All "Birding stories" from the current blog are now moved to a new address www.NatureMonitoring.com: юни 2014

четвъртък, 26 юни 2014 г.

Breeding bird survey in Norway: day 8

The day started as usual. The weather looked promising. The mountain was still there so no way around it. We have to do it. I was doing point counts every 300m from the route and had to do about 20 of those. The beginning was ok – the usual bunch of bushes, bogs, river and wet places. Slight ups and downs but then came the hard bit. It was only 300m but took us more than an hour to do it. Steep hills with snow, trees, cliffs and what not. It was really difficult. This was perhaps the hardest bit so far. We had to go around the steep cliffs, around the snow which was going straight down into the bottom of the hill so pretty dangerous to walk across. Once we were on the plateau everything looked a bit better. Still some snow and cliffs bit at least it wasn’t steep. Luckily we had this Rock Ptarmigan which made it all worthy. I don’t need much to be happy. Just a bird or two 😊 The view from up there was lovely though.

at work

The rest of the route was fairly ok. Only the last bit when we had to come down from the hill was again pretty unpleasant. Another bird highlight turned up there which made it worthy – a Black Grouse took not far from us.

We made it down to the bottom of the hill and congratulated ourselves with satisfaction. I was glad we managed to do this route. It had a denivelation of about 500 m.

Quickly packed our gear and off we go to the next place. We needed some rest so stopped in a local bakery shop for a cake with coffee. Pretty strange both of them but my girlfriend like them. The cake was with some light cream with very little sugar and the coffee was a black one which I personally don’t like.

En route to the next place we witnesses superb landscapes which are all around anyway. You just need the proper light conditions to enjoy them.

Breeding bird survey in Norway: day 7

I got up pretty energetic after only 2 hours sleep. The route wasn’t very difficult so I managed to finish before 8 am. The highlight of the route were a few Willow Grouses and a Golden Plover in breeding plumage. What an amazing bird this one is. I was also impressed by a nest of a Willow Warbler which was on the ground. Lovely little burrow with a few eggs and a lot of feathers.

willow warbler nest

After we got some more sleep we packed our stuff and off we went to our next survey route. En route we enjoyed a couple of Oystercatcher chicks which were calmly sitting and feeding just by the road. About 60 Eider ducks and 9 Red-breasted Mergansers were swimming on the sea.

The next route wasn’t very far as a distance but pretty remote as a location. It took about an hour along a narrow countryside road with no layout to get there. The weather was finally sunny. We drove along a narrow valley and there we saw this high and steep hill where the route was going to be. This would be quite a challenge!

The afternoon was fairly relaxed with a few drinks. We put up our tent and off we went to get the needed sleep.

неделя, 22 юни 2014 г.

Breeding bird survey in Norway: day 6

That’s what the days should be like. Early morning start for bright weather with clear sky and lots of birds. Yes it could be in Norway. I know it doesn’t happen often but here we are. Woke up just on time to witness the bright sky with no mist. Enthusiastically grabbed my gear and off I went. Birds were pretty active. I wouldn’t say more than in rainy days. These birds are apparently used to the rain as people are.

Started the survey with a few Redwings, Siskin, Redpoll and the usual Brambling and Willow Tit. Further along a heard a funny noise I haven’t heard before. Looked carefully and there it was a Brambling was mobbing a Hawk Owl… J I have seen them only once couple of years ago and it was great to see it again. Lovely birds. Of course I didn’t have my camera with me J Left the bird alone and continued my duties.

Soon I was on the top of a hillside overlooking the whole fjord. What a view! In clear sky you can enjoy it even more ;) There wasn’t much light yet but it was still very beautiful. The problem is, how to get down to my survey points. I must have taken the wrong route. Well there is no route. I only have points and there is no trail whatsoever. So I took the scenic route. Well I don’t mind. Did I say it was beautiful? J

With a lot of luck and some climbing skills I managed to come down safely. It was quite a challenge. Soon I was again the house ready to pack my staff and leave to the next point. Quickly entered the observations from today into a spreadsheet not to loose the data and did some final preparation before I leave.

On my way out I decided to give a try to the Hawk Owl and check if it was still there. I slowly approached the place and looked at the same perch but the bird wasn’t there. However a strange noise was coming from the forest where the bird was and I decided to pull out. Grabbed my camera and off I went to search for it. It didn’t take me long to find it. Once I approached the forest the bird started calling. Even more, it attacked me. It had its chicks sitting there on some branches. Apparently I was disturbing it so made a few pictures and off I went.

Here i am back on the road …on my way to the north…my lovely girlfriend was coming over and I wanted to be on time to pick her up.

On my way to the north I stopped at one more place which looked rather interesting – An Arctic Wildlife Centre. They seem to have quite a few arctic animals there wondering in big enclosures in their natural habitat. These would be superb conditions for photos. Since it was raining and I suppose that my girlfriend will want to see these animals too, I decided not to enter the wildlife centre but postpone it for later on during the trip.

My girlfriend arrived late in the evening and we drove for quite some time before we had reached the place for my survey route on the next day or should I say in a couple of hours. It was about 1 a.m. when we got to sleep and I had to be up at 3. Hard work that one would be. Off to bed…

събота, 21 юни 2014 г.

Breeding bird survey in Norway: day 5

Another rainy day. At the foot of route 1905.

The alarm did ring and I did hear it but once I looked outside I said no, it would not be another wet day. It was pouring rain and i decided to stay indoors. Back to bed. I got up an hour later though. It wasn’t even 6. With this time schedule I got used to early starts.

So the weather didn’t change for most of the day. Rain, rain, rain. I was only going out for firewood. I used the time to catch up with a very needed break, washing, writing and chatting. Also managed to talk and see my lovely girlfriend on skype who I really miss very much.

The Sun came out in the late afternoon. The forecast for the coming days looks very promising so hopefully I shall be able to attack the route tomorrow. The mountain looks calm now but see what happens tomorrow. You never know …

Breeding bird survey in Norway: day 4

1910 the u shaped long trek in the mountains with 5 willow ptarmigans, golden eagle and white tailed eagle

The beginning of the route for the day was fairly easy. A nice track took straight up to the first survey point. Approaching a set of bushes a white and brown hen took off from under my feet and landing pretending to be injured. Willow Ptarmigan wanted to attract my attention away from its nest. It was situated at the bottom of a bush with 7 eggs inside. This woke me pretty quickly J I didn’t even need to have coffee. Took a picture and off I went not to disturb the bird. On the way back along the track the male bird turned up although I intentionally went around to avoid any disturbance of the breeding ptarmigan.

Other than these birds there were no other observations worth mentioning. After this the ascending started. Hills, stones, rivers, 70 degree steep slopes and lots of water, absolutely everywhere. No trekking shoes would have managed to handle this. The only proper gear for here are the basic rubber wellington boots. Simple technology that works much better than any Gore tex or anything else.

the survey route. the place where the picture was taken is in the first half of the route. i carried on for about a km into the snowy mountain hill

Once I though I had climb up the hill a valley followed and then another not a hill but a mountain top with at least 200m altitude difference. To make it even more difficult going up the hill the walk had to be over a stone field with big rocks. Patches of snow made the climbing even more puzzling since I wasn’t sure if there is anything underneath the snow. Once that finished a complex set of bogs and swampy areas started. At that moment snow came up. I was already. At the end of the route so couldn’t stop. I had to do it. Strong winds were following the mountain pass that was formed at the top where I was going and all the wind was concentrated and channeling down that pass. What a survey work. And birds? What birds? Of course there were. I had a total of 5 Willow Ptarmigans, White tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Dipper, Bluethroat, Northern Wheatear, Ring Ouzel and a few Bramblings and Redwings here and there. Well I can’ say it wasn’t worth it.

It took me about 1.5 hours to come down from the mountain top. I was really exhausted. Slowly approached my camp and desperately wanted to get some food. It was already 13.00. Packed my stuff and looked at the maps for the new place where I need to go. I turned out that it was nearly 200km away. Well, I will get a nap first. The ‘day’ is long ;)

So I did. Got a nap and got on the road. En route I got some fruit to catch up with the needed vitamins and put some petrol in to ensure the mileage. I was heading towards Narvik, south of Finnsness.

The route starts just by the road so it would be an easy start. This would give me some time for a longer sleep. This time I needed a warm and cosy place, a house. The map shows possibility for renting a place in the area so. I just need to find it. Wondered a bit here and there and just stopped y the road to ask a young couple about possible places to stay. Well they were going right there. It turned out that the father of the lady rents a place. We negotiated a price and there I was. Ohhh my God. FINALLY a hot shower, electricity and running tap water. I don’t believe this. Three bedroom house with a kitchen and a bathroom were all for me. A fireplace was on and it quickly warmed up the house. I can’t explain the pleasure I had to be in a proper house and leave the tent for a while. I had forgotten what the comfort of a home is… people often don’t appreciate what they have until they loose it.

After a hot shower and tea I crashed down. The forecast for tomorrow wasn’t very positive but I did set the alarm for 3 a.m.

Breeding bird survey in Norway: day 3

I had set up my camp not far from the starting point of the route not to loose time moving about. The day started at the usual time 3 a.m. Quickly packed the staff for the day and off I went.

The first count points of the route were in a birch forest at the bottom of the hill. Reaching them meant a little bit of wading in the flowing water. Although it was cold, snow from the mountains was melting and there was water everywhere. I took a second pair of shoes with me in case I got wet but luckily this didn’t happen with my wellington boots.

Soon the adventure started. Some of the points were right in the middle of stone fields. Reaching tem was really slow and had to be rather careful. The stones were rather slippery with big gaps in between so it can be rather unpleasant if I fell down. The route slowly started taking me higher and higher. Weather began to change and from calm became rather dynamic. Habitat also changed from birch forest to alpine rocks. Large patches of snow were occupying most of the land around. Mist started to come up. Although it was fairly chilly large patches of snow were melting forming unseen tunnels under the snow. This made the walk on top pretty dangerous and it was pretty inconvenient walking there. Luckily I had my walking sticks with me which allowed checking the grounds of every step. The birds were there though. Ring Ouzels, apparently nest on the cliffs in Norway. Bluethroat, Redpoll, Redwings, and pretty strange for me, several Reed Buntings were around the birch trees and scrub. At home these buntings would be around reeds.

Up in the mist a Peregrine Falcon call thrilled in amongst the cliffs. This showed some live in the scene which was pretty quiet. So there are birds up here. May be if it was a week later it would have been better.

Coming down from the mountains a Long-legged Buzzard turned up nearby my camp. This was the last bird for the route. Time to pack and for the next route.

It didn’t, starting point and had a lot of free time. Decided to walk around just as I did on the previous day. It’s important to experience the country. The survey route was at the end of a fjord so it must be picturesque around. A gathering of gulls attracted my attention for a while. There were a few Herring, Common, les ser and Greater black-backed Gulls. A couple of Oystercatchers were also around but that’s about it.

greater black backed gull, copyrigjt Iordan Hristov

Common gulls

A White Wagtail with food sat near me for a while wanted me to take its picture. There we are J

White Wagtail

Further along there were only a few Common Gulls and a lot of wind. The end of the fjord opens up to the ocean and it must be pretty rough here all year around. I would be curious to understand how and why would people live here. It’s really rough. Perhaps some of them are fishermen but what about the rest? And the houses looked really well maintained. I must say I am totally in love with these Norwegian houses often with big windows and large veranda with the colours of the country flag red and blue. You would see other colors too but these were the most impressive ones. There was one with white, green and red like the Bulgarian flag, but why our houses are not like this. I will leave that up to you to decide.

On the way back to the tent a group of caribou were grazing just along the road. These would be domestic animals kept for meat.

Time for a small drink and some sleep.

Breeding bird survey in Norway: day 2

After the depressing day yesterday today I feel a bit better. Woke up at 3.20 and off I went for another try on the route. The weather looked ok although the forecast was for another miserable day. Started the survey with some blue sky. That’s optimistic, I said to myself but didn’t want to be too quick with the conclusions – the route is 6 km long so the weather may change any time.

Soon i started noting down the birds from the points: Brambling, Willow Warbler and Redwing were the most common ones. A got a few individuals of Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Cuckoo, and Common Redpolls. Although I do enjoy all these birds there were a few highlights for me too: a male Willow Grouse. I have seen it just once and it was great to see it again although it didn’t stay for long.

The habitat was constantly changing from birch forest to open bogs and hills were going up and down. The weather didn’t stay very bright though. There were showers now and then which made me prey for no rain at least until I finish the route. Well, I did it. In about 4 hours I managed to do the route. Finally. It really feels like a success and a relief. Time for the next route.

Quickly packed the wet tent and spread it in the car to dry out and off I went. The next place isn’t too far – only 20 or so km to the south west of here. And what a place that is. The steep terrain doesn’t allow doing the conventional 6 km square shaped route but the points are situated along a valley with steep hills covered with snow. The river here still has ice. This would be another challenging route with barren ground and steep hillside. That’s for tomorrow. Off I go.

It took me a while to find this place because the guidance papers weren’t very good and I stayed for some time in the neighbouring valley. At certain point I was even considering going across the mountain because I wasn’t aware of another road. There was nothing on the map. I had a nap in the area ;) and decided to go back the same road to search for a place to drive to the neighbouring valley. And yes there was J I am glad I didn’t took the more difficult route.

Once in the new area, it was exactly as explained. Pretty rough terrain – understand steep slopes, rocky hill sides and snow and glaciers. Well these are the areas where I will have to do the survey. But that would be tomorrow.

I decided to take a drive in the area to see more of this beautiful landscape. It proved worth it. Just watch see these photos…

No comments. Breath taking views, aren’t they. Got some fruit fro a shop and off I went to my tent for the needed sleep. It would be a hard day tomorrow.

Breeding bird survey in Norway: day 1

The night was really short. I struggled getting up after having only a few hours sleep but what made me think twice was that it was raining. Not heavily but it was raining. A few birds were singing so I decided to give it a try. At certain point it even started snowing and birds became quieter. That was the moment when I decided to give up. Before that I did see and hear a few good birds for me that I haven’t seen for some time. At the first 3-4 points where I did the counts I had a few Common Redpolls, Bramblings in breeding plumage which we rarely get, Redwings and lots of Willow Warblers. There was some droppings of Moose and I also had white and brown Hare which I am not sure how to treat. It would be strange to be artic hare, shouldn’t it? I just had to stop with the survey after the first 4 point counts. Nothing was there and it was raining and snowing. I really didn’t want to waste a whole day like this especially having in mind that I have 10 more to go.

I went back to the tent and got some of that needed sleep.

Well it is now 11 a.m. and the rain still hasn't stopped.

The afternoon was pretty difficult. The rain didn’t stop and I couldn’t do anything. I spend most of the time in the car. It was pretty depressing. Did some reading but that was it. I was occasionally changing the location to make some difference but then still stay in the car. Tried a bit of birdwatching from the car but not very productive. Did see an Arctic Skua, a Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Arctic Terns though. I was getting a bit worried about this rate of progress. The only thing I could do is hoping that the weather will improve.

Went to bed or should i say into the tent as early as 7 p.m. for an early and hopefully productive start.

понеделник, 16 юни 2014 г.

Breeding bird survey in Norway: the start

3.45.pitch dark out there but the alarm goes on. It was time for the adventure to start. I ought to mention the light conditions because they will be different where I am going.

I quickly made myself a coffee and off I went for the flight. It was going to be a long day at the two airports where I had to change flights on the way to Tromso. This is where I will be surveying in the next couple of weeks.

At Sofia airport there was no problem whatsoever. I was flying with Lufthansa and their luggage allowance let me carry 23.8 kg which was quite a pain to adjust last night. I had to leave behind one or two items but there was no other way around that.

At Frankfurt airport where I had to spend 3 hours I was a bit puzzled about the luggage transfer but quickly solved that and made sure that my camping gear for tonight will be with me 😊. Managed to do some work and get the directions for tonight’s drive.

The flight from Frankfurt to Oslo was fairly short but the fatigue and early start of the day already press on. At Oslo airport everything was as planned. Picked up my luggage and checked in again for the third flight for the day. It’s getting a little bit too much already 😊 It is nice to be hear though and see the natural materials of the interior used at the airport. I gladly found out that the airport is expanding with a new set of gates getting ready to welcome another 5 million passengers making them a total of 28 million. And another hour before the flight to the final destination for today – Tromso.

the plane to Tromso

A pleasant surprise was waiting for me on board. The aircraft had wi fi!!! This is the first time I experience this and it isn’t that bad ;) you can chat and do some work if you like. The flight was still quite long though. It took 2 hours to get from Oslo to Tromso. Big country!

Weather in Tromso welcomes me with 5 degrees Celsius. It will be an adventure for sure 😊 I picked up the rental car which is a gorgeous little Toyota Auris with a hybrid engine which I hadn’t driven before. It is a bordeu colour and has all kind of contemporary little additions that make driving a great pleasure. Some of these include a camera for rear parking, power button instead of a key, button to fold both mirrors from inside. Lovely little vehicle that will be my home for the next two weeks.

Regardless of the low temperature there was beautiful sunshine which was creating very welcome atmosphere. The sun was up until 22. 30 The landscape was just superb. All along the roads there were beautiful mountain peaks with a lot of snow. Dramatic peaks were everywhere. Lovely valleys.

After about 150km driving I arrived in the area of Finnsnes where my first route is. This is where i was going to spend the night camping. It was chilly about 2 degrees Celsius but my gear should be able to cope with this. Since I wanted to make sure I was at the right place I wanted to select a good starting point for the next day. Struggled a bit but managed to find one about a km from the starting point of the route. It was already after 23.00 and I really needed a sleep especially having in mind that I will need to wake up at 3 a.m. Quickly put up the tent and got into all my new gear that I was really looking forward to test.

сряда, 11 юни 2014 г.

Breeding bird survey in Norway coming up

New trip is on my list for the coming three weeks when I shall be travelling around the northern parts of Norway to conduct a field bird survey. I have to cover 10 survey routes in the area of Tromso in the second half of June. The terrain is pretty ruff but I have got some good gear so I hope everything would be fine. I have got a Deuter Neosphere -10 sleeping bag (1,4 kg), and a 3.8 cm mat from Robens (610 gr), and a Trimm Himlite tent (1,6 kg). I shall be testing and writing about this gear and its performance. Some of the routes are in pretty remote areas with high altitude difference among the survey points. For some routes it is over 500 m and the starting point of some routes is about 4-5 km from the nearest road. The survey of each route should start at 4 a.m. so it would be quite a challenge to do this trekking during the night. Luckily it would be fairly light up there. Anyway I intend to camp somewhere in the vicinity of the starting point and will probably walk to it on the previous day to reduce the walking time during the night.

field route for surveying breeding birds in Norway

The landscape though looks absolutely stunning. Will try to post updates when possible because I shall be camping most of the time and will be hard with the civiliziration. My notebook will be next to me though so I shall post some news now and then.