Whilst Norway’s keenest twitchers were making the overnight
journey to Sør Trøndelag for the country’s first Sandhill Crane (kanadatrane),
Maridalen was witnessing its own mini-twitch with five birders listening to the
Grasshopper Warbler (gresshoppsanger) when I was there around midnight. For one
short moment we were able to listen to the Grasshopper Warbler and Corncrake (åkerrikse)
simultaneously although the Corncrake only sang very intermittently. The River
Warbler (elvesanger) was also singing earlier in the evening.
I discovered that "my" Tawny Owls (kattugle) are not the five that had been ringed. These birds were in a nest box only about 500m away which seems to be incredibly close and is evidence that there is a very healthy population of prey be that rodents or small birds. Even more surprising though that I haven't heard any hooting owls earlier in the year. A youngster sticking its head out of the nest box today but no sign of any adults or uesterdays youngster - hopefully everything is well with them.
I discovered that "my" Tawny Owls (kattugle) are not the five that had been ringed. These birds were in a nest box only about 500m away which seems to be incredibly close and is evidence that there is a very healthy population of prey be that rodents or small birds. Even more surprising though that I haven't heard any hooting owls earlier in the year. A youngster sticking its head out of the nest box today but no sign of any adults or uesterdays youngster - hopefully everything is well with them.
 |
| Young Tawny Owl contemplating leaving the nest box. Something morbid about this look with the red skin around the eyes |
As the female Tawny Owl begins to incubate when the first egg is laid and
lays a new egg every two days there is a large difference in the development of
the youngsters so it takes a few days for them all to leave the nest.
Today I went to see the Great Reed Warbler (Trostesanger)
discovered in Østfold last Thursday at a site Rune and I had been to only the
previous day. It was calling and singing loudly from the reedbed when I arrived
and showed in flight and perched a few times although was being chased rather a
lot by an angry Reed Warbler. Also here a couple of singing Marsh Warblers.
 |
| Great Reed Warbler peering through the reeds |
At Øra nothing of any interest to see after the last couple
of weeks of excitement there. Nothing of any real interest at Kurefjorden
either although a late Dunlin (myrsnipe) was on the mud and an Osprey (fiskeørn)
flew over with some eel like fish.
 |
| Osprey with dinner |
No comments:
Post a Comment