Brentetangen delivers

Seawatching at Brentetangen it was then. I was in place at 0515 but wasn't the first there having been narrowly beaten by Magne Pettersen. His company and later that of Rune Bottnemyr helped the time go by as the birds passed in fits and spurt. It was also really cold until the sun finally reached us after 10am although my inner core only started warming up at noon.

I was all ready to leave at 1045 but a message of a migrating Long-tailed Skua (fjelljo) further (a lot further..) down the coast made me stay longer and just as well really.

The bread and butter was provided by Red-throated Divers with 134 going north and a few south.
Quality came in the form of a light phase Pomarine Skua (polarjo) at 7am but best of all and lucky for me that I didn't leave earlier a male Red-footed Falcon (aftenfalk) at 1120. Unfortunately it was never close as it flew east (towards our side) over the fjord and crossed land over 1km north of us but we were able to see enough. Full marks to Rune for picking up the bird at more than 2km range, Magne for his 300th Østfold species (and the first to reach that milestone) and maybe to me for being the first to say out loud what species we all thought it was.

Also-rans in the seawatching stakes were an Arctic Skua (tyvjo), male Long-tailed Duck (havelle) and six Scaup (bergand). Three raptors heading west over the fjord were only picked whilst heading away so went down as unidentified buzzards but were all probably Honey (vepsevåk). I waited two hours to see if the Long-tailed Skua would flyby but in the end the lack of any other action made it an easy decision to move on. I searched half heartedly for the falcon in fields around Kurefjorden but the best action was in the flooded fields by Ovenbukta where a close hunting Marsh Harrier (sivhauk) tested the limits of my autofocus and as usual I failed to get the picture I could have. Also here three Temminck's Stints.

male Marsh Harrier (sivhauk)

The last decent bird of the day was a male Red-backed Shrike (tornskate) sat on the motorway fence on the opposite carriage way by Rygge airport exactly where I saw one at the weekend. I considered doubling back at the next junction and stopping on the hard shoulder to take a picture but didn't have the nerve.

These two female Eiders (ærfugl) were at Brentetangen minding their creche of youngsters

Rain and rain and skua for others

Yet another day of torrential rain. I at least braved the conditions today in the company of Fernando but the camera stayed tucked away.
 

Maridalen delivered singing Rosefinch (rosenfink), Wryneck (vendehals) and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (dvergspett) but none of them actually showed themselves. A walk upto Dausjøen revealed the Whooper Swans (sangsvane) are still sitting on a nest which looks safe and dry so the pair I had on Maridalsvannet yesterday were clearly other birds.

We tried for the Rb Fly at Dælivannet in pouring rain at lunchtime but unsurprisingly it didn't show itself. The young Common Rosefinch was singing his heart out though.

Today is perhaps a story of what wasn't seen. In (as far as I can make out) easterly winds there was an enormous passage of Long-tailed Skuas (fjelljo) off the west coast of Norway and 10 were seen along with 20 Pomarine Skuas from Jeløy in the outer Oslofjord. Maybe something to check out tomorrow morning to see if there are any still around?

Rain

As forecast it rained all day yesterday so I used that as an opportunity to get stuff done in the house. Others who were out and about though had some birds with reports of possible Greenish Warbler (østsanger) in Maridalen and ringtail Montagu's Harrier (enghauk) near Gardermoen reaching my ears.
I had a quick look at Maridalen and all of yesterdays swans (2 single Whooper and 5 Mute) were still present with an additional pair of Whooper Swans new in. I hope that these aren't the breeding pair which would indicate that they have failed. I could imagine that with all the rain their nest has been flooded. I will have to go and check soon.

In the evening I took advantage of a forecast break in the rain to check out Årungen and Østensjøvann lakes. A Kingfisher was reported from Årungen yesterday but while I was there I saw no sign of it but it was still raining heavily which wouldn't have helped. Over 300 Swallows (låvesvale) were feeding low over the water in the rain but five Common Terns (makrellterne) found it more sensible to sit and wait it out.

After 10pm I did have have some nocturnal action with a singing Corncrake (åkerrikse), two Marsh Warblers (myrsanger) including one singing from exactly the same bush I had a Hawk Owl in a few months ago.

Coming home I tried Maridalen but there were no nocturnal singers here yet. It is not normally until the first week of June that Maridalen receives its influx.

Back in business

Yesterday started overcast and thunderstorms were forecast for the evening but the rest of the week looks even worse so I decided to make the most of the day.

A Red-breasted Flycatcher (dvergfluesnapper) was reported on Monday from Dælivannet close to Oslo so that was going to be my first stop. Before I had even left the house though I had a message from Kjetil J that the Serin (gulirisk) had returned for the fourth year running to Haslum Chuch which is close to the flycatcher. Two good birds to go for!

The Flycatcher was singing when I got to its favoured area and sang for the next 10 minutes but I failed to see it in the dense woodland even though it was close. It then shut up for an hour and I was close to leaving when it sang again and this time I located it. Inside the mixed spruce and deciduous wood it was quite dark so the pictures are all with a high ISO. Also I continually failed to capture it the few times it perched low down as the autofocus just wouldn't lock on. A great bird though and only my second ever adult male. Also in the area a singing, brown, first summer Common Rosefinch (rosenfink), Hawfinches (kjernebiter) and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (dvergspett).

 

male Red-breasted Flycatcher (dvergfluesnapper)

singing male Common Rosefinch (rosenfink). The brown as opposed to red plumage shows this to be a male in its second year (1st summer)

 After all this excitement the Serin gave itself up very easily although always sat very high up as it sang its little heart out.

singing male Serin (gulirisk)

I paid my first visit to Maridalen for a few days and had a flock of 5 immature Mute Swans (knoppsvane) and two Whooper Swans. A Rook (kornkråke) with a flock of Crows (kråke) was my second record here this year but only my third ever on the patch. This bird had an adult like bill so was different to the 1st summer I had earlier this spring.

Rook (kornkråke) - a rare Oslo and Maridalen sighting

another picture of that Wryneck (vendehals)

...and another

A few Yellow Wagtails (gulerle) included a singing male and one of the Wrynecks (vendehals) showed well.

In the early evening the sun shone but this was only a window of light before the thunderstorms were to start. I never the less headed towards Hellesjøvannet where a Great Reed Warbler (trostesanger) was heard on Monday. On the way I had three Honey Buzzards (vepsevåk) and a Hobby (lerkefalk) over the road and it looks like these late migrants are arriving in force. The Honey Buzzards showed very well although I underestimated how much I needed to adjust the exposure with the closest pictures. One bird was very pale and could almost suggest an Osprey. Looking at the pictures all three appear to be males due to limited barring on the flight feathers and grey heads. At Tuentangen two male Red-backed Shrikes showed distantly but I got my first picture of one for the year.

Hobby (lerkefalk)

Honey Buzzard 1 an intermediate phase

same bird as above

pale phase Honey Buzzard (#2)

#3, a dark phase bird,  which was circling above #2. I assumed them to be a pair but it looks like both are males

first Red-backed Shrike of the year burned onto the hard disk

At Kjelle nine Temminck's Stints were nearly impossible to see feeding on a distant area of mud and a singing Spotted Crake (myrrikse) was completely impossible to see.
At Hellesjøvannet I had an hour before the heavens opened at 8pm. In this time I heard three Reed Warblers (rørsanger) and one Sedge Warbler (sivsanger) and saw a male and female Marsh Harrier. It then rained really hard for two hours and it wasn’t until 10pm that I was able to get out of the car and have a listen. Three singing Spotted Crakes was quite a result along with another Sedge Warbler but no Great Reed.

Driving home there were countless flooded fields and in two areas houses were flooded and people were standing outside getting assistance from the fire brigade. On the radio they were saying that there is a risk of a 50 year flood in many parts of Southern Norway due to combined heavy rainfall and melt water from the mountains.

Cabin photos

Here are the best of the few avian photos I took this long weekend. It took me three days to see the singing Redstart (rødstjert) by the cabin and I began to doubt myself as a singing Pied Flycatcher (svarthvit fluesnapper) kept turning up hest where I had heard the 'start. Today though it showed well and allowed me to take some distant pictures.

singing ,ale Redstart (rødstjert)

displaying Redshank (rødstilk)

Relaxing at the cabin

We are enjoying the unseasonally warm weather (30C) at a cabin by the Oslofjord in Hulvik. There is a good potential for migrating seabirds here but light northerly winds have not been conducive gøfor migration and the only movement of note was a few male Eiders (ærfugl) heading south after having presumably done their bit for the survival of the species and now heading off to moult and rest.

Around the cabin there are singing Wood Warbler (bøksanger), Garden Warbler (hagesanger), Hawfinch (kjernebiter) and Redstart (rødstjert) alongside the commoner birds. Also a mystery bird calling which I can't decide if it is a woodpecker, Wryneck or even a Hobby  - hopefully I'll get to see it.

This morning I headed off to Kurefjorden before breakfast where two Dotterel (boltit) were the highlight. A pair of Redshank (rødstilk) also showed well and I may have some good pictures.

My main hope for this weekend has been to see my first Red-backed Shrike (tornskate) of the year - a bird I love to see and which seems to be getting scarcer for every year that passes. Today I saw none in any of the spots where I have found birds before but did at least see one at 100km/h along the motorway fence - strangely I didn't get a picture.

17. mai

17 May is Norway’s national day and birding is not high on the list of priorities. The whole country becomes a national costume wearing, flag flying, ice cream eating nation.

Downtown Oslo today. There can't be many countries where such a degree of nationalism isn't consider alarming!

I did have an Icterine Warbler (gulsanger) singing only 150 metres from the house though which was a nice bonus.

Relaxing in the hood

adult male Common Rosefinch (rosenfink) - highlight of the day

After the high speed excitement of yesterday it was time to calm down a bit. The morning was spent in the local area as the youngest participated in a kindergarten parade to mark Norway’s national day which is tomorrow. Whilst doing my proud fartherly duties I was able to note the first House Martins (taksvale) had returned to the local colony a full two weeks later than last year. Also a lot of Spotted Flycatchers (gråfluesnapper) in the area.

In the afternoon I visited Fornebu hoping for my first Red-backed Shrike (tornskate) of the year. Even though the temperature reached 20C, I got sunburnt and there was insect activity I failed on this score. The trip was by no means a waste though. I had a fine red male Common Rosefinch (rosenfink) busily feeding on seed heads, a singing Icterine Warbler (gulsanger), four different male Bluethroats (blåstrupe) three of which were singing and the other which had a strange staining to the plumage. There was also a good presence of other commoner warblers and the first Swifts (tårnseiler) were “screaming” in the skies above me.

male Bluethroat (blåstrupe) is always a nice bird

having a stretch

This individual was strangely stained. In the field I though it was just wet from having bathes but looking at the pictures I think it may be oil?

My first ever decent picture of Icterine Warbler (gulsanger)

Iccy

Little Ringed Plovers (dverglo) always make a good subject

that Rosefinch again