The late spring seems to have a real impact on the birdlife
around Beitostølen and Valdresflya. I have yet to see or hear a single
Redshank, Yellow Wagtail or Bluethroat, the only ducks I’ve seen so far are a
few Tufted Ducks and there are hardly any Common Gulls or Ravens. There are
some birds that seem more numerous though. On a drive in the valley below
Beitostølen yesterday Cuckoos and Ring Ouzels seemed far more numerous than I
can previously remember. We had 4 Cuckoos, both male and female, together on
roadside wires that were feeding on caterpillars in the roadside vegetation. I
can never remember coming so close to this species and if it wasn’t for the
bright midday sun and four impatient females in the car then the photo
opportunities would have been fantastic (not to self: go back again alone early
in the morning). I assume that these are birds that are finished with breeding
and are feeding up before heading back south to Africa although I did hear a
male singing a couple of nights ago whilst at the Great Snipe lek.
Ring Ouzels were at three separate locations and were
carrying food and it could well be that numbers of this species are increasing
which would match increased records from Maridalen in the spring.
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| a male Cuckoo (gjøk) |
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