Waterfowl arriving

Maridalsvannet is still 99.9% frozen but the areas of open water where the rivers enter at Hammeren and Dausjøelva are now large enough to attract wildfowl. Numbers of Canada and Greylag Geese have built up to around 15 of each with a single hybrid and the first Teal have also arrived and can be seen alongside Mallards and Goldeneye. Whooper Swans are passing through in addition to the local birds. There are two pairs that are being territorial and today it was clear that one pair is as usual winning. I assume that this is the pair that has bred for over a decade but I have not previously worked out any identifying features to be completely sure. Today it really kicked off between these two pairs and one bird, I believe the male, got a right beating up and ended up running into woodland with the rival male holding on to him. After these fights the winning pair always celebrates with lots of calling and wing flapping whilst the losing pair tries to move far enough away to avoid another drubbing. Today I saw though that the losing pair (identifiable due to marks resulting from their previous mauling) decided they needed to regain some pride and went on the offensive against the adults in a family of five that were feeding at Skjerven. Once the Whooper Swans eventually work things out we will probably have beef between them a Mute Swans who I expect will yet again try to breed on the lake.

The first Pink-footed Geese arrived on Monday. A flock of 85 flew north before turning due to fog and then landing on the water at Hammeren before moving to the ice and then flying onto the fields at Skjerven to feed alongside the other geese and swans so it was quite a sight!

And the first Chaffinches and Mistle Thrushes have also revealed themselves to me 😊

when I first observed the drama one bird from the losing pair had already been chased off and was standing on the ice calling whilst the other bird was being straddled and its neck held

the other bird in the victorious pair was really egging its mate on

even after the bird had managed to get on the ice the dominant bird would not let go of its neck

This video shows the two swans then moving up into the trees before the other bird from the winning pair then flies towards the other bird from the losing pair and chases it off before it is joined by its mate that has left the trees and then the losing bird from the trees also reappears on the ice

the triumphant pair having a celebratory dance

and then washing themselves which is a behaviour I have noted many times after they have emerged triumphant from a fight with other swans (Whooper or Mute)

this video is of the field at Skjerven where 85 Pink-footed Geese were feeding alongside Greylags and Canadas and a family party of 5 Whoopers. The defeated Whooper Swan pair then arrives calling and lands on the field

When the pair landed they made a lot noise and danced. The dark mark on the back of the neck shows this to be the bird that was being held earlier

they then started to get aggressive

and flew at the parents of the family who did not put any fight presumably because they are just passing through so have no territorial ambitions in Maridalen

the now victorious pair celebrates their "victory"

14 Whoopers including a family with 4 young flying over without stopping

some of the Pink-footed Geese (kortnebbgås)

male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (dvergspett) who can be seen and heard drumming in the video

and hooting and calling Tawny Owls