Hazel Grouse

Recently, I have been out photographing a male Hazel Grouse Terastes bonasia (N=jerpe). The forest where it has been seen is fairly young mixed woodland, where it has been observed feeding on birch seeds. Hazel Grouse are quite small and not always easy to spot, but the distinctive whirring of their short wings as they fly often helps to locate them. This particular male has also given away his presence by his fine, and barely audible, whistling call. Today it seemsed to follow me around the forest, and I was able to watch down to about 2,5 metres.

Below are a few photographs, and I have also posted a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsAB9Gzup-E

In recent months.....

 ... I have taken lots of photos since the last update. I know it has been a while, but I have not had a chance to update this blog. But this morning it is chucking it down with rain outside, and it is not very tempting to venture outside (although I probably will). I have at least selected a few images to upload here, these are some of my favourite shots of late.

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis (N=hvitkinngås), Herøy, Nordland May 2021

Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus (N=horndykker) - adult (with young behind), June 2021

...and a portrait of the young grebe.

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (N=tårnfalk), Malvik August 2021.

Newly fledged Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus (N=fjellvåk) , Trysil July 2021.

...and a close up shot. There were 3 young, all fledged successfully.

Dunlin Calidris alpina (N=myrsnipe), Midtsandan, Malvik August 2021

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica (N=svarthalespove), Tenna, Herøy May 2021.

European Beaver Castor fiber (N=bever), Malvik June 2021

Whoopers, Taiga Bean and Tundra Beans

At Skatval, on the opposite side of the Stjørdalfjord from where we live, there are often som wintering Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus (N=sangsvane). Numbers have fluctuated and they move around so much that counting is tricky, but at most there have been about 100 birds there. They are feeding on cereal stubbles. 

Also of interest there is one Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis fabalis (N=taigasædgås), which was ringed at Slamannan in central Scotland in 2014. This bird turned up alone, having become separated from its partner, whose fate is unknown. Normally birds from Slamannan fly to Denmark, then to Akershus in SE Norway before arriving at the breeding grounds in southern Sweden. The bird at Skatval is certainly off course, and at the time of writing (15th March) has been wandering around the Trondheimsfjord.  

There are three Tundra Bean Geese Anser serrirostris rossicus (N=tundrasædgås) with the Whooper Swans at Skatval. At times the Taiga Bean has also joined them, but seems "happier"(?) in the company of swans. 

Whooper Swans

Taiga Bean Goose with grey neck collar 7V at Skatval 12.03.2021 in glorious sunshine (and heat-haze)

Same bird on snow-covered stubble field at Skatval 07.03.2021

Tundra Bean Geese, Skatval 15.03.2021. Can you see the difference between these and the Taiga Bean?

Seaducks January and February 2021

 A few seaduck photos taken in recent weeks:

Above (four photos): Common Eider Somateria mollissima (N=ærfugl)

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra (N=svartand), 2nd calendar year male

Long-tailed Duck Hyemalis clangula (N=havelle) - male top 2, female lower 2

800 mm

 A couple of months ago I bought a new camera lens for my mirrorless camera. The lens is a Canon RF 800mm f11, the camera a Canon RP. I have used the RP with various other lenses using an adapter, the 800mm is my first lens designed specifically for the new Canon R series of mirrorless cameras. I didn't really know what to expect from this lens, but the results did pleasantly surprise me. This is not a review for this camera, lens or combination of these. But I think the pictures below speak for themselves. All are taken with the RF 800mm f11 on the RP body.

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus (N=sangsvane)

Greylag Goose Anser anser (N=grågås)

Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus (N=kortnebbgås)

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope (N=brunnakke)

Common Teal Anas crecca (N=krikkand)

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (N=storskarv)

Common Ringed Plover (juveniles) Charadrius hiaticula (N=sandlo)

Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus (N=sidensvans)

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris (N=stær)

Summer holiday birds

July was holiday time, with a couple of weeks exploring the west coast of Norway. Covered a lot of ground, visited a few touristy places, but also found time to sneak in a bit of birding. A few avian highlights below (or at least some of the better bird photos I took).

Juvenile Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (N=stokkand) having a good stretch in the sunshine. Øygarden, 20th July 2020.

Part of the Northern Gannet Morus bassanus (N=havsule) colony at Runde, 24th July 2020.

Several pairs of Great Skuas Catharacta skua (N=storjo) breed on Runde. In fact over 90 % of the Norwegian breeding population is found at this one site. Runde, 23rd and 24th July 2020.

Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica (N=lunde). As is the case elsewhere, this species is declining as a breeding species in Norway. Runde, 23rd July 2020.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis (N=heipiplerke), Ervik, Stad 22nd July 2020

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica (N=blåstrupe), Geiranger 16th July 2020

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (N=sivsanger), Ervika, Stad 22nd July 2020

May and June 2020

May and June were busy months with fieldwork. Took an awful lot of photos, and some of my favourites are shown below.

Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis (N=hvitkinngås) in a light snow shower. Herøy, May 2020.

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra (N=svartand) in an upland tarn. Tydal, June 2020.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammea (N=jordugle). Tenna, Herøy May 2020.

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix (N=bøksanger) singing at Karlslyst, Hommelvik, May 2020.

Roe Deer male Capreolus capreolus (N=rådyr), Sør-Herøy May 2020.