Time for another good day in the Dale

Cold northerly winds both here and, I believe, further south in Europe mean that migration has nearly dried up and until today this week has been slow going. I have, however, added 5 species to my Oslo year list and with three from today being ones I would classify as not guaranteed. Best of all though Maridalen has recorded a new species thanks to Halvard’s keen eyes and I of course duly twitched it although it took a bit of finding. Water levels are also falling such that we may have a decent wader passage in Maridalen (everything is relative…) and also at Svellet (up there amongst the best in Europe) so the next couple of weeks look to be promising.

So the new Maridalen new species was Little Grebe (Maridalen’s 225 species and my 206^th there). Although a relatively common species I had not seen this coming as I never thought Maridalsvannet suitable for the species. Birds can of course turn up on migration but it was a real surprise that it has spent two days – it is clearly finding food but hugs the shoreline and hides behind stones instead of disappearing into thick vegetation which it would do elsewhere. Other common birds missing from the Maridalen list are Moorhen and Pochard and we need to be looking out for these now.

The Oslo year birds have been Willow Warbler #139, Common Sandpiper #140, Whimbrel #141, Little Ringed Plover #142 and Slavonian Grebe #143. The Slav Grebes were particularly pleasing to see and today was clearly the day that species was on the move as there were a number of other records around Oslo.

Of the little migration that has materialised then ducks have been the most obvious with the first Common Scoter, Wigeon and Red-breasted Merganser appearing on the lake.

My eBird checklist from Maridalen today is here.

The Mute Swan pair is nesting on an island in Maridalsvannet but have as in previous years attracted the attention of the Whooper Swans who spend their time beating up the Mutes. The male Mute tries to stand up to the male Whooper but doesn’t seem to have a chance and I fear that the Mute Swans will fail but also that the Whoopers will not breed as they will spend all their time fighting the Mutes.

Close to the house a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers have enlivened morning dog walks with drumming and “singing” and hopefully they will stay to breed although based on previous experiences they will move on.

 

I also took far too much video which I have yet to go through. If there is anything that evades the trash can then I will publish it later.

adult Little Grebe (dvergdykker) - not often I see them in this plumage in Norway

not often I see them in flight either and have never noticed this "speculum" before

Slavonian Grebes (horndykker) in breeding plumage are surely one of the best birds we have

here there was some display

dwarfed by a Whooper Swan (sangsvane)

part of a flock of 10 Curlew (storspove) that briefly landed on their way north

the swan drama. Here the male Mute Swan is getting a beating from the male Whooper

who then chased him around the island and then up onto it

my first Common Sandpiper (strandsnipe) of the year in Oslo

and a male Common Scoter (svartand) - I have never appreciated their impressive tail before

male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

this young male Marsh Harrier (sivhauk) headed north today and had me hoping for a good raptor day. But of course it didn't happen

2 males Adders (hoggorm)