Picoides tridactilus

Sci: Picoides tridactilus,  No: Tretåspett,  Eng: Three-toed Woodpecker, It: Picchio tridattilo

Dear All,
The name of this bird is obvious! It is a woodpecker and it has three toes. However, it is easier to recognise the (male) bird by the yellow spot on the head than by counting toes! Since it has only one back toe, it uses the strong tail to support itself on the tree as seen in second photo.

The three-toed woodpecker is a siberian taiga bird, distributed over most of the taiga belt of Russia and into Fennoscandia. In Norway it is hardly ever seen west of the continental divide, so for us "Bergensere", it is exciting. This one was outside our cabin at Ustaoset sitting on our hammock-tree on November 3, 2013. It was spotted by Aurora!

There are many dead trees near our cabin. We have been doing some work to remove these old trees. The visit of this woodpecker shows that we should not do this job too well. It needs old dead trees to survive, and is threatened by modern forestry management practices where all the old trees are removed.

Best regards,
Hans

 

Poecile montanus

Sci: Poecile montanus,  No: Granmeis,  Eng: Willow tit, It: Cincia bigia alpestre

Dear All,

I hope that the Bird of Month October inspires you to start feeding the small birds in the autumn and winter. The 'Granmeis' (Willow Tit) is frequently visiting our feeding place at Ustaoset (1000 m altitude) both in autumn, winter and spring. All but the last picture are from October 13, 2013. The last one from March 28, 2013 shows how the bird 'puffs up' to protect itself against the biting cold winter in the mountains.

Best,

Hans

Pluvialis squatarola

Sci: Pluvialis squararola,  No: Tundralo,  Eng: Grey plover,  It: Pivieressa

Dear All,
The "Tundralo" (Grey plover) nests on the tundra and migrate south in the autumn.
This one was seen on Herdla near Bergen on September 16. It was the only of its kind, but seemed to be in happy company with the "Heilo" (Golden plover).

You hear from me next month!

-Hans

 Grey plover and Golden plover

Phylloscopus trochilus

Sci: Phylloscopus trochilus, No: Løvsanger, Eng: Willow warbler, It: Lui grosso

Dear All,

A very common bird this month, probably the most common of all birds in Norway,

there are 5-10 million of them. 

Photo taken at Ustaoset, August 1, with my (vintage) Canon FD 500mm handheld,

just after we had been swimming in Lake Biskola with the Buchanan family.

Towards the end of the month, much more excitingly, Antonella spotted a MYRHAUK (Hen Harrier) in a tree 20 meters from our cabin, but that one didn't want to sit still for a photo. 

-Hans