July 26th

Today I have got some pictures from the ringing-session that I did up here. The day before and this day there was a Polarbear (Isbjørn) in the fiord, and that of course made it a bit more interesting, allthough it was on the other side of the fiord. Today I caught both Purple Sandpiper (Fjæreplytt) and Dunlin (Myrsnipe), but the most fun bird to get in the traps were a young Snow Bunting (Snøspurv). This I think is the first time we have caught a Snow Bunting in the sandpiper-traps.

Purple Sandpiper

Dunlin

Dunlin

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

May 13th

This cloudy day produced a couple of nice birds. One of the male Northern Pintails (Stjertand) were still present and gave great views as the sun briefly came through the clouds. Also present today were lots of Pink-footed Geese (Kortnebbgås) and Barnacle Geese (Hvitkinngås). In amongst teh Glaucous Gulls (Polarmåke) today was a probable hybrid Herring X Glaucous Gull (Gråmåke X Polarmåke). I saw it from the livingroom window, but it had disappeared when I came to the delta. I stayed in the delta for almost an hour, and came in close with some of the first Purple Sandpipers (Fjæreplytt) of the season. In amongst these I managed to locate a ringed and flag-tagged bird. This is actually a bird that was ringed at the same site as I saw it on the 9th of june 2010 by the head of the ringing-project. After nearly a full year it is back at the exact same spot where it was trapped and ringed. When I was done looking in the delta I was awarded a photo-session by the resident pair of Snow Buntings (Snøspurv). Espescially the male showed off well, and I got pretty pleased with the pictures I got.


Northern Pintale male
Pink-footed Geese in flight


Snow Bunting male

Snow Bunting female

Snow Bunting male wanting to drive a dogsled

May 6th

I had an hour of watching today before I picked up my girlfriend from the airport. This resulted in that I refound the pair of Iceland Gulls (Grønlandsmåke) at Hotellneset. After having dropped my girlfriend off at home i went to the garbage dumå to try my luck at the Glaucous Gulls (Polarmåke) again. When I arrived there were only about 30 adult birds there. I rigged the trap and started to wait. There was some movement in and out of the dump by the birds, but when I went to take down the trap again I realized that there had come more gulls than I was aware of. About 80 in total were feeding in the garbage. For the first time there were actually a few young birds around, and not just one or two. All age classes were present and showing well, and even the gull I ringed on the 1st of May was present, fighting valiantly for the best pieces of garbage.


Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Glaucous Gull 1cy/2k

Glaucous Gull 1cy/2k

Glaucous Gull 2cy/3k

Glaucous Gull 2cy/3k

Glaucous Gull 2cy/3k (behind) and 3cy/4k

Glaucous Gull 3cy/4k

Glaucous Gull 3cy/4k (left) and 2cy/3k

Galucous Gull 4cy+/5k+, JX001, ringed 01.may 2011

Snow Bunting male

Snow Bunting male

Snow Bunting male

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!

27th June

I started today by photographing the two Snow Bunting (Snøspurv) chicks that have made sleeping difficult for my girlfriend. They are sat under our bedroomwindow, chirping for food at all hours of the day.

And when I were out looking for nesting birds in the valley today I found a (Eurasian) Golden Plover (Heilo) male that was very little amused to see me. This is a rare bird up here, and seeing a male in breeding plumage is a nice sight.:)