Broad-billed Sandpiper at Bliksekilen, Vestfold & Telemark, Norway on 25th May 2020

A Broad-billed Sandpiper / Fjellmyrløper Calidris falcinellus had been present at Bliksekilen, Tønsberg for several days although I failed to see the bird on a first attempt earlier so tried again during the late afternoon of 25th May. The bird was seen immediately on arrival at 17:45 feeding on the tidal mud together with several Ringed Plovers. During my visit the bird was actively feeding but also had several short rests and almost fell asleep. When it awoke again it preened, wing stretched and the birds characteristic trill was heard twice. I left at 19:00 with the hope that the bird would remain one more day for further photography but because of the activity noted above, it was no real surprise that the bird departed during the night.

  

Club-tailed Dragonfly and other dragonflies & butterflies in Vestfold & Telemark, Norway during late May 2020

As the warm spring progresses and most migrant birds have arrived here in Vestfold, interests start to focus on this years first butterflies and dragonflies. Provisionaly this year the number of these seem to be rather low, possibly due to the cold wet start to May, but neither the less some interesting species have been reported locally and several local sorties produced one new lifer.

On a visit to Trollsvannet on 25th May several Camberwell Beauty's were seen but unfortunately these avoided the camera. During spring, these are rather scruffy individuals that have over wintered and have characteristic creamish coloured wing fringes. The first Peal-bordered Fritillary's, Dingy Skipper's and a Grizzled Skipper were also noted and photographed.

On 30th May after a tip-off, a visit to Hoff was made and we were rewarded with two Club-tailed Dragonfly's / Klubbelvlibelle Gomphus vulatissimus or Common Clubtail which is the species new English name. This species is rather scarse in Norway and is red listed as 'near threateded'. We were pleasently supprised to find that we had photographed both male and female of this sepcies as well as a commener Four-spot Chaser and Downy Emerald.

Club-tailed Dragonfly, young male - Hoff, Vestfold 30th May 2020

Club-tailed Dragonfly, young male - Hoff, Vestfold 30th May 2020

Club-tailed Dragonfly, young female - Hoff, Vestfold 30th May 2020

Four-spot Chaser, young female - Hoff, Vestfold 30th May 2020

Downy Emerald - Hoff, Vestfold 30th May 2020

Grizzled Skipper - Trollsvannet, Vestfold 25th May 2020 

Peal-borderd Fritillary top side - Trollsvannet, Vestfold 25th May 2020

Pearl-bordered Fritillary, underside - Trollsvannet, Vestfold 25th May 2020

Large Red Damsellfly immature - Trollsvannet, Vestfold 25th May 2020

   

Wood Warbler and Common Rosefinch in Horten, Vestfold & Telemark, Norway during April & May 2020

Two species that are sort after by birders and bird photographers every year are Wood Warbler and Common Rosefinch. Both species are not common locally but are easily found in suitable habitat and more than often than not by their characteristic songs.

Wood Warbler / Bøksanger phylloscopus sibilartix
The usual breeding areas for Wood Warbler were checked from 29th April and several visits during May. Experience has shown that the first Wood Warblers often start to sing on the edges of breeding territories while leaves are not completely developed. However, several established pairs in my area move deeper into the woodland later in May and then only can any serious estimate number of pairs be made. On 20th May in my small project area there were 3 singing males of which at least 2 were paired and another calling bird located. So, a total of 6 birds present this year. Bird photographers often use playback to attract birds closer but this does not work well for this species and often results in singing males becoming stressed and moving around and often higher in the branches. Patiently waiting for singing birds to use their favourite singing perch will give far better photographic images.
The images below were taken without the use of playback.

Wood Warbler male - Horten, Norway 20th May 2020

Wood Warbler male - Horten, Norway 20th May 2020

Wood Warbler male - Horten, Norway 20th May 2020

Common Rosefinch / Rosenfink Carpodacus erythrinus
Locally the first singing male arrived on 16th May and by the 19th singing birds were recorded singing at three different localities at least. As with Wood Warbler, the use of playback will often result in birds moving around and even may be chased out of territory by a recording and not a real competitor. One well known locality normally has up to three singing males that compete for an unknown number of females and unnecessary competition from false-males may well ruin breeding success.
The images below were taken without the use of playback.

Common Rosefinch male - Horten, Norway 19th May 2020

Common Rosefinch male - Horten, Norway 19th May 2020

Common Rosefinch male - Horten, Norway 19th May 2020

Snekkestaddammen, Holmestrand, Vestfold & Telemark on 18th May 2020

A visit to Snekkestaddammen (lake) near Holmestrand on 18th May to see if the Ferruginous Duck could still be present proved negative but worth the visit anyway to check on the breeding Eurasian Moorhen's. There was plenty of activity on and around the lake in addition to two moorhens  and included several Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula  and a feeding Grey Heron Ardea cinerea . Herons often prey on the moorhen hatchlings here, however it was presumably too early for these yet, but several Mallard pulli and goldeneye pulli were already swimming on the lake, closely guarded followed by their respective mothers. One female Common Goldeneye was continuously chased by an adult male while its four pulli scuttled away to hide in the vegetation, which was almost an invitation to the watchful Grey Heron. Another female Common Goldeneye was not attacked and presumably was paired to the aggressive male, although no indication that this bird had young was observed. There is often something interesting to see and photograph at this picturesque lake.   

Common Goldeneye adult male chasing away another female - Snekkestaddammen, 18th May 2020

Common Goldeneye adult male chasing away another female - Snekkestaddamen, 18th May 2020

Common Goldeneye adult male chasing away another female, while another female looks on - Snekkestaddammen, 18th May 2020

Eurasian Moorhen adult - Snekkestaddammen, 18th May 2020

Grey Heron adult - Snekkestaddammen, 18th May 2020

Grey Heron adult - Snekkestaddammen, 18th May 2020

White Wagtail adult - Snekkestaddammen, 18th May 2020

      

Ferruginous Duck adult male at Holmestrand, Vestfold & Telemark, Norway on 11th May 2020

The extremely popular Ferruginous Duck / Hvitøyeand Aythya nyroca, which was present on the 6th May, proved to be as popular on the 7th with many visiting birder's getting the chance to add a new Norwegian species or even a lifer to their lists. Dissapointingly, the duck was not seen at all on the 8th at Snekkestaddammen although extensively looked for. Amazingly, another adult male Ferruginous Duck (or could it have been the same), was found on a small pond at Sandefjord (ca. 36 km to the south) on the 8th. This duck was only seen by a handful of selected observers but otherwise suppressed. No Ferruginous Duck was reported seen on 9th May, but on the 10th May a local birder again found the Holmestrand duck at the original locality Snekkestaddammen. The chances of the same duck moving between both localities would seem rather unusual and the possibility that there have been two individuals rather surprising, considering there are only eleven earlier accepted records of this species. An early morning visit to Snekkestaddammen on 11th May found the Ferruginous Duck following a male Mallard which suddenly swan out of the vegetation in front of where I was standing, and a series of images taken. The duck then swam into the vegetation again and disappeared but reappeared thirty minutes later partially hidden in the duck's favorite area. Considering these observations, it will be interesting to see if the Norwegian rare birds committee (NSKF) consider one or two ducks have been involved. 

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 11th May 2020

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 11th May 2020

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 11th May 2020

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 11th May 2020

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 11th May 2020

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 11th May 2020

Ferruginous Duck adult male at Holmestrand, Vestfold & Telemark, Norway on 6th May 2020

On 6th May 2020 I had an hour or so to kill and decided to check out our local breeding Eurasian Moorhen's that yearly breed at Snekkestaddammen (Lake), near Holmestrand. Arriving at 11:15 two Moorhen's were soon located and all other present species noted including three Common Goldeneye, eight Greylag Geese and a few Barn Swallows and House Martins. The first Mallard eggs had hatched and two families of seven and five pullus scuttled over the lake to avoid the birder standing close to the water's edge. While photographing a Moorhen on the western side of the lake a brown duck lying low in the centre of the lake caught the eye. On finding the duck in the camera viewfinder the duck it was chased into flight by one of the male Goldeneye's and a series of action images were taken of both birds in flight. Looking through the viewfinder it was immediately realised that this was no common Norwegian duck species but an adult male Ferruginous Duck / Hvitøyeand Aythya nyroca. A quick telephone call to a birding pal and we were soon two happy bird photographers. The news was soon reported on our rare bird alert and soon afterwards many birders started to arrive. In two days the bird was present well over a hundred birders have been to see this rare bird which will certainly be one of this years big crown pullers (by Norwegian birding terms) that is.
If this observation is accepted by the rare birds committee this will be the 12th accepted record for Norway. The last observation in the old county of Vestfold was an adult female on 28th April 1996.

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 6th May 2020

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 6th May 2020

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 6th May 2020

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 6th May 2020

Ferruginous Duck, adult male chased by Common Goldenye, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 6th May 2020

Ferriginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 6th May 2020