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Ovenbird - a first for Norway!

26/10/2003

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) roaming around in a remote garden in western Norway. This picture is shot with a handheld Nikon coolpix 4500, with no extensions at all, at a distance of about a meter or so!

This stunning Ovenbird, a first for Norway, was discovered by Frank Steinkjellå on October 25th. 2003, at Karmøy in Rogaland county. Being found during a week-end, the news initiated one of the largest twitches ever in Norway. The pointed tail feathers indicate a first-year bird. It was extremely confiding, probably because of poor condition. Anyway, it fed on the ground and gave breathtaking views when these photos were taken on the 26th.

Thrilled birders enjoying the Ovenbird. Note Hansemann with the telescope in the back. I don't think he got many views inside the scopes focus range this day...

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Lanceolated Warbler at Fedje

15/10/2003

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Fedje, a small island on the west coast of Norway, 15 October 2003: Lanceolated Warbler! The seventh Norwegian record, and the first for Hordaland county. Full story about the record and more on identification here (in Norwegian).

The first Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata) for Hordaland county, October 2003.

A field-shot of the Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata at Fedje. The bird preferred to run in the grass, rather than use its wings when flushed. Note the thin contrasty border on the tertials. A good feature to use when separating difficult individuals from Grasshopper Warblers Locustella naevia.

Identification tips
This specific individual did not show very pronounced streaking on the chest, being rather similar to a Grasshopper Warbler. Note the sharp contrast between the narrow pale borders and the black centred tertials. This field mark is good for identification compared to Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia which has more diffuse borders.

The picture below show the habitat where it stayed. And after having been found in the field it was caught and ringed.

The habitat where we found the Lanceolated Warbler. Sheeps grassland on the outer coast of western Norway, with wet marsh-like mikro habitats blended in.

Happy ringers!

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Turtle Dove in Øygarden

13/10/2003

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Juvenile Turtle Dove in Øygarden, Hordaland county October 13th. 2003. Note that it has only moulted a few wing-coverts, scapulars and mantle feathers. Turtle Doves are annual in low numbers in Norway.

Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) Øygarden, Norway 13 October 2003

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Ovenbird - a first for Norway!

Lanceolated Warbler at Fedje

Turtle Dove in Øygarden

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