Cinclus cinclus

Bird of Month March 2013

Sci: Cinclus cinclus, Eng: Dipper, No: Fossekall, It: Merlo acquaiolo, Fr: Cincle plongeur

Dear All,
Many probably recognise the Dipper, which is the Norwegian National Bird!
This one lives in a small river in Fana near Bergen (the commune where both Edvard Grieg and the fiddler Ole Bull lived).

Best regards,
Hans

Cygnus Cygnus

Bird of Month February 2013

Sci: Cygnus Cygnus,  Eng: Whooper Swan,  No: Sangsvane, It: Cigno selvatico, Fr: Cygne chanteur

Dear All,
Bird of the month is a typical bird to be seen in the winter in our area.

Note the difference between this "Singing Swan" and the Mute Swan (Knoppsvane), often seen in parks. The other bird has a 'bump' on the beak, and does not sing. This difference is accentuated somehow differently in  different languages. 

(Knoppsvane / Sangsvane, MuteSwan/ .., Cygne tubercule/ Cygne chanteur).

The birds in the photo were seen in a lake near Bergen. There were about 50 swans in the lake,
beautiful view!

Best regards,
Hans

Anas acuta

Bird of month January 2013

Sci: Anas acuta, Eng: Pintail, No: Stjertand, It: Codone

Dear All,

January is usually a quiet month, but not for me.  

I had nearly 40 new species in my collection during this month.

Of course most of these in New Zealand. 

Still, I decide to pick one of the two new birds I got in Norway this month.

Here is no doubt about the name, all these names indicate that this beautiful duck has a very long and pointed tail. This is not a common bird in Hordaland, but this male has been seen in a lake in Bergen throughout the winter, so it is well documented. 

NOTE: Aurora helped me with these photos!

Best regards, and best wishes for February to all of you. 

Spring is coming, birds are already singing in our garden!

-Hans

Lymnocryptes minimus & Rallus aquaticus

Bird of month January 2013

Sci: Rallus Aquaticus, No: Vannrikse, It: Porciglione, Eng: Water rail
                                        &
Sci: Lymnocryptes minimus, No: Kvartbekkasin, It: Frullino, Eng: Jack snipe

Dear All,

Merry Christmas!

I take the chance that these are the best photos of the month.  Harald helped me getting these, so these are joint photos of both of us.The first photo is not of high quality, but it is remarkable since it has both a Water Rail and a Jack Snipe in the same photo!

The Water Rail (Vannrikse) is in average reported sighted about 10 times annually in Bergen, while the Jack Snipe (Kvartbekkasin) is only seen about 1-2 times every year in Bergen. This was the second sighting in 2012. So Harald and I were really smiling in the sunny day of December 22. And the place we saw these was only 2-300 meters from our houses! The Jack Snipe has been reported seen only once before so close to the city centre of Bergen (in 2005).

Jack Snipe on the right, Water Rail on the left with the head down in the creek: