As is often the case with me today saw a bit of a
repeat of yesterday but only a bit – because today was far superior and real
proof that spring cannot be stopped.
I started in Maridalen in rain and low cloud and
basically had nothing. I then went to Bygdøy where there definitely were birds.
There is still a lot of snow but the rain is really hastening the thaw and
within a couple of days there will be flooding and clear fields and very
exciting conditions. There are still few geese on the fields of the Kings Farm
at Bygdøy, just 40 Greylags but a Barnacle has now joined them. A flock of 40
Starlings contained 2 Redwings and 5 Fieldfares and this would alone have made
my day as it was the first migrant thrushes I have seen so far in Oslo.
Moving on to Huk I had three Song Thrushes and 3
Grey Wagtails heard a Ringed Plover, saw 7 Meadow Pipits and a Wheatear
suddenly materialise on the beach (both these species being year firsts for
both me and Oslo) and assume they had just arrived from over the fjord. 70 Cormorants and 100 Wood Pigeons also headed north into the gloom. OK, so
the amount of migrants wasn’t huge but this is just the start of what I feel
will be a huge surge.
The 6 Purple Sandpipers were still present and
again showed at ridiculously close range. Despite the rain, the light was a lot
better than yesterday and my photos noticeably better especially as I was able
to get low down when I took the pics.
Visiting Maridalen again before going home revealed
4 Grey Wagtails feeding along the edge of the road where it was snow free and
then suddenly a Merlin flew low and fast over the car sending the wagtails
fleeing – you gotta just love migration!
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| first Wheatear (steinskvett) of the year |
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| a bedragled Sparrowhawk |
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| and a load more, but improved, Purple Sandpiper pictures |
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| Maridalen yesterday |
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| the place where yesterdays Snow Buntings were yesterday. The snow is still about 50cm deep so it will be a while before the whole field is snow free |
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