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

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