Birds And Birding In Norway

It was good to be back home in Voss and spend some time birding around old haunts.  It soon became evident that there were a few birds of prey about, especially Peregrine Falcon. A group of five near Lake Vangs on the 10/8 was very interesting. It looked like a family group with two parents and three young. They were playing havoc with a flock of Herring Gull and some Great Black-backed Gulls that roost near the lake. In addition to these birds I have had two birds flying over my house on two days, and a single bird at Myrkdalsdelta on the 15/9.I should think that they are all the same birds, but none the less, it is good having so many about.  Other than that I have had single White-tailed Eagle on the  Hardangerfjord, Northern Goshawk and Eurasian Sparrowhawk at woodland localities while mountain localities have produced Rough-legged Buzzard and Golden Eagle. The last bird of prey to add to the week’s list was a Merlin. (above photo)

Waders too have been passing through with birds moving down from their mountain breeding grounds. Ringed Plover were one of the first to appear, closely followed by a Temminck’s Stint and a Dunlin at a place called Gjernesmoen. This locality also produced no less than 14 Common Snipe on the 13/9. Greenshank have been recorded at two localities while Common Sandpiper seem to be following the main waterway system. One unexpected find was at Osafjord when a Black Guillemot (below photo)was recorded. Looking at the plumage it looks like a juv bird with its chocolate brown cap and markings on the wings. However this species is said not to breed in the fjord with the nearest known breeding sites on the coast. No matter where it came from it was a interesting observation.

Common Swift were still wheeling and screeching over Voss on the 11/9, but I don’t think they will be hanging around for much longer. Hirundinidae have been gathering in good numbers at different localities. At Lake Vang 40+ Barn Swallow could be seen feeding over the lake. House Martin however have notched the largest flock I have ever seen with over 160 birds at a place called Hegle. Other large concentrations of birds have included 80 White Wagtail on one of the fairways at the local golf course. One of the sure signs that Autumn is on its way are juv Bluethroats moving down from the surrounding mountains and being recorded at some of the local marshes. While the Bluethroats are on the move some of the commoner warblers are feeding on the wealth of berries that can be found at the moment. One bush produced 4 Blackcap, Garden Warbler and an unexpected Icterine. European Jay have not been too abundant this year but this week alone I have seen three. Nutcracker however seem to be everywhere with the best days count being 17 birds.