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.

Klåstadkilen, Larvik

Klåstadkilen is an important stopover for many migrating shorebirds and ducks. You can find the area along the road 303 from Larvik to Sandefjord. The tide makes it possible for the shorebirds to find food here. Some birds also breed here like the Common Shelduck and Common Redshank.

Here are some photos from the area:

Broad-billed Sandpiper during migration 23. May 2010. This rare bird is seen almost each year in the area. 

Temminck's Stints during migration 26. May 2012 at 21:38 PM. They were photographed with a handheld Nikon D90 with Nikkor 300 mm. I had to adjust the shutter speed from 1/100 to 1/250. Aperture 4 and ISO 320. 

Short-eared Owl (May 2012 at 21:58 PM) hunting after dusk. I did not use tripod but managed to take some acceptable photos of the bird while it was "scanning" the area for food. I adjusted the shutter speed from 1/100 to 1/250. 

Dunlin at Kviljoodden - Myrsnipe

Kviljoodden is one of the best places to observe shorebirds in Vest-Agder. The list of birds seen contains several rare species. Yesterday I only observed more common species, and among them two Dunlins (myrsniper) in their summer plumage.

Dunlins from Kviljoodden.

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.