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.

Rare birds alert

Several rare shorebirds have visited Norway this autumn. I managed to see a couple of them. First we had a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Revetangen, Jaeren (02.08.12) . This one of the hotspots for shorebirds in Norway. One month later an American Golden Plover was observed at Lista. In october one of the other hotspots at Jaeren produced two Semipalmated Sandpipers. The birds were photographed at Nerland 22. October during cloudy and rainy weather.

Mandarin Duck

My second observation of Mandarin this year. Tee bird was discovered at Vigeland 12 of October, and  it stayed only two days.

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.