I have had a goal of giving Årnestangen and
Svellet good coverage this autumn so that was where I headed again yesterday.
The Great White Egret found on Tuesday was distantly on show as I walked out,
and an Osprey, Marsh Harrier and Cuckoo also showed on the walk. Out at the
point there was a large expanse of exposed mud but few birds at first. The
closest wader though was a fresh juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and there were also
over 70 Dunlin but no stints. Passerines provided perhaps the most
entertainment with many pipits and wagtails feeding in the grass and on the mud
and occasionally flying around calling. Amongst them I heard at least one
Red-throated Pipit and a Lapland Bunting and had what sounded like a Citrine
Wagtail (but I would need to see that well to claim).
On
my way back I heard (but without realising what it was) and then saw the Egret
flying over me which was a far cooler experience than twitching one as it was so
unexpected.
Svellet
was full of birds with around 1000 each of Barnacle and Greylag Geese. The 3
Blackwits were still present as were 2 Hobby and nearby 5 Shoveler.
I
decided on a trip into Maridalen as Lars Petter had photographed a perched
Honey Buzzard early in the morning and if they have found a wasp’s nest then
they visit it again and again to dig it out so I thought I may have a chance of
finding the bird again. And sure enough I did find one but not necessarily the
same bird as LP’s picture appears to show a female (brownish head) whilst my bird
is a male (grey head) although the rest of the plumage looks similar. I didn't
see it perched but did have it fly over me 4 times! At 1338 it flew west
carrying food and returned 9 minutes later and I watched it going down ca 1km
to the east. It then flew over me again 27 minutes at 1414 with food and again
9 minutes later it returned and looked to go down in the same area but didn't
reappear despite me waiting 30 minutes. So clearly it takes its time getting
the food but feeding the young is quick. I assume a bit of time is spent
perched and checking for threats before going to the ground to then dig out the
wasp’s nest. The HB nest though can't be that far away as it was a 9 minute
round trip including delivering the food and it was flying fairly leisurely. I
have written before about how I am amazed that I don't see the Honey Buzzards
earlier in the summer but how they always turn up in August when they have
large young to feed. My previous observations had suggested that nests were a very long way a way but clearly not this one (max 2-3km?). They are clearly just very
secretive early in the season.
Whilst
waiting for my Honey I had Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Peregrine so the Dale
delivers again.
The bazooka lens has taken
its last picture unfortunately and whilst I choose which new lens (and camera)
I will buy I am left with the superzoom and the old 70-300mm lens started with.
Today I forgot to pack the superzoom so all pictures are the old kit and I mst
admit I think it works perfectly fine for documentation.
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| juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (tundrasnipe) |
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| distant Great White Egret (egretthegre) |
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| flying over me |
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| spot the egret |
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| juvenile Cuckoo |
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| the Honey Buzzard (vepsevåk) on its way back from the nest just 9 minutes after I saw it flying in the other direction with food in talons |
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| and returning with a wasp's nest in its talons |
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| and then returning 9 minutes later after having delivered the food to the nest |
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