Tjeldstø 13 October 2012

Light easterly and sunny again.

The Buff-bellied Pipit myrpiplerke remains and was seen by at least two new birders today.

A short stroll in the reserve produced a flock of seven adult Whooper Swans sangsvane - the first of the autumn. Other birds included a Lapland Bunting lappspurv and a probable Great Snipe dobbeltbekkasin.

Also of interest was a Ring Ousel ringtrost that turned up in the garden.

Dipper fossekall - a migrant bird

Late news from yesterday included more new for the year in Øygarden - a Dipper fossekall I found at Hjelme Vest, a Bullfinch dompap at Sture and a Yellowhammer gulspurv at Tjeldstø. 

Tjeldstø 12 October 2012 - In the Buff on TV!

FANTASTIC weather conditions. Sunny with light easterlies.

Thousands of thrushes, mainly Redwing rødvingetrost flew south at dawn. The sky was full of flocks and the sounds of thrushes and Bramblings bjørkefink on the move. Small numbers of Woodpigeon ringdue also migrating and later in the day a flock of 80 Greylags grågås flew south.

Spent the morning trying to get some better pictures of the Buff-bellied Pipit myrpiplerke and showing a TV crew the bird. Anybody interested can see NRK this evening at 18:40. The program will also be shown on net tv (no link yet).

Unfortunately the bird stayed in the shadows feeding in long grass for the vast majority of the time. With patience it came very close indeed but was difficult to actually photograph. However, managed to obtain some good documentation shots - a selection shown below:

  b                                   

Tjeldstø 10 October 2012 - Buff-bellied confirmed!

Overcast with light rain.

Yesterday's BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT MYRPIPLERKE was still present. This is only the second record of the American race for Norway.

It was heard calling again a few times today - enough to clinch the ID for my part. It was much more flighty today in the company of a couple of White Wagtails linerle.

At the time of writing only two other birders have connected with it but there are a few more looking for it.

Plenty of other birds about today including a Little Grebe dvergdykker, a Goshawk hønsehauk and a flock of at least 15 Twite bergirisk.

A Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger was also reported from Tjeldstø (heard only).

Tjeldstø 09 October 2012 - Frustrating pipit

Calm with sunny intervals.

Only got out for a short stroll around the reserve. Decent sightings included a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett, a Goshawk hønsehauk and a couple of late White wagtails linerle.

Eight Wigeon brunnakke, a couple of Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and around 15 Tree Sparrow pilfink also about.

A rather frustrating pipit with a odd "jizz" warranted further inspection. It was relatively tame and bobbed its tail a lot giving a rather wagtail like feel to it. Plumage wise it was a mess with characters pointing all over the place...Initially I thought it could just be a freaky Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke but I'm glad I didn't give up on it.

Buff-bellied Pipit myrpiplerke

After consulting some books and after feedback from others this bird has been identified as an American Buff-bellied Pipit myrpiplerke. Not only the first for Øygarden, but also for Hordaland "county".