Birding and Maridalen never fail to surprise. Today
I had agreed to meet Jack in the Dale to help him get a lifer in the form of a
Grey-headed Woodpecker. I got there an hour before it turned out JD would be
arriving so set about finding out what was around. At Nes I heard a call that I
could not place and Meadow Pipit was the only thing I could think and saw a
small bird on top of the red barn which had been favoured by the Grey-headed
peckers on Monday. It was the right size for a Mipit but through the bins I
could see it wasn’t and it took a few seconds for my brain to process the image
and realise it was a Black Redstart! Only the fourth record in the Dale and the
first in autumn this was a real surprise. It was calling a lot (a call I do not
recall having heard before) and was clearly recently arrived and wondering what
to do with itself. It soon disappeared but I heard a Gh Wood and decided to
stay in that area until JD arrived.
Soon after though I spoke with Jr Jr who
was not feeling well (first day back at school after a covid like cold) and
agreed to go collect her. Driving out of Maridalen passing the bay at Kirkeby I
glimpsed a large white bird in flight over the water. Whooper Swan would be the
default bird but it was in a gliding flight coming into land on bowed wings and
I had an idea it might be something far more interesting. Stopping the car where
I could look over the bay my suspicions were confirmed – a Great White Egret! I
only had time for a couple of pictures and to share the news as I couldn’t be
late. Unfortunately though the bird did a quick bunk and only two others saw it
before it headed north less than 5 minutes later.
I returned after I had been a good dad and met up
with Jack who was not particularly impressed that I could show him none of the
interesting birds I had seen before he got there. We hung around Nes hoping
that a pecker would show but after a long time when I was starting to freeze (I
never have the right clothing on despite living here for 20 years) we decided
to get in the car and drive around a bit. Stopping at Kirkeby to see if the
egret had returned – it hadn’t – we checked the area which has held two of Maridalen’s
previous three Black Reds and sure enough it had eventually also attracted the
fourth. A few other birders were able to connect with it and the Great Grey
Shrike also showed. JD stayed in the Dale until quite late without seeing the pecker
although others did and the rumour that a Jack a day keeps the birds away is
gaining traction 😉
A trip out with the thermal camera last night
revealed a Woodcock and a Common Snipe plus what I believe was a Jack Snipe but
it flew off before I got to see it properly (which does count against it being
a Jack though..) Also there were over 60 Mallard feeding on flooded stubble
fields. During the day you are lucky to see a handful of Mallards in Maridalen
and I believe the birds at night spend their daytimes on Akerselva in the city.
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Great White Egrey (egretthegre) only the second record in the Dale and the best picture I could manage before having to hurry off |
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I did stop to snap this picture from the other side of the lake at a distance of about 1km |
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my first view of the Black Redstart (svartrødstjert) before I was really sure what it was |
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a bit closer and its identity became clear |
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it showed better later in the day at Kirkeby |
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photoshopped picture showing it from both sides |
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I am not confident to age/sex this bird but think the flight feathers look fresh which would suggest an adult female I think |
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in habitat |
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the Dale's Great Grey Shrike. It would be nice if the other Great Grey bird paid us a visit this winter |
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Common Snipe (enkeltbekkasin) from last nights thermalling |
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a Kingfisher (isfugl) from an otherwise uneventful visit to Fornebu yesterday |
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Grey-headed Woodpecker (gråspett) in Maridalen yesterday afternoon again favouring houses |
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notice its long tongue and that it has some debris on its bill afterwards. We can also just about see this is the bird with the red feathers in the crown |
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