Male Red-backed Shrike

Not so much to report from the last few days with perhaps my first male Red-backed Shrike of the year the highlight. This late migrant seems to be later than normal this year or perhaps we are just going to get fewer than normal for some reason. Time will tell but Marsh Warblers that have also been scarce up until now seem to now be arriving in force.

An Arctic Tern at Maridalsvannet was a close second and a scarcer bird in a local context. Terns have become a regular feature of Maridalsvannet in recent years with both Arctic and Common exploiting good hatches of insects. I have been waiting for them to appear this year after the insects have started hatching and Black-headed Gulls, and a single brief Little Gull, have been exploiting them for a week. It was therefore satisfying to see an Arctic on Friday once a rain storm had eased enough for me to look over the lake.

The invasion of Painted Lady butterflies that has made the national press in the UK is hitting Norway as well and even though numbers are currently below those in the UK it is now turning up in all habitats, including my garden, and has already breached the Arctic Circle.

Otherwise breeding birds are hanging on. In Maridalen there are at least 3 Lapwing youngsters from 2 broods that are now large enough to resemble their paretns and the two replacement nests are still being incubated and should hatch any day soon. At Fornebu the Ringed Plovers seem faithful to their corner of an building site hemmed in by a road but they have attentive parents that still brood them when it rains or they perceive danger.

male Red-backed Shrike (tornskate) - here you see how it gets its name

and his mate

female Ringed Plover (sandlo) protecting 2 young during a rain shower. I am viewing from a car and despite being close to them they act naturally and react more to people walking along the road than any cars or lorries that pass close by. The young can also be seen in the video:

2 young Lapwing (vipe) in Maridalen. There was hopefully one or maybe two others from this brood in the long grass

this single surviving youngster from its brood is now looking quite adult like and will hopefully fledge making its parents hard work a success