A windy day in the Arctic

I finally got to do some birdwatching again after a long winter without any activity from me. And I did get to see a couple of good birds for up here. Two adult European Herring Gulls (Gråmåke) was a nice sight. One of them flew right next to teh car and gave great views. The only bad thing is that due to the heavy winds today I didnt bother to bring my camera with me, and hence I didnt get any photos of it. Other than these about 20 Glaucous Gulls (polarmåke), 20 Kittiwakes (krykkjer) and 10 Common Eiders (ærfugl) were aobut the numbers I was expecting, but the massive number og more than 1500 Northern Fulmars (havhest) was a really nice view.

I hope for better weather soon so that the Snow Buntings (snøspurv) will arrive in numbers so that I can start the ringing-season. I have also lately seen European Blackbird (svarttrost) and Snow Bunting (snøspurv) in the neighbour-town, Barentsburg, so there are things happening now in the early spring in the High Arctic.

May 19th

Even though the wind now has blown for more than two weeks without stop, there are still some birds that manage to hang on up here. Was out for a short birding-trip today, and we actually managed to see some nice birds and animals.

For me, the biggest probably wa to find one of the adult Iceland Gulls (Grønlandsmåke) again. It was not at its most helpfull when it came to photographing, but we both got OK pics of it. For Chris I think the Arctic Fox (Fjellrev) that we saw might have been the highlight of the trip. Even though it did not come in close, we at least got some nice views of it.

Since Chris is a sea-bird-watcher, he did not miind too much when I suggested to go to Vestpynten to see what would come flying by at sea. Due to the strong wind and the cold we did this in two episodes, where the secoond try was definately the best. We agreed on that there had to have been more than 1000 Fulmars (Havhest) that flew in front, over and behind us. We felt like we were actually in the way of theire fly-way. To have these Fulmars flying at arm-length away was a mighty experience. In between these there were good numbers of Kittiwakes (Krykkje) and a few Glaucous Gulls (Polarmåke).

when we ended the birding we said "Hello" to a King Eider (Praktærfugl) which was trying to court a Common Eider (Ærful) female at Gammelkaia. Maybe it is the same guy as was in the Eider-colony last year?

Today I learnt that a four-whell-drive car is nessecary when birding in the Arctic, since a white-out and snowdrifts tend to get your car stuck in the middle of nowhere. And I again learned that watching seabirds can be great fun, as long as you have the correct company! :)

Here are some pics from todays windy birding:

This is evidence that the Arctic Foxes are stil around :)

Iceland Gull, doesnt it look nice?

"Angry" eye on the Iceland Gull.

Fulmar at seven metres distance

Fulmar at three (!) metres distance!

Fulmar avoiding collision with the photographer.

Kittiwake

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

King Eider showing off!!

King Eider showing off from the other side.

Can you spot the mistake he has done?

June 11th

A very nice day with lots of good photos. I went out with a friend, Eirik Grønningsæter, who is a nature-photographer to try to get some nice pics of the Red-necked Phalaropes (Svømmesnipe) that have put in an appearance in the valley. When we arrived there they were very coperative, and gave great photo-opportunities at short distances. We were even granted a view of their swift, but important, matings.

I have uploaded a couple of pictures of Eirik as well. It is allways interesting to learn tecniques of the ones who know how its done.

Eirik from the first (and best ?) angle

 

Eirik from the second (and most interesting?) angle.

Before we came to the phalaropes we stopped in the dogyard, and this Ivory Gull (Ismåke) gave me the opportunity to add some pictures to my library. Even though I have gotten quite used to this species after two years up here I never get tired of studying this magnificent white gull!


A lone Kittiwake (Krykkje) that came flying by in the delta also got permission to be posted on the blog today.

To see flying and displaying Svalbard Ptarmigan (Svalbardrype) in the valley is not an everyday sight, so these two males that were competing over who could out-sing the other are also granted permission to be shown on the blog.

May 21st

I started this seasons bird-stands today, but due to a long process of getting the information ready, the posters were set up yesterday, and off course nobody showed. But I did none-the-less have a great two hours more or less alone. I set my aim at trying to get some OK flight-pictures of different birds, and actually managed to get a few quite good ones. When the clock turned 14:00 I headed in the valley, and there were geese more or less everywhere! But no matter how much I looked, there were no other than the usual geese to see. The seasons first Red-throated Diver ( Smålom) swam by and said hello, before it gently drifted along on the current. This was probably the most exciting bird of today.

                                          Barnacle Geese

 
                                          Pink-footed Geese

                                          Kitiwake

 
                                          Glaucous Gull

                                          Common Eider

                                          Kinp Eider

                                          Red-throated Diver

The birds are back!

The last few days have been very nice. There are actually birds up here again! To be stood in strong wind, trying to avoid being sprayed by the waves that hit onto the icy shore, while trying to photograph feeding Kittiwakes (Krykkje) is something I have been waiting for. And when the first flock of more than 50 Common Eiders (Ærfugl) are present at the same site, together with two pairs of King Eider (Praktærfugl). Lots of BLack Guilemots (Teist) are feeding all over the fiord and Brünnick's Guillemots (Polarlomvi) and Glaucous Gulls (Polarmåke) are flying around wherever I look. In town the Snow Buntings (Snøspurv) have started to sing, and the gulls have finally figured out that my trap is a good feeding area. In addition to the birds we got a visit of a Whalruss (Hvalross) one of the days, and I am not the one to let an oppostunity to photograph such an animal pass me by. Al in all it seems like spring finally have arrived in Longyearbyen, and I am now just looking forward to see all of the coming migrants and welcome them up north!