To hang em or not to hang em?

 

Do you see anything hanging on that hook?

No?

That’s because today delivered big time 😊

 

Today really did feel like a make or break day for (my) Oslo bird year. If the forecast southerly winds, cloud and showers did not deliver on 9^th May then there would be no chance of this spring having a big day especially as the forecast for the next 10 days just looks to be sun. I had been thinking of playing away and seawatching at Brentetangen followed by Kurefjorden and then Dotterel searching but in the end decided, with Jack, to keep it local and stare at the fjord at Huk from sunrise. I have only done this once before but the efforts of Per Buertange a decade or so ago proved that there was potential in it. We got there at 0450 to see that there was a fairly low, and heavy, cloud base and a decent southerly wind blowing into our faces. Now we just had to sit down, keep warm and wait to find out what the bird gods had in store for us.

the view at 05:27

For the first hour or so I was thinking that I would be hanging my bins on that hook as apart from a large flock of Common Scoter resting on the sea and a Bar-tailed Godwit (Oslo #157) that had been roosting on the rocks when we arrived there was really no sign of any movement. But then things did move. First Jack picked up a skua and a dark phase Arctic (Oslo #158) passed at relatively close range. Then we heard a Greenshank calling above us and in our attempts to find it (there were 13 of them) we saw a large flock of Red-throated Divers (60) and then over the course of the next couple of hours we had a numbers of other flocks and ended up totalling 323 birds which absolutely blasts away any previous counts from south eastern Norway. We also had migrating flocks of Whimbrel which totalled 53, a huge flock of 200 Golden Plover which flew north before turning around, 70 Velvet Scoters, 3 Guillemots and an Arctic Tern (Oslo #159). Rarest though was a flyover Red-throated Pipit (Oslo #160) which we identified on call although our views did confirm it was a pipit.. and a Great Northern Diver (Oslo #161) which is an Oslo tick tick for me, #251.

One disappointing and really strange feature of the morning was the complete lack of passerine migration with not a single Yellow Wag or Wheatear for example.

 

We packed our bags after 5 hours and then headed to Maridalen. Here it was raining and with the low cloud expectations were not low but there was little to see although a singing Icterine Warbler (Oslo #162) and Hobby (Oslo #163) heading north were notable and new for the year.

There were 30 or so Swallows feeding over the lake so we thought Østensjøvannet could be a good call for hirundines and maybe terns or Little Gulls. There were a few Swallows and House Martins but 3 Swifts (Oslo #164) were the best we could conjure up.

So I had 8 Oslo year ticks today and I am now approaching the number of species I feel are guaranteed so if I am to have a record year I need a rush of scarce and rare birds.

Arctic Skua (tyvjo) heading towards us with Common Terns (makrellterne) behind

as close as it got and despite the gloom these are I think my best pics of the species close to Oslo

60 odd Red-throated Divers (smålom) @06.59

and part of an even larger flock @08.56. The flocks were flying high and didn't seem to be sure of where to go

some of the 400+ Common Scoter (svartand) that were offshore

and ca.200 Golden Plover (heilo) that first flew north and then turned and went back south

there were good numbers of Common Terns (makrellterne) and amongst them at least this one Arctic (rødnebbterne)

some of the 70 Velvet Scoter (sjøorre) we saw

a couple of the 53 Whimbrel (småspove) we saw stopped for a rest and here this one looks tiny next to a Great Black-backed Gull (svartbak)

an early singing Icterine Warbler (gulsanger) in Maridalen

and the first Hobby (lerkefalk) of the year

Birds are back, back gain, back again.....

On Tuesday and Wednesday I had a fantastic 24 hours of birding and butterflying and have a couple of thousand images to go through. I took my note-to-self to heart and remembered that there are a lot of good birds to see in mid June if you travel a bit away from Oslo. Pictures that Per Christian sent me of a displaying Mountain Marsh Runner he found at the weekend were all I needed for a spur of the moment trip. I planned on spending the night (and sleeping little) as I reckoned activity would be highest in the very early hours. As it happened the bird was far easier to find and I was left with a lot of time on my hands. 

Butterflies returned to my thoughts though as it was really hot and sunny and from previous research I reckoned there was potential to find 7 new species. I found 4 plus saw Apollo again and am very happy with that outcome. But birds did also figure and figure big time. I literally stumbled on nesting pairs of what must be Norway’s two rarest species of breeding birds. As far as I know these are the only pairs of these species discovered this year. Both species have long been written off as having a future in Norway but they seem to cling on by the skin of their teeth. As observer coverage is so thin and suitable habitat so extensive there is of course (many) more are out there.

I will come with blog posts with far more information on what I saw but for now here is a little update from Oslo:

Oslo also has its own share of interesting breeding birds. Honey Buzzards and Hobbies are back although actual nest sites are as yet unknown. Blyth’s Reed Warblers have turned up (late) at a few sites and checking out a reported singing bird today I found a nest building pair. This is the fifth time I have discovered breeding of this species and it amazes me that such thinly spread and very scarce birds so easily find each other. An Arctic Tern at Maridalsvannet yesterday was most likely a late spring migrant and mirrors a sighting I had on the exact same date in 2021.

In Maridalen a Lapwing is still sitting on a nest and if the eggs don’t hatch very soon then I think they must be infertile. The fate of all the broods that have hatched over the last 3-4 weeks remains a mystery to me as the birds, including adults, just disappear.

In the garden the Pied Flycatcher saga took a new turn. The male who sang for three weeks non stop eventually attracted a new female and with a fully furnished house awaiting her she got down to egg laying in record time. An egg a day was laid but yesterday I could see nesting material sticking out of the nest hole and the whole nest had been turned upside down with 4 eggs no hidden under material and in the opposite corner of the nest. I can only speculate what has happened but suspect a cat has got its claw through the hole (as has happened once before). I do not know the fate of the female but the male was singing outside and entering the nestbox which does not bode well.

I have also had loads of Oslo bug action but will have to leave that for a separate post. I feel now that I have too many photos t go through, too many exciting observations to share and not enough time (or patience) to do so...

Male and female Honey Buzzard (vepsevåk), the female is at the bottom

now the female is at the top

and here at the bottom again

note the difference in shape with the female having broader wings

and here the male is being divebombed by a Common Buzzard (usvåk)

pair of Blyth's Reed Warblers (busksanger)

with nesting material

this was clearly the male as he sang at the same time

Arctic Tern (rødnebbterne) - presumably a late spring migrant

Lapwing (vipe) still on the nest in 30C. She seemed to be crouching with her wings out and I wondered if she was trying to cool the eggs down

while walking in the woods I heard a sound that reminded me of a chicken. I had a good idea what it must be but seeing this chick didn't quite seal the ID

although seeing mum did. There were at least 5 young Hazel Grouse (jerpe) and mum was calling quite a lot to keep them all together. Only the third time I can remember coming across a family party

Hobby (lerkefalk)

male Pied Flycatcher (svarthvit fluesnapper). Not the garden bird but a nice photo me thinks

Tawny Owl (kattugle) whose presence was given away by the scolding Fieldfare (gråtrost) to its left

after giving up last year the Whooper Swan (sangsvane) have 4 young this year (one was on the other side of mum)

Icterine Warblers (gulsanger) came quite late to Maridalen this year but I think there are way more that normal although the fact that many are still singing suggests not many are paired up. This one sang from an unusually exposed perch

I find the song of Iccy to be very variable and must admit to often having problems ID'ing them with me on more than one occasion thinking I have found a Blyth's Reed or Marsh Warbler but to then realise it was "only" an Icterine

Rosefinch

 It is very hot and sunny at the moment and the fields are getting very dry in Maridalen which will be a test for the Lapwings. Yesterday I saw a brood of 4 to the west of the road where the previous day I saw just one. As I saw no others in that area I am assuming that I just missed 3 young previously although maybe they were a new brood as I thought the single youngster I saw was a bit bigger. Otherwise the two females are still sitting and I saw what was probably another female in the long grass but still do not know what has become of the other birds.

It is an above average year for Wrynecks in Maridalen with I believe 2 pairs and a single male but other Woodpeckers seem to be having a very poor year. I have only had one sighting of a pair of Three-toed and haven’t located a nest, I have just had two sightings of Green Woodpecker all year (would normally be 3-4 pairs) and know of only 1 Black Woodpecker nest. Even Great Spotted seem scarce than usual. It is still early for Red-backed Shrikes but 2 pairs is promising. Yesterday I watched one pair whilst a Wryneck sang in the background which for an English birder is a pretty unforgettable experience.

I have finally added Common Rosefinch to my year list but had to travel to Sørkedalen where a red male showed very well. It is still a but early but it is my definite impression that this year continues last years negative trend for this species. Being unfaithful to Maridalen also allowed me to hear a Cuckoo😊

A Hobby pair has now shown up in Maridalen and yesterday I saw and heard them briefly harassing a pair of nesting Hooded Crows in what I interpreted as an attempt to take over the crow’s nest.

old male Common Rosefinch (rosenfink)

Hobby (lerkefalk)

a well camoflagued (and badly photographed) Icterine Warbler (gulsanger)

pair of Red-backed Shrikes (tornskate)

and a glimpse of the Wryneck (vendehals) that was singing behind them

Jays (nøtteskrike) are now visiting marshy areas searching for emerging dragonfly larvae although there are not yet many for them to find and I did not see this one make a catch

Grizzled Skipper (bakkesmyger)

Pearl-bordered Fritillary (rødflekket perlemorvinge)

Night singers and butterflies - summer is here!

I still haven’t got round to looking at all my images from the mountains and as I am going up there again this evening for guiding it may be just as well as I may end up taking a whole load of even better shots 😊

Yesterday in Maridalen was a very good day with a total of 72 bird species being noted, see my eBird list here and I also had a good butterfly day. I had planned to see butterflies in the early morning as that was the only time sun was forecast but clearly was a bit too early out as it was only after I had given up and was early back at the car that I noted any but I then had some great variety.

Bird wise I got to grips with the Lapwings with 3 broods of young surviving and all being protected by their parents: 4 & 2 large ones and a new brood of 4 very small ones. In addition the pair is still incubating at Kirkeby and there were 4 adults resting on rocks in the lake. By my calculation then 2 pairs have failed (one after young had hatched and the other unsure) and are not trying again whereas the pair at Kirkeby is a second attempt after failing at Skjerven. So far then this is a fairly good result although the young have still to fledge.

I also got a better understanding of the Little Ringed Plovers with birds present at three sites with pairs seen at two of these including one pair displaying and mating. At the third site I only saw a male but there could well have been a female nearby sitting on eggs. Given that they have been here for 5 weeks I am surprised that they have not come further with their breeding attempts but hopefully they will lay and we will get the first recorded breeding in Maridalen.

I took my first nocturnal trip to the Dale on Monday night as it was perfect conditions – warm and windless. In addition to the Grasshopper Warbler, I heard two Marsh Warblers and there were more Woodcocks than I can remember seeing before. I also heard begging Tawny Owls and a visit to the area yesterday revealed an adult and three quite large young high in a sprue tree. This is a new site and I do not know whether they bred in a nest box or found a natural hole.

This is what I heard on Monday night

and on Tuesday I found mum Tawny Owl (kattugle)

and three young

Little Ringed Plovers (dverglo) displaying with female on ground and male flying over

here the female is inspecting a nest scrape just made by the male (standing) and in the video they are mating

the single male

and the other pair which showed no obvious signs of breeding

4 large Lapwing (vipe) young and a watchful parent

and four very small young

here the right hand youngster takes a fall

male Red-backed Shrike (tornskate) 

female Pied Flycatcher (svarthvit fluesnapper)

and her mate

There seem to be far more Icterine Warblers (gulsanger) than usual in Maridalen

and here is its song

which can be compared to Marsh Warbler (myrsanger)

The Crane (trane) pair have clearly failed once again to breed succesfully

And now some butterflies

grizzled skipper (bakkesmyger)

female Common Blue (tiriltungeblåvinge)

male Common Blue

same male Common Blue

Dingy Skipper (tiriltungesmyger)

male Green-underside Blue (kløverblåvinge)

and from below