Hardangervidda 09-10 June 2023 - A brief stop in the hills

Heading east I had to stop for a meeting and what better place than Halne on the Hardangervidda:)

After work I had a couple of short walks in the area, still some snow around and the lake was mostly covered in ice. Best bird in a Hardangervidda context was a Black-throated Diver storlom which fed briefly on an ice free area. Otherwise it was more or less situation normal, or perhaps the "new normal" as I did not see any Lapland Bunting lappsourv.

Singing Bluethroat blåstrupe and Shorelark fjelllerke, displaying Rock Ptarmigan fjellrype and a selection of the usual waders were among the sightings here.

Bluethroat blåstrupe, Halne

One of many Fieldfare gråtrost nests in the area

Fieldfare gråtrost

Dunlin myrsnipe at Dyranut

Ringed Plover sandlo at Dyranut

Rock Ptarmigan fjellrype, Hardangervidda

Shorelark fjelllerke

Hardangarvidda 07 August 2019 - Late season vidda

Constantly changing conditions from overcast with rain to sunny - as can so often be the case in the mountains

Although this was not intended as a birding trip as such, a few stops were made in the usual kinds of places and at least some of the target species were found to still be present including five Temminck's Stints temminksnipe and small numbers of Shorelark fjellerke. Bluethroats blåstrupe were still widespread and a reasonable selection of other waders were seen including a Green Sandpiper skogsnipe. Lapland Bunting lappspurv was heard only at one location.

The commonest species were Meadow Pipit heipiplerke, Fieldfare gråtrost, Yellow Wagtail gulerle, White Wagtail linerle, Wheatear steinskvett, Willow Warbler løvsanger, Common Gull fiskemåke and Golden Plover heilo. Other species were Kestrel tårnfalk, Reed Bunting sivspurv, Raven ravn, Common Sandpiper strandsnipe, Ringed Plover sandlo, Cormorant storskarv, Herring Gull gråmåke, Redwing rødvingetrost, Redshank rødstilk and Tufted Duck toppand.

Some young Bluethroats blåstrupe were particularly cooperative!

 Young Bluethroats blåstrupe

A more typical view of Bluethroat blåstrupe

An adult female

One of this year's Dunlin myrsnipe

Various views of the Hardanger glacier

Young Ringed Plover sandlo

Young Shorelark fjellerke

Yellow wagtail gulerle

Hardangervidda 20 June 2009

Willow Warbler løvsanger - pushing the definition of tree limit....

Late evening Bluethroat blåstrupe

Early morning Bluethroat blåstrupe


Short-eared Owl jordugle
Lots of frogs and even a toad seen

A rare birding trip away from Øygarden and up into the mountains was most productive. At least as much a family outing as a birding trip a couple of nights camping produced some quality species including a pair of Hen Harrier myrhauk, a Short-eared Owl jordugle, LOADS of Bluethroat blåstrupe, Dotterel boltit, Lapland Bunting lappspurv and plenty more besides....