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?

August 30th

To be guiding people around in my "backyard" here in Longyearbyen is quite rewarding when you like to put a smile on other peoples faces! I were guiding two swedes, where only one of them were really interested in birds. As it was him that had booked me I started looking up the birds that were of interest to him, and actually managed to find a few species that were new to him. The birding was quite slow with few individuals, but in late august in the Arctic many of the interesting birds have allready left. Since the swedes wanted to see the King Eider (Praktærfugl) I drove along the coast to Bjørndalen to try to locate one. And in amongst a group of four Common Eider (Ærfugl) there was a female King Eider. While stopping to look for more Kings, I noticed a regular visitor in the area. Out of nothing, an Arctic Fox (Fjellrev) appeared. It did not stay long, the weather was dark and heavy amd the photos did not become the best, but my two clients were very pleased with an encounter of the fox at a distance of six (!) meters!

After I had dropped of the two happy swedes, I took a trip to look for some of my gulls. I managed to find two color-ringed Glaucous Gulls (Polarmåke), one from each of the projects. It is nice to see that the gulls that I have ringed with black color-rings are doing fine, and also to confirm that the old gulls with red color-rings are still hanging around Longyearbyen.

June 27th, part 1

This was a rahter good day for photographing and birdwatching. To begin with the drake Wigeon (Brunnakke) was showing well off at short distance near the dogyard.

Then, a bit later an Arcitic Fox (Fjellrev) were beeing chased by a pair of Arctic Terns (Rødnebbterne) when it tried to get an easy meal. The meal was not easy to get at all, but apparently it was worth vile for the fox since it kept on going until it had emptied out the nest, and it was licking egg-yolk off its nose. Looking rather pleased with it self.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                         

Todays second fox came when I had had dinner and was just out for a relatively short trip. I became aware that the Arctic Terns were rather ill-tempered near the dogyard, and I went up there to have a look. There was a fox in the middle of a better meal of eggs. It did not seem to mind that I was stood just ten metres away at the closest. The only thing that I would wish could be different was that I would have liked to get some sun, instead of the grey clouds which made my pictures become more or less black/white.



June 9th

Despite the fact that I did not get any photos of the really fun birds today, I did manage to get some OK pictures. First I re-found the ssp. bernicla Brent Goose (Ringås). This picture shows well the darker belly of the "dark-bellied" Brent vs the "light-bellied" Brent.

Arctic Terns (Rødnebbterne) are thought of as a menace by many people, but I still keep on my opinion that they are some of the most elegant and beautiful birds around. Hence why I have uploaded some photos of them here.

 

When I was more or less done with todays birding I became aware that the local pair of Arctic Skuas (Tyvjo) were unhappy with something in the neighbourhood. A few moments later this Arctic Fox (Fjellrev) came trotting along one of the sewage/water-lines. This was a welcome sight since it is not very often I get the oppurtunity to photograph this species in town.

May 16th

This days trips ended with two new species of the year! From my livingroom window I saw that there was a Lesser Black-backed Gull (Sildemåke) together with the Glaucous Gulls (Polarmåke) in the delta. I hurried down and managed to get some pictures to document the gull. I then continued my drive and when I arrived at Hotellneset I found yet another dark gull. This time it was an adult Great Black-backed Gull (Svartbak). After this gull I got a short photo-session with a pair of Svalbard Ptarmigan (Svalbardrype). They were displaying quite well, but due to my hurry in getting the camera into shooting-position I didnt get the best of set-up so the pictures could have been much better. But the male was still stunning in the sunshine when he was watching over his mate, with his eyebrows puffed up in bright red. When I was done with the ptarmigans I drove further out towards Bjørndalen, and was awarded a nice meeting with an Arctic Fox (Fjellrev) It was running along the road so that I got many opportunities to take photos. The time now got close to the start of todays work, so I had to drive away again. But when I came to the large mixed-flock of Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese (Kortnebb- og Hvitkinngås) I felt I had to stop to take a few pictures. Thats when I noticed the two foxes that were out goose-hunting. It was amazing to watch them try to get un-seen into striking-distance from the geese. But the gees had everything under control, they lifted off when the fox was baout thirty meters away, and they werent really worried.
In the evening I had another trip out and managed to find a flock of four male Teal (Krikkand). I also photographed a 1cy/2k Glaucous Gull (Polarmåke) which is the lightest-colored individual that I have seen up here. Usually the young birds are quite dark up here, but this one was a nice exception.

Greater Black-backed Gull with GLaucous Gulls

Lesser Black-backed Gull with Glaucous Gulls

Lesser Black-backed Gull showing features better

Arctic Fox in morning light

Arctic Fox charging at geese

The second goose-hunting fox

Svalbard Ptarmigans in morningsun

Barnacle Geese on the look-out for foxes

Resting Pink-footed Geese

Sun-bathing Pink-footed Goose

Teal

Glaucous Gull 1cy/2k