A second calendar year Scarlet Rosefinch was found singing in Kalandsvika nature reserve two days ago. The reserve is located about ten kilometers south of Bergen in western Norway. Being only the third record in the municipality, the bird became quite popular among local birders. I visited the site this morning. Half an hour after my arrival at 6:30, 33 species were already recorded, but there was no sign of the Rosefinch. However, just before the rain started pouring down at about 7:00, the Scarlet Rosefinch eventually sang a few strophes. After a minute or so it entered silence mode again.
Tausamyrane lies at 350 masl. in between the tallest mountains in Bergen.
Another great sighting in Bergen was done by local birder Walter Lemme two days ago. He found a male Red-backed Shrike at Tausamyrane, at the foothills of mount Gullfjellet (the highest mountain in Bergen, reaching an altitude of 1 000 masl.). It was reported several times in the same area yesterday, and I gave it a try today. Fellow birder Bert de Bruin was already at the site when I arrived, and he had already located the bird. He had seen a female as well, making everything more interesting! We studied the birds for half an hour, and noticed several behavioral traits related to breeding. Red-backed Shrikes are far from annual breeders in the county, and this was only the 4th. record ever for Bergen municipality.
Male Red-backed Shrike at Tausamyrane in Bergen, western Norway, 30 May 2024.
When watching the pair of shrikes, a slightly familiar birdsong was uttered from Salix vegetation close to us; a Scarlet Rosefinch! The bird was moving around while singing, and we got short views of it before it left us (for good?). Like the bird in Kalandsvika, it was a 2nd. calendar year male. The fourth record in Bergen, and generally a really rare bird in the county.
One year old male Scarlet Rosefinch at Tausamyrane in Bergen, western Norway 30 May 2024.
RSS Feed
