Tungenes summer

 It's been a long while since I made a trip to this part. At first it was the tunnel construction, then the tunnel itself sort of put me off from making the journey. Though the drive over is much less than then 1hr 45km typically needed for Naerland, it's much more convoluted with the new tunnels.

This spot used to be great during the colder months for Purple Sandpipers, some of my best images of them are from here. There were nesting Common Ring Plover just next to the walking path. Other times Dunlins, Red Knots, Redshank are typically seen. It also used to have nesting Northern Lapwing and Oystercatchers. 

Dunlin engagement and general habitat scenes.

Mostly Dnnlin shots, I was also testing High Sync flash on some shots.
 

Purple Sandpiper at Tungenes Fyr, Randaberg

If it's one wader you could almost guarantee to see on the coast in Spring it'd be the Purple Sandpiper. Long before the Ruddy Turnstones, Redshank or the other waders return, you'll see them flitting about the rocky shores on the coast. These are cute little fellas, position yourself quiet enough along their feeding path, they'd come really close.

As the season shift from Spring to Summer, the focus returns to waders ... the long (throughout winter months anyway) awaited return of the waders. Northern Lapwing and Oystercatchers are slowly filling up the fields, their calls reminding you of that fabulous summer around the corner.

Purple Sandpiper is a great start to wader watching for the birding season.

Tungenes short stop

Decided to pop by Tungenes Fyr with Aisya ...

Purple Sandpiper at Tungeneset

Went out on a hunch to Tungenes Fyr, Randaberg this morning. Wader season should be starting soon, why not go check out some places near to home. So far it's proven that season's starting late this year ... Lista and other sites closer hasn't revealed much in terms of waders.

So off I went equipped with the scope set up and the trusty 400/5.6. And I wasn't dissappointed. After almost a year in Norway, I finally saw my Purple Sandpiper.

From Wikipedia,

"Adults have short yellow legs and a medium thin dark bill with a yellow base. The body is dark on top with a slight purplish gloss and mainly white underneath. The breast is smeared with grey and the rump is black. They measure 20–22 cm (7.9–8.7 in) in length and 42–46 cm (17–18 in) across the wings, and weight is from 50–105 g (1.8–3.7 oz).^[2]

Their breeding habitat is the northern tundra on Arctic islands in Canada and coastal areas in Greenland and northwestern Europe. They nest on the ground either elevated on rocks or in lower damp location. The males makes several scrapes; the female choose one and lays 3 or 4 eggs. The male takes the major responsibility for incubation and tends the chicks. The young feed themselves."

Purple Sandpiper / Fjaereplytt / Calidris maritima

The nice part was that these birds weren't as easily spooked as some of the other waders I've observed, they were tolerating my presence long enough to make some proper shots of them. I actually followed a flock as it foraged along the rocky shores passed the lighthouse. I was glad that when they finally all took off, it was the dog that scared them away. It was an exhilarating morning to say the least.