hope it's going to stay in order to get some better pics. Tried the Kingfisher at Osterøy before and the Short-eared Owl at Flesland afterwards, but no luck with those two...

Oriental Turtle dove

Click to get better views

Cold weather, garden birds

Very nice, cold weather and birds coming to my garden. A few days ago I had a group of twelve Goldfinches and today a few Yellowhammers in the neighbourhood...Otherwise Bramblings all over the place

male Yellowhammer, click on pic for better result

A good day for auks in Bergen

After night-shift I took one of my regular tours at the Biological Station with Hickman (off course). Had two Little Auks, one of which was captured by a Grey Heron, but it got away. Further a Black Guillemot in winter plumage. It was swimming and diving too far away for any pics. This one was a new Bergen species for me! In the marshes a Water Rail was calling frequently. Not bad at all for a morning walk!

one of the two Little Auks