More Maridalen

The day began early with surveying of birds at Ekeberg. After that I went looking for Woodlark (trelerke). Two males were belatedly reported singing in the middle of May from a clearing north of Maridalen. No sign of any today unfortunately and it looks an unlikely habitat so maybe they were passing through (?). In Maridalen both locustella warblers were still singing mid morning which I take as a sign that they are unpaired and getting desperate. The male Tawny Owl (kattugle) sang at 10am from inside the wood and was answered by a hoot from the birds nesting at the other site 500m away. I went to this site and accidentally disturbed an adult from its daytime roost. Then when I went back to the first nest site the scolding thrushes led me to an adult. This bird looked browner than the adult I have seen before which was quite a grey bird. No sign of the youngsters though.

The Wryneck (vendehals) flew out of its hole and a singing Common Rosefinch (rosenfink) showed well and I saw it briefly with a female so they are presumably breeding here.

Adult male Common Rosefinch. The males only get their red plumage in their 3rd calendar year

 

 Also seen in Maridalen a hare and this beaver.

Beaver making its way home after a busy night felling trees

Back at home a big surprise when I saw a Great Tit (kjøttmeis) flying into the nestbox. It appears they are well on their way with a second brood. Seven eggs are visible and the female looks like she is already brooding. See more here.

Male Siskin. There are Siskins everywhere at the moment and they are often to be seen eating dandelion seeds