August guiding

I was guiding Ramona from Deutschland today. Guiding at this time of the year is a much more challenging task than in the spring or early summer when I know where to find breeding birds and birds are singing and generally easy to find. At this time of the year there is much less activity and although it is autumn migration it can be hit and miss as to whether you find something interesting. Today was a pretty good day though J

The number one priority was Nutcracker. We had at least 6 birds but all were in flight or distant scope views of a perched bird. Of course, in the evening by my house I had a bird perched eating hazel nuts just metres from me but that’s the way it goes in birding…..

We had the Nutcrackers in Maridalen which also delivered Bluethroat, Red-backed Shrike, Whinchat, Whooper Swan, Peregrine and Goshawk.

Our other destination for the day was Årnestangen and Nordre Øyeren where we had Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier and Osprey on the raptor front and amongst Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Ruff we picked out Sanderling and Little and Temminck’s Stint who at one point educationally stood side by side. We had a lot of geese with over 500 Barnacles (where do they come from) and even more Greylags which reminds that it will soon be time for the Taiga Beans to pass through the area.

Bluethroat (blåstrupe)

Camberwell Beauty (sørgekåpe)

Goldfinch (stillits)

Hen Harrier (myrhauk)

 

a rare picture of a Magpie (skjære)

juvenile Peregrine (vandrefalk) - a small bird so most likely a male 

Red-backed Shrike (tornskate)

Sanderling (sandløper)