Temminck’s time

The days are sunny and hot with temperatures over 20C but a constant northerly wind is not conducive to very much at all. Water levels have fallen a few centimetres at Svellet which should improve conditions as there are still lots of dry mud and the falling water levels should reveal more food rich areas. A visit this morning revealed just 3 Oystercatcher though…

The falling water levels in Maridalen have paid dividends though with a flock of 5 Temminck’s Stints. This is the classic time to find them on migration in Oslo but they are far from annual. Can I hope for a Broad-billed Sand? The muddy edges are also good for the Lapwings as they provide much better feeding opportunities than the bone dry fields. They have also created new nesting opportunities and the male of the pair that has been at Kirkeby was performing his nest scraping display this morning with the female watching on. The other three pairs are still sitting (and the fifth pair still may or may not have young). Nest #2 has been occupied since at least 10 April and with an incubation period of around 28 days the young should have hatched over a week ago. I initially thought the nest was abandoned after the ploughing but saw a bird sitting again after a couple of days and then thought that for a couple of days I had just been unlucky to be checking on them at times when the parents were away from the nest.  Maybe though the nest was ruined and they relaid very quickly in the same place whereas the other pair chose a new site and waited over a week.

As usual time will tell.

Temminck's Stint

all 5. At the end of the video you also see them with a Greenfinch which shows just how small they are

this Hen Harrier (myrhauk) at Årnestangen could have been something even rarer but was an exciting sight. An adult female I believe