Autumn?

It is hot at the moment (temperatures in the high twenties) and autumn migration has slowed down. There has been a noticeable clear out of House Martins and Swifts from Maridalen although there are few obvious migrants from further north with just couple of Yellow Wagtails, hardly any Willow Warblers or Whinchats and no Meadow Pipits yet. Lots of snow in the mountains this spring may have delayed the breeding season such that autumn passage is also delayed.

A local breeding species is totally absent though and that is Red-backed Shrike. Last August saw a record number of family groups in Maridalen but this year I have seen none with the single breeding pair and their single confirmed young last seen 30 July. What causes these extreme swings in numbers is not clear to me but is worrying.

one of only 5 Whinchats (buskskvett) in Maridalen yesterday

a patriotic Sparrowhawk (spurvehauk)

the hawk was being mobbed by a lot of Swallows and White Wagtails (linerle) but this wagtail was risking things a bit

This Nutcracker (nøttekråke) also got an angry reception from the Swallows (låvesvale). It's crop is full of hazel nuts which it is off to hide somewhere

and a flyover Black Woodpecker (svartspett)

I am unsure as to the age/sex of this Osprey (fiskeørn) but believe the well barred secondaries show it to be a juvenile