ANNOTATED BIRDLIST KVALØYA MONDAY 2 JUNE 2009
Herewith the annotated bird list from my trip to Kvaløya, as requested by
some people. As I wrote earlier, this was a very rainy day, and all these
birds were seen from the car or in my own garden.
Black-throated Loon Gavia arctica One pair
in the Kvalsund. these birds have nested fior years in a small lake, where
there now were tw pairs of the next species
Red-throated Loon G. stellata Two
pairs in the lake where the Black-throated Loons nested the last years.
This species is also very common on Prestvannet in town, where at least
6-7 pairs nest
(no cormorants at all, these are much more common in the fjordic areas in
winter. But both species occur on the outer coast also in summer)
(no herons this time either. Just the luck of the draw, as these are by
now common in the area)
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus The resident
pair, in a small pool near the road, so clearly not yet nesting
Greylag Goose Anser anser The common
nesting goose in the area
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Just a
few this time. Very common in the area.
Wigeon A. penelope A few
males in both areas. A common nesting bird. (usually this trip yields more
Anas-ducks, such as Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and
Pintail.)
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Several pairs in
the wetland pools. this species seems still to increase year by year.
Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Two
displaying opairs in the Rakfjord lagoon. As it nests in hollow trees,
this is more of an inland bird in thhis region
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra A small
flock on the fjord near Tisnes. Late!
Common Eider Somateria mollissima Common
everywhere here.
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Maybe the
most numerous duck in the Kvalsund area, also present at Tisnes.
Common Merganser M. merganser One male
near Tisnes, later a small flock of males in Grøtsund, from the car.
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Regular,
but not common, in the area
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria A few
at Rakfjord. Most have dispersed into the hills to nest-
Ruff Philomachus pugnax Tisnes
is a well-known lek for these interesting birds, but numbers have
decreased the kast years, and I saw not more than 10
Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Not displaying in the cold weather, so I was lucky that one flew up.
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus A common
nesting bird of the dryer hills around Rakfjord, but these were also
silent today
Curlew N. arquata A
few along the shores; a lowland and wetland bird copared to the Whimbrel
Redshank Tringa totanus The
common nesting Tringa along the coast here
Wood Sandpiper T. glareola A
single one at Tisnes
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos A single one
on the shore at Risvika
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Three flew up
and carried out some sort of flight display at Rakfjord, in an area where
they often breed.
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus Nesting
at Rakfjord , as usual. A common bird in the region.
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus One at
Risvika, the first one I have ever seen there. With an incomplete brown
hood still.
Common Gull L. canus
Absolutely living up to its name, and very common all over the area, also
in town. One pair nests 5m meter high in a
a spruce in the neighbour's garden, on top of an old magpie nest . Both
birds of the pair scour my garden for plant material to use in the
the nest
Lesser Black-backed Gull L. f. fuscus One, on the
shore. This species has become uncommon recently
Great Black-backed Gull L. marinus Common
Herring Gull L. argentatus Common
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Common, but
only just arrived.
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica Three in
the Kvalsund. (I missed the Black Guillemots that are almost always there)
Rock Dove Columba livia Up to 20
constantly in my garden, concentrating below the feeder tubes on the lawn.
They are 'the northernmost feral pigeons in the
the world!!
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Always present at
Rakfjord, a common bird here north, where the Meadow Pipit is the
preferred host.
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus One gave a
wonderful show, hunting over the fields closeby, and now and then peering
at me in flight with its piercing yellow eyes.
Sand Martin Riparia riparia A large
flock at Tisnes, concentrating over the intertidal (Clunio midges??)
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica A single one
at Tisnes, where they most years nest in the farm barns.
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Common in the
grasslands. (White Wagtails are also common, but somehow I missed them all
this day.)
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Common on the stony
heathlands, but a late arrival, so these were the first for the year
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Very
common and conspicuous everywhere
Redwing T. iliacus Common
and a good songster
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus The most numerous
bird in Norway. How great them that it is a very pleasant songster!
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleucos A common garden
bird, fighting with Great Tits over the nest boxes
Great Tit Parus major A common
garden bird
Blue Tit P. caeruleus A
newcomer here north. A single one in my garden earlier this week
Magpie Pica pica Very
common in Tromsø. One pair has ourgarden in its territory. They attacked
the feral pigeons for days, but now seem to have given up the struggle.
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Common in
Tromsø
Northern Raven C. corax These
impressive birds nest oitside town, so we see most of them in winter. they
are , however, common in the area.
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris Mostly a
nearshore bird here, and heavily dependent on the many nestboxes that are
set up for them. there are always many at Tisnes, where the farm form an
extra attraction. They fly around with food for their young now.. Never
seen in my garden!
House Sparrow Passer domesticus During this last
week there are regularly 2-3 in my garden, profiting from the sunflower
seeds together with the finches.
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Regularly 2-3 in my garden on the feeders. This is a southern species,
that I think is increasing in our region.
Brambling F. montifringilla
Regularly a number in my garden, where they only come during cool
weather.Often on the ground below the feeders.
Greenfinch Chloris chloris The
dominant small bird in my garden and on the feeders, where there are
frequently up to 25 at the same time, and aquabble around the feeders.
they are in most variable plumage, some beautifully green. others very
dull grey, with only the yellow wing-stripe to identify them
Redpoll Acanthis flammea Regularly a
number in the garden, both on the feeders and on the ground.Another chilly
weather visitor.
Wim Vader, Tromsø Museum
9037 Tromsø, Norway
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