Fringilla teydea

Sci: Fringilla teydea, No: Blåfink, Eng: Blue chaffinch, It: Fringuello azzurro

Dear All,

The first bird from Tenerife is the Blue chaffinch (Blåfink). As the name indicates (fringilla is name of a family of finches including chaffinch, teydea = Teide volcano Tenerife), this is a particular bird endemic to Tenerife and Gran Canaria. I met these just below Teide. 

It was charming to see the male feed the female. I dedicate these birds to Antonella, on the occasion of our 17. anniversary, July 31. 

Best,

Hans

Pictures from Mt. Teide, July 31, 2014.

Cuculus canorus

No: Gjøk, Eng: Cuckoo, It: Cuculo

Dear All,

The cuckoo is an important sign of spring/ summer. Traditionally, children in Norway are not allowed to walk barefoot before they have heard the cockoo.
They never see it, since it is rather shy. I met this in the mountain above our cabin at Ustaoset, June 1. It was hiding well among the mountain rock.
In the film-snippet below you can see it fly, a bit similar to a falcon.

Best regards,

Hans

Gavia stellata

Sci: Gavia stellata, No: Smålom, Eng: Red-throated diver, It: Strolaga minore

Dear All,

The May posting is a follow-up on April. I'm very fascinated by the arctic birds staying on the coasts in the winter and migrating to arctic inland habitats in the summer. I have followed the Red-throated diver on all its journey from the Scottish isles to the Norwegian mountains this spring, first in the Inner Hebridies in the easter, then during migration outside Skogsøy, Hordaland May 1, and finally in summer plumage at Lake Biskola, near Ustaoset in the Norwegian mountains now on May 31.

Best regards,
Hans

Summer plumage, Lake Biskola, Ustaoset May 31

Winter plumage, Inner Hebridies, Scotland, Easter.

Migration outside Skogsøy, Hordaland, Norway, May 1.

Everything below: Lake Biskola, Ustaoset, Norway, May 31.

Gavia immer

Sci: Gavia immer, No: Islom, Eng: Great northern diver, It: Strolaga maggiore

Dear All,

We are just back from a wonderful easter-week at the Buchanan estate, Loch Morar, Scotland. Thanks! The Great northern diver is an exciting bird, which stays at the coast of Scotland in the winter and migrates to Iceland to breed in the summer. It was nice to see that there were both birds in winter plumage (white and grey head) and summer plumage (black head). I found it very exciting when a beautiful bird in summer suit dived down to find a Plaice (Rødspette) for breakfast. Normally they are quite far out, but this was close to the shore.

Best regards,

Hans