The Return of the Gloom

And things changed again today with a return to the gloomy misty weather of the weekend, or at least that was the case in Maridalen. There were clearly a lot of thrushes, especially Mistle, around but other than that there was little sign of any new migrants and there were generally fewer birds than yesterday. At this time of the year there is always something new though and the first Green Sandpipier of the year flew over and then landed briefly on the edge of the lake.

I think the local Lapwings summed up the bleak conditions as they were just stood on the ice with no interest in protecting territories or chasing off Crows.

the gloom in Maridalen at 70mm

and with the iPhone which is quite a wide angle

there were lots Mistle Thrushes (duetrost) today

three Chiffchaffs (gransanger) included this confiding individual

There were four species of duck on the lake. 8 Goosander (laksand), 60 Mallard (stokkand) which are picture above plus 7 Teal (krikkand) and 13 Goldeneye (kvinand)



Great Grey Shrike (varsler) is still present. How much longer will he stay?



Long-tailed Tits are present at a few different sites in the valley

Addendum:

during the afternoon the cloud cover lifted and an evening trip revealed a flock each of Pink-footed and Greylag Geese heading north east (normally they head north) and a male Kestrel.

male Kestrel (tårnfalk)