Flycatchers

The Spotted Flycatcher have had a mayor influx during the last few of days, and yesterday I saw it almost everywhere. The Pied Flycatcher started its return to Norway somewhat earlier but have increased in numbers as well the last week.

                                                                     Spotted Flycatcher (Gråfluesnapper) from Jåbekk, Mandal 19 May 2012

                                                                          Pied Flycatcher (svarthvit fluesnapper), Skjernøya 19 May 2012

Shorbirds from Tregde - Vaderfugler på Tregde

The small beaches at Tregde is one of the best places to see shorebirds in Mandal. It is also possible to go offshore to see more shorebirds during the migration. Here are some of the shorebirds seen during my visits to Tregde this year.

From the top to the bottom: Grey Plover (Tundralo), 12 February 2012, Common Ringed Plover (Sandlo), 10 March 2012 and Common Redshank (Rødstilk), 18 May 2012. 

Eurasian Coot & Common Morheen - Sivhøne & Sothøne

                                                          Eurasian Coot (Sothøne) from Mandalselva, January 2012. 

                                                        Common Moorhen (Sivhøne), Kvisla, Mandal, April 2012.

Here in Norway Common Morheen and Eurasian Coot are quite common breeders. However, in Mandal none of them are common. The Eurasian Coot earlier had a small population in Leirvika, but today there are not any known breeding sites in our district. Although we suspect that it nests in one or two lakes. Several individuals are often seen mid October to March at different localities in and around the city. The Common Moorhen nests from time to time in Mandal, but there are not any stable population. It was observed at four localities in April 2012.

Long stayers

                                                     Two Pink-footed Goose (PFG), Saanum, Mandal 28 April 2012

                                                        The same PFG together with Greylag goose, Sånum, Mandal 12 May 2012

                                              Greater White-fronted Goose (GWFG), Ormestad, Mandal, 10 March 2012. This is the subspecies flavirostris.

                                                   The same GWFG hiding in the grass two months later, 06 May 2012.

                                                         A better view of the same bird. It is staying togheter with a couple of Mute Swan.

Here are some long staying geese this spring, and both species are still present in the area. The two Pink-footed Goose were first observed 11 January and the Greater White-fronted Goose of the subspecies flavirostris 15 January 2012.

Mandarin Duck - Mandarinand

                                                           The bird seen today in Ronekilen, Mandal.

                                                           Two birds seen with Bankebroa, Mandal, May 2011.

Finnaly I had my first observation of Mandarin Duck tis year. The bird was discovered in Ronekilen yesterday. While I was informing my friends about its presence the bird disappeared.

                                                         From Skjebstad, male autumn 2011 

Linerle - Wagtails

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is among the first passerines to return during spring. And the first birds we see here in Norway are often Pied Wagtails (Motacilla alba yarrellii). Pied Wagtails breeds in Great Britain but a handful also here in Norway, often with White Wagtails.

                                                 White Wagtail, Wiblemo, Audnedal 21.04.12

                                               Pied Wagtail, (male) Jåbekk, Mandal 10.03.12  

                                             Pied Wagtail, female?, Sånum, Mandal 03.05.12

                                              Pied Wagtail, female, Sånum, 03.05.12

  

Boltit - Eurasian Dotterel

female

male

Two early Eurasian Dotterels from Jaeren, Southern Norway, 01. may 2012. This bird normally arrives around mid May, and these are among the first to bee seen this year.