Déjà vu

No problem with the business today and I even had time to visit the bakery on the way home and provide delicious but hugely over priced (this is Norway after all) bread and scones for the breakfast table.

Maridalen was a bit quieter this morning than yesterday although with overnight temperatures falling to close to zero it does take a while for things to warm up both literally and on the bird activity front.

Highlight was a pair of Lesser Redpolls (brunsisik) singing and seemingly courtship feeding. This is the first time I have suspected breeding in Maridalen for this (sub)species which is expanding northwards. The Wrynecks (vendehals) were still singing and the single male has moved a bit as he searches for a mate. My first Oslo Yellow Wagtail gulerle)was a nice find.

On the lake seven Black-throated Divers (storlom) were scattered around and a couple of Red-throated Divers (smålom) flew in calling from the forest to the north to feed. These are presumably birds breeding on small lakes in the forest that are using Maridalsvannet as their feeding site. It is only in the last two or three years that Red-throated Divers have been seen here beyond a few passage records so they are also expanding their range.

On the way back from the bakers I heard my first singing Oslo Lesser Whitethroat (møller) of the year which just shows that even a quiet day at this time of the year can’t help but produce new species.

Rain is forecast next week – yippee!

Apologies if today's pictures give a sense of déjà vu.

male Whinchat (buskskvett)

Wryneck