Pink-footed Goose migration starts

New species keep coming. The first Lapwings of the year were in Maridalen despite their breeding field being knee deep in snow. A horse field was clear though and here they found food. I also had Oslo’s first Reed Bunting for the year as well as my first Ringed Plover. At Østensjøvannet over 100 Black-headed Gulls were now back and making a lot of noise but bird of the day and a real sign of spring was skiens of migrating Pink-footed Geese. I had 4 over Maridalen and 2 cackling flocks right over the house totaling over 1300 birds with the largest flock being 560! With quite strong winds that ended up being from the west as well as the sight of snow as far as the eye could see it was obvious that the birds were not sure what to do once they got to the end of the Oslo Fjord and had to cross land. One flock turned around, 2 flocks let the wind take them and headed east whilst three flocks managed to keep going in a northerly direction. These flocks have all left Denmark this morning and some will probably not stop until they get to Trøndelag in mid-Norway.

Pink-footed Geese (kortnebbgås) over the house

10 years of data but I don't think any real pattern can be seen

Lapwing (vipe) in the snow

and in the horse field

Oystercatcher (tjeld)

just one Purple Sand (fjæreplytt) showing at Huk today

 

but this Ringed Plover (sandlo) was much rarer. 4 species of wader in a day in Oslo in March might be a record

gulls gathering on the ice at Østensjøvannet

displaying Goldeneyes (kvinand)

Goosander (laksand) pair

Grey Wagtail (vinterlerle) in the horse field in Maridalen

male Reed Bunting (sivspurv)

These two moose were with another animal that swan across the water where the river enters the lake at Hammeren but I failed to capture that excitement

a distant porpoise (nise) off Huk