Tuesday 24 May 2011

2 days until Finmark

The weekend was spent in England near Oxford for a most enjoyable 40th birthday party where Red Kites over the garden were the birding highlight.
Back in Oslo it is pretty poor weather with very strong SW winds blowing and cool temperatures. I should really be putting in the hours seawatching at Brentetangen but don't the compulsion - I am saving myself for the long awaited Finmark trip on 2 days.
A trip to Maridalen yesterday revealed 3 Little Ringed Plovers, an Osprey and a singing Icterine Warbler. Over the weekend that had been a mini influx of waders with Temminck's Stint again seen plus 4 Velvet Scoter and Red-throated Diver but of course they had all moved on. A trip to Maridalen today revealed that the 3 Little Ringed Plovers had now turned into 2 Ringed Plovers and 1 Little Ringed - my identification was sure on both days honest guv! There obviously had been a bit of an arrival today though as there were also 3 Common Scoter and 4 each of Green and Wood Sandpiper.
With it being so windy I paid a visit to the fjord by Fornebu. The waves were high but there were no obvious storm blown birds although a single Guillemot was unusual. Just as I was about to leave though a Fulmat literally flew over the car. It then hung around a bit and was frequently mobbed by anything that came close. A Cuckoo flying over here was new for the year.
Female Eider

Fulmar

Adult male and first summer male Red-breasted Merganser

Mystery bird(s) at Maridalen (do you know what they are?)

Otherwise the Great Tits appear to be feeding young in the nest box although so far no sign that the Blue Tits are doing likewise.

2 comments:

  1. Hi! :) Are these mystery birds young ones of Canada geese??

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  2. Hi, they are baby Goldeneyes probably just a day or two old

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