Getting better

A vast improvement today with cloud and some drizzle making viewing conditions better and bringing down a few birds. I spent the morning at Nordre Øyeren and racked up over 2000 Teal, 3 Shoveler, a pair of Garganey and 27 Ruff (which is a very early record for so many) and my first Wood Sandpipers of the year. 11 species of wader was promising with around 60 Curlew being the most numerous, followed by Greenshank, Ruff and Golden Plover.

Dog walking after lunch took me to Østensjøvannet to twitch a male Gadwall found by Anne Kari and there were also all three hirundines there.

A couple of trips into Maridalen revealed Osprey on both trips and a Kestrel but not too much else except for my first 2019 Dale records Common Sandpiper and Swallow.

Garganey (knekkand) pair

Osprey (fiskeørn) being mobbed by Common Gulls (fiskemåke)

the broad breast band and flekking on the underwing coverts show this to be a female

18 male Ruff (brushane)

3 Shoveler (skjeand) with Teal (krikkand) in Svellet

the scene in Snekkervika where there were over 1000 Teal but nearly no other ducks

crap photo but always good to document the first Wood Sandpipers (grønnstilk) of the year when the first (early) records are nearly always misidentified Green Sands (skogsnipe)

male Gadwall (snadderand)