Greenland Redpoll ssp. Rostrata?

I managed to find two possible rostrata Redpolls in Kangerslussuaq. Brids were picked out by smaller size, more heavily marked flanks and undertail coverts and more brownish/dark overall impression. Some of the Arctic Redpolls (probable sec. cal. year birds) almost had similar flanks as the rostrata birds but the undertail coverts always gave them away. In summer Redpolls are very common breeders in the area. 

So is it a rostrata or a dark hornemanni? Other birders (Rune Sø Neergaard and Yann Kolbeinsson) suggest that it might be a dark hornemanni? The flank stripes and the general color of the bird could definitely be a hornemanni but what about the undertail coverts? Hornemanni has always been the "whitest" of redpolls to me but then again I haven’t really seen that many..    

 

24/3 Kangerslussuaq. The two birds also had a chinese look but the face is not as clean when compared to the Arctic Redpoll to the right. The flanks clearly more striped.

24/3 Kangerslussuaq. Darker overall impression with the flanks stripes being broader and more

24/3 Kangerslussuaq. The undertail coverts. I did not see any clear cut hornemanni with more than one black stripe in the undertail coverts

RDN

Hornemanns Arctic Redpoll

Arctic Redpoll of the subspecies hornemanni is common along the west coast of Greenland outside their breeding season. I found a feeding station with 50+ birds in Kangerslussuaq which is the first place many people will come to if they travel to Greenland, as this is the place of the main international airport. Most of the birds present were readily identified and even their call seemed to be quite different from the redpolls I usually hear in Denmark being more metallic and not as sharp. Sometimes they even gave a call superficially resembling that of Snow Buntning (a bird also found coming to the feeding station). Some birds did have quite well-marked flank stripes but I guess these most have been 2. cal. year birds.  

24/3 Kangerslussuaq. When flying they appear "much" larger than their european counterparts.

24/3 Kangerslussuaq. The chinese look.

24/3 Kangerslussuaq. Birds were actively feeding in the cold weather (-12 degrees).

24/3 Kangerslussuaq

24/3 Kangerslussuaq

RDN

Unidentified Gull Greenland

Checking the local gulls in Maniitsoq Harbor did not boost my greenlandic gull list (still need Ross' and Herring) though I did manage to find a few interesting looking birds. I only managed to see the gull depicted below flying away. At first glance I thought it was a hybrid between Glaucous and Herring but I am not really sure. The dark outer primaries and tail band suggests that there is some Herring Gull in the bird but the overall impression is that of a Glaucous. Please do comment on the bird if you have any thoughts about the id.

3/4 Maniitsoq. Clearly one of the larger gulls. Dark tail band, blackish outer primaries and large bill.

3/4 Maniitsoq. I think the wings give a Glaucous-like impression.

RDN

Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) in Kattegat

Sunday (15/4-2012) I participated in an expedition searching for Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) in Kattegat 25 km north of Anholt. In 2009 Marine Observers found several Yellow-billed- and Great Northern Loons feeding in the area, and we were hoping to confirm that it is a wintering area for the two species. The weather was perfect and the result after 16 hours at open sea was ten Yellow-billed Loons. Mission accomplished! Get more information on Club300 and Haanings blog.

Velvet Scoter. Common on the trip.

Velvet Scoter. Common on the trip.

Yellow-billed Loon (2cy) Big birds with long necks!

Yellow-billed Loon (adult summer plumage). One of the coolest birds in the world! 

Two birds together! Still Yellow-billed Loon. We found nine birds close together in a very little area. Amazing!

3cy bird or adult?

King Eider

King Eiders are dream birds. The males are truly fantastic birds with their almost obscene bill. During my recent trip to Western Greenland King Eiders were the most commonly observed bird species. Huge flocks (>10.000) were seen on multiple occasions with daily totals reaching more than 25.000 birds on two survey days (just on my side of the plane). Small cracks in the ice could harbor thousands of birds. Unfortunately King Eiders were mostly seen in deeper waters with Common Eiders being more common in coastal areas. The only place I stayed during my almost four week long stay with open water was Maniitsoq. One male was seen in and near the harbor along with Common Eiders and one day it came close enough for me to take some reasonable pictures.



3/4 Maniitsoq, a fantastic bird.

3/4 Maniitsoq. This bird was mainly seen feeding alone only rarely associating with Common Eiders. 

3/4 Maniitsoq

3/4 Maniitsoq

3/4 Maniitsoq

3/4 Maniitsoq

3/4 Maniitsoq. If seen well adult male King Eiders are easily picked out in flocks of Common Eiders

3/4 Maniitsoq. Smaller size, darker general appearance, big white ovals on the upper wings and much smaller head/shorter neck. Hopefully this sight will be possible in Aarhus Bay one day!

RDN

Greenlandic Northern Eiders

Due to a recent record of a possible Borealis Northern Eider from Hanstholm Harbour I post pictures recently taking in West Greenland (early April 2012). The head shape is very striking even at a distance when compared to the eiders we normally see here in Denmark. For a more detailed discussion about the danish bird and the main identification features see here and here.



3/4 Maniitsoq, Greenland.



3/4 Maniitsoq, Greenland.

3/4 Maniitsoq, Greenland.

3/4 Maniitsoq, Greenland.

3/4 Maniitsoq, Greenland.

3/4 Maniitsoq, Greenland.

3/4 Maniitsoq, Greenland.

RDN

Mandarinand Aarhus Østhavn

Søndag d. 11/3 fandt lokale Ivan Zink Nielsen en Mandarinand på Århus Østhavn. Grundet debatten om en skudt fugl oprindeligt ringmærket i Tjekkiet fra Bjerregrav Mose blev anden twitchet af de fleste lokale ornitologer. SSL forlod sågar madlavningen for at krydse den eksotiske and (enhver mulighed for at komme længere foran KO skal udnyttes). Lørdagen var gået med gilde hos Erik Dylmer i det Midtjyske, hvorfor tømmermændene hos nogle var ganske store (host, host, RSN). Anden var flot og ret sky. Den fløj meget i den korte periode vi var på lokaliteten og bar ingen ringe. Dagen efter blev anden set af FSH i en kort periode om morgenen, hvorefter den forsvandt og ikke blev set siden.



10/3 Indiana Jones (KO) og Hr. Lund nyder Gummistøvlens historier fra de varme lande.

 

11/3 Vi prøvede forgæves at fodre anden med toastbrød, hvilket desværre ikke virkede

11/3. Mandarinænder er forholdsvis sjældne i Aarhus området, dog holdt en undsluppen fugl til på nordsiden af Årslev Engsø i flere år. Denne er dog ikke set i adskillige år.

I Centralhavnen kan man stadig se en diluted Hættemåge, som efterhånden har været der hver vinter i mange år. Desværre er vores ellers fast sorthovede måge overhovedet ikke set denne vinter. Sidste vinter var fuglen i lidt dårlig stand mod slutningen af dens ophold, hvorfor den måske er død? En anden forklaring kunne være, at artens normale opholdssted i Centralhavnen er jævnet med jorden. Faktum er dog er Børnenes Kontor ved Domkirken ikke har haft fint besøg denne vinter.

11/3 Aarhus Centralhavn

RDN

Doi Ang Kang (Part 2) 2011

Doi Ang Kang er et lille charmerende område i de nordlige bjerge. Giver man lokaliteten et par dage, er der gode muligheder for at se mange af de mest eftertragtede arter på lokaliteten. Crested Finchbill var den eneste "sikre" art vi ikke fik i bogen, selvom vi besøgte alle de "gode" steder flere gange. Stedet kan klart anbefales, og det er nemt tilgængeligt (ingen vilde bjergveje). Artslisten kan man senere finde i vores rapport.



King's Project. Vi brugte ikke meget tid her, men så et par rigtig gode arter på lokaliteten (White-tailed Robin, Black-breasted Thrush og Scaly Thrush) 



Det kendte drossel-sted bag ved restauranten. Her sås Scaly Thrush på helt tæt hold. 



Nit og RDN. Nit var overraskende god til at finde fuglene, og uden hende var vi helt sikkert gået glip af flere gode arter.



Giant Nuthatch er en af stjernerne ved Doi Ang Kang. Vi så og hørte to fugle i en times tid på lokaliteten.
Foto: RDN 




Vi faldt tilfældigt over en lille gruppe af denne fede art af Parrotbill (Spot-breasted).
Foto:RDN 




Blue-winged Minla er forholdsvis alm. i det nordlige Thailand.
Foto:RDN



White-tailed Robin er virkelig en drømmeart, og ved King's Project kunne vi nyde denne fugl på helt tæt hold. Stedet var et åben skjul og fuglene reagerede på plastikposer!
Foto:RDN



Black-breasted Thrush. Endnu en "stjerne" fra skjulet.
Foto:RDN

Denne Yellow-streaked Warbler blev set ved Chinese Cemetary på toppen af Doi Ang Kang.
Foto:SSL 



Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker ved King's Project.
Foto: SSL



White-tailed Robin
Foto: SSL



Spot-breasted Parrotbill. Eksklusiv art fra Doi Ang Kang
Foto:SSL



Scarlet Minivet fra det nordlige Thailand.
Foto:SSL

Scaly Thrush ved King's Project. Endnu en drømmeart!
Foto: SSL

Pale Blue Flycatcher. Vi så kun to individer på hele vores tur. Foto: SSL



Hill Prinia ved Chinese Cemetary
Foto: SSL



Oriental White-eye at King's Project.
Foto:SSL



Grey-headed Parrotbill. Vi brugte lang tid på at få dette billede i kassen. Tæt underskov gjorde det meget vanskeligt, og vi mødte kun denne ene flok på hele turen. Vi løb rundt i tæt krat og skød mod himlen :-) Foto: SSL



Stemningsbillede af Giant Nuthatch. Et meget stemningsfyldt øjeblik.
Foto: SSL



En af mange Little Bunting ved Chinese Cemetary (20+)
Foto: SSL



Endnu en Daurian Redstart fra Doi Ang Kang
Foto: SSL



Brown-breasted Bulbul. Endnu en nordlig art fra Doi Ang Kang. Alm. på lokaliteten.
Foto: SSL



Black Bulbul af den hvidhovede race stresemanni
Foto:SSL



Black-breasted Thrush på klos hold!
Foto: SSL