In my last post I wrote that I felt I must have found the Hobby
nest – well today I am less sure. Per Christian and I joined forces to try to
locate it once and for all but left just as confused as before. We located four
different old Hooded Crows nests in a very small area without seeing any bird
on any of the nests. Then we heard the male calling and he appeared overhead
with prey in his talons. The female then called and flew out of the trees
towards him. There was lots of calling but we couldn’t exactly what happened
but there was clearly a food pass. The male then sat openly calling whilst the
female must have been more hidden whilst presumably eating the prey item brought
to her. The male kept calling and flew around a bit before the female then flew
out of a tree and calling and disappeared amongst the trees. During all this
time we had been keeping an eye on the old crows nests but did not see the
female coming or going to any of them. So, either we are not observant enough
or else there is a 5th nest that we have yet to find.
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| this is the old Hooded Crows nest that I felt certain was being used by the Hobbies but I am now less certain |
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| here, what I think is the male, was perched in the next door tree |
A check of the Honey Buzzard nest from last year revealed
fresh green branches on it although in nearly 4 hours of watching the nest and
skies about I failed to see a bird. So here I have found the nest but not seen
the birds…. I do not know whether adding of new material of nest means that
there has to be a pair of if just a single adult will add material whilst waiting
for their mate to return but this does give high hopes for yet another chance
to follow a breeding pair.
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| a branch with fresh green leaves can be seen on the right hand side of the nest. It is possible that a bird could have been on the nest unseen to me but I think observed the nest long enough that I would have seen some movement |
Even though I failed to see any Honey Buzzards I did have good views of a female Three-toed Woodpecker whilst waiting.
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| female Three-toed Woodpecker |
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| here it has got hold of a larve |
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| and here it is swallowing it |
The Great Northern Divers remains and has now been frequenting
the northern end of the lake in the last few days.
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| the Great Northern Diver (islom) is always close to the shore |
There are now two Common
Rosefinches in Maridalen, both brown, 2cy males and both seemingly unpaired.
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| 2cy male Common Rosefinch (rosenfink) |
The Lapwings are now disappearing in the high vegetation and
yesterday I saw none but today the male of the family was clearly keeping guard
so I assume there are still some young although I have no idea whether there is
still a bird sitting on a nest.
A new Marsh Warbler reminded me that “night singers” can
still turn up but I really don’t think I am motivated for any more nocturnal trips.