On 19th November I spent a couple of hours on Gressholmen. The initial feeling was that it was way too quiet and there was little to see. But a Little Auk alkekonge turned up along with most of the usual seaduck, a Red-throated Diver smålom and the usual suspects on the sea.
Little Auk alkekonge
Treecreeper trekryper - something I see less of than Little Auk alkekonge in my normal birding back in Øygarden
Passerines were a bit thin on the ground but good numbers of Blackbird svarttrost and a Treecreeper trekryper that gave cracking views were among the species seen here.
On 20th November we headed west of Oslo for an impromptu few days away. A short stop at Ilene, near Tønsberg gave a male Smew lappfiskand as the best bird, even though it was distant and against the light. A Red-throated Diver smålom and a nice variety of wildfowl were among the other sightings here. Both the Smew and the diver were new species for this locality for 2025 - never too late to stop trying:)
Next stop was Presterødkilen where there were good numbers of dabbling ducks, including a Teal krikkand, Goosanders laksand and plenty of other wildfowl.
The next day we visited Verdens Ende (the end of the world) which was just spectacular. Insane geology there! Out on the sea were good numbers of Eiders ærfugl (600++), several Little Auk alkeonge, and a variety of other seaduck. A flock of Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt fed among resting seals on an offshore island.
Next up was a walk at Moutmarka where the best birds were a Great Northern Diver islom on the sea, another Little Auk alkekonge and small numbers of pipits, including a couple of Meadow Pipit heipiplerke. A Treecreeper trekryper here was a new species for this locality in 2025 - another reason to not stop trying:)
Great Northern Diver islom
A couple of Meadow Pipit heipiplerke
A trip to one of Norway's best birding destinations, Mølen, on 22nd November was quite productive with Slavonian Grebe horndykker, Little Auk alkekonge, Red-throated Diver smålom and good numbers of Velvet Scoter sjøorre giving great views. The vegetation along the coast gave Goldcrests fuglekonge, Crested Tit toppmeis and other species. It is obvious why this place works during the migration seasons!
Nevlunghstrand held well over 20 Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, a couple of Meadow Pipit heipiplerke and more.
Back in Oslo on 23rd I took things easy and spent an hour or so in the Botanic Gardens. Best birds here were a Nutcracker nøttekråke, a female Blackcap munk, Hawfinch kjernebiter and Goldcrests fuglekonge. Over 60 Fieldfare gråtrost fed on the ample supply of berries together with Blackbirds svarttrost and other species.
Just wonder what it would be like if the vast variety of bushes and trees in these gardens were moved to an offshore island on the west coast.....
Nutcracker nøttekråke in the Botanical Gardens, Oslo
I finally made it to Svalbard! Truly a dream come true to finally visit the place of my boyhood dreams:)
It was probably a week too early and temperatures never got above 2C - but didn't get much below -2 either. But the ground was thawing out and there were plenty of birds, even though the species list was not that big and I didn't see the much hoped for Ivory Gull ismåke. The last one I saw was in Seahouses harbour back in the '80s:)
I only took my point and pray camera, the real one stayed at home. I only regretted this once (see below).
Day one was arriving, picking up a hire car and settling in. A drive up Adventsdalen gave most of the expected species with Teal krikkand, Dunlin myrsnipe, Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt, Ringed Plover sandlo, King Eider praktærfugl, several Glaucous Gulls polarmåke, Pinkfeet kortnebbgås, Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås, Svalbar Ptarmigan svalbardrype, Snow Buntings snøspurv and Brunniche's Guillemot polarlomvi among the species noted.
Of mammals seen Beluga had to be the highlight - with a pod of them seen from coastal cliffs not far from the airport:)
Male Snow Bunting snøspurv close to the town centre
This bird has been seen on Svalbard every spring since 2018:)
The following morning we awoke to clouds of Little Auk alkekonge visiting their breeding cliffs opposite our hotel. The sound was as impressive as the views. This is one of the sights I came to see:)
We did some drive-bys in Adventdalen before catching a boat trip to Tempelfjord in the afternoon.
The area around Adventdalen again produced a lot of birds with Pintail stjertand, King Eiders praktærfugl, good numbers of geese, Red-throated Diver smålom and so on. A female Gadwall snadderand joined a male Wigeon brunnakke at Hotelneset, just down from the airport. Good numbers of Black Guillemot teist all over.
Views along Adventfjorden
The picture that had to be taken....
Pale Bellied Brents ringgås (hrota) near the harbour
Glaucous Gull polarmåke
Swarms of Little Auks alkekonge over the valley from "downtown" Longyearbyen
The strange looking Svalbard reindeer
Red-throated Diver smålom
Tempelfjord produced 100's of Brunnich's Guillemot polarlomvi, lots of Fulmar havhest (mostly dark phase), Puffins lunde, Little Auks alkekonge and more.
Black Guillemot teist passing over a surfacing Brunnich's Guillemot polarlomvi
Brunnich's Guillemot polarlomvi
Spectacular scenery!
The majority of the Fulmars havhest were dark phase birds
Glaucous Gulls polarmåke sharing a Brunnich's Guillemot polarlomvi (presumably caught at the edge of the ice)
Little Auks alkekonge
Puffins lunde with Brunnich's Guillemot polarlomvi
This Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt was ringed in 2011 on Svalbard in it's first year of life! The history of sightings shows only re-sightings from Svalbard (and not every year) - would be great to know where it spends the winters!
The following day all I did was what was by now the usual routine, covering the roads along Adventdalen and popping in on Hotellneset. Snow showers for much of the day:)
Pale-bellied Brents ringgås
Wonderful to see these birds on Svalbard - a species I grew up with as a winter visitor in NE England and regularly watch passing SW Norway on their way north:)
Glaucous Gull polarmåke eating a male Eider ærfugl.
I don't know if the gull killed the duck or if it was roadkill. Either way, Glaucous Gulls eating birds was a theme for the trip.
Male King Eider praktærfugl
Kittiwakes krykkje
Not too many sunbeds on the beach....
On 23rd May we did another boat trip, this time in glorious weather to Borebukta. Once again plenty of birds, stunning scenery, Ringed Seals both on the ice and in the water AND A POLAR BEAR!
Arctic Skua tyvjo
Black Guillemots teist
Brunnich's Guillemot polarlomvi
Polar Bear isbjørn
Walrus
Watching Polar Bears is thirsty work:)
Back onshore the "usual round" produced plenty of birds too:) Svalbard Ptarmigan svalbardrype was again present outside the hotel along with Snow Buntings snøspurv and the usual geese.
Female Gadwall snadderand
Male Long-tailed Duck havelle
Pintail stjertand
Red-throated Diver smålom
On 24th May another boat trip, this time on a larger catarmaran took us to "pyramiden". Plenty to see on this trip too, with another Polar Bear (this time with a kill), Bearded Seal storkobbe, Ringed Seal, Belugas hvithval, Arctic Skua tyvjo, and much more. Highlight was a 2cy ROSS'S GULL rosenmåke heading north up Isfjord with Kittiwakes krykkje on the way back to Longyearbyen. A Great Skua storjo was a new species for the trip:)
Bearded Seal storkobbe
Beluga hvithval
Polar Bear isbjørn with lunch
Puffins lunde
Pyramiden
Not more f***ing tourists.....:)
Visiting the usual spots onshore gave Red-necked Phalarope svømmesnipe and the usual suspects.
Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås
King Eider praktærfugl pair
Long-tailed Ducks havelle
The rather strange looking Svalbard Reindeer...
Red-necked Phalarope svømmesnipe
Tufted Duck toppand
On the penultimate day I didn't take any photos, it was more of the brilliant same with good numbers of King Eider praktærfugl, Red-necked Phalarope svømmesnipe and plenty more. The only new bird for the trip was a lone Herring Gull gråmåke.
The last day saw me go for some last ditch attempts to find the gull I wanted to see. I failed on this but did pick up a lovely pair of Grey Phalarope polarsvømmesnipe on the sea:) A Lesser Black-backed Gull sildemåke was the last new species for the trip too.
Some leucistic Barnacles hvitkinngås about - always cause the pulse to increase when I see these things migrating north during the spring
Female Eider ærfugl
Grey Phalarope svømmesnipe
One of the last additions to the week's bird list on Svalbard - Grey Phalarope polarsvømmesnipe. Red Phalarope is a better name when it is in breeding plumage - this was the first time I've seen this species in "summer".
Worth the visit if only for this magical experience. Lying on the stony beach while this pair fed just off the shore was a dream come true!
Although I have much better pictures of King Eider pratærfugl than these it was more about the experience of seeing them on Svalbard in the bitingly cold wind.
Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt
Red-necked Phalarope svømmesnipe
Stunning Red-throated Divers smålom on a small roadside pool
"Garden" birds on Svalbard are not quite the same as normal places:)
A pair of Snow Buntings snøspurv were not wasting time getting the breeding season going, seeming to ingore the fact the temperature was only just above freezing....
Collecting nesting material despite the temperatures....
Nothing like a nice Svalbard Ptarmigan feather to line your nest with:)
