Record early Red-throated Diver

 Today’s action in the Dale was similar but not same same to yesterday’s. There were more Redwings, Starlings and Dunnocks but fewer Mistle Thrushes. Pink-footed Geese also migrated through in decent numbers (I had over 600) and a couple of flocks landed on the lake and one of these contained 10 Barnacle Geese which I assume are proper wild birds on their way to Svalbard. Also on the lake and the sighting of the day was a Red-throated Diver. This is the earliest record in Maridalen and also only the second ever record in Oslo in March.

Goldcrests have been noticeably common during the whole winter with the mild temperatures undoubtedly being beneficial for them and now they just seem to be everywhere as they search for newly hatched insects. I am hoping to find a Firecrest amongst them…

The Smew is still present and I had two sightings of Great Grey Shrike although assume it was the same bird

crap picture but this is the first ever Red-throated Diver (smålom) to grace Maridalen with its presence in the month of March

migrating Pink-footed Geese (kortnebbgås)

one of the flocks which then landed on the lake also contained Barnacle Geese (hvitkinngås)

10 of them to be precise

  

the flock was very dense when on the water

first sighting of Great Grey Shrike (varsler)

and second sighting 1.5km away but I see nothing to suggest it was not same bird - and the bird that was spent the winter in the Dale has moved around a lot