Along the Southern Coast during the winter

Last weekend Finn and I decided to look at bird around Hille, one of the southernmost Islands here in Norway. There are not many birds around during the winter, but some birds are only found in the area at this time of the year. Here are some of the best birds seen during the trip.

 Purple Sandpiper, only present during the winter. Three flocks seen, the biggest flock counted 21 individuals.

 Purple Sandpiper

 White-tailed Eagle, third year (3K)

 Golden Eagle, second year (2K) This i a young bird. The species is only present during the winter, but also then seldom seen in the area.

 Little Auk

Yes, it is winter

This Eurasian Woodcock planed to stay for the winter. It might regrets, but now its too late. Its impossible to escape from the snow. I observed the bird at Toftenes some days ago.

Late Ruff

Ruff is not a common shorebird in Mandal. In May Claus and Thomas had two observations at Ryvingen. I have to say that  I was quite surprised when one Ruff landed just in front of me at Sjøsanden 25 September.

Caspian Gull

Caspian Gulls are observed several times in Mandal, and here are some photos of the last Caspian Gull seen in Mandal 25. October 2011. The bird stayed in Mandalselva several days. This is a second year bird (2cy)

The white head is diagnostic as well as the white tail visible at the second photo. The wing pattern is also important to distinguish Caspian from Yellow-legged Gull.

Uncommon Gull plumage

Yellow-legged Gull and Caspian Gull are two seldom seen Gulls in Norway. The first six observations of this species are all from Mandal, and Mandal still produce more observations of Yellow-legged Gull than any other place in Norway. There are also several observations of Caspian Gull from Mandal. Inge Flesjå is our local expert on these Gulls. THe bird on this photo was first believed to be Yellow-legged Gull, but in fact it is Lesser Black-backed Gull.

                                                         The same size as European Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. The bird stands out among the other 1K birds. 

 The whitish breast and head are among the field marks seen at this bird that made us first believe that this was Yellow-legged Gull.

Loons - Smålom & Storlom

Loons are right now on the move. Right now Red-throated and Black-throated Loons are the most common species.

Red-throated Loon (Smålom), winter plumage, from Sånumsstranda, Mandal 09 December 2011. The bird was photographed in rain. Note the slender bill.

Black-throated Loon (Storlom), adult and 2K, Nordhasselstranda, Farsund 16 June 2012. The adult bird shoves white at the back, dark throat and a straight bill. 

Raptors

Here are some common and hard to see raptors from Mandal photographed the last years.

                                           White-tailed Eagle (Havørn) seen from my house (Frøysland) 01 November 2010.

                                            Common Kestrel (Tårnfalk), Jåbekk, 14 September 2011

                                              Common Buzzard (Musvåk), Sånum, 14 April 2012

                                             Western Marsh Harrier (Sivhauk), Skjernøya, 20 May 2012

                                                 Black Kite (Svartglente) seen from my house (Frøysland), 01 June 2012

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