Sleet and Starling

Winter reminded us that he hasn’t quite gone away today with sleet and temperatures hovering just about zero. Despite this it looks like the birds cannot be held back with a trip around Maridalen revealing a number of new arrivals. On the ice free areas of the lake were the first Canada Geese of the year and the pair of Mute Swans (knoppsvane) had to tolerate the company of an another Mute and four Whooper Swans (sangsvane). The pair were acting very territorially by swimming towards the others geese with their wings raised above their back which gives more hope that they will stay and breed. The male Teal was also present.

On the fields as Kirkeby a Skylark (sanglerke) sang despite the sleet and the Yellowhammer flock has increased to 70 birds and also contained my first Starling (stær) of the year.