Woodlark anno 2025

Different species are sending very conflicting signs as to how far spring has sprung. The Taiga Beans (or at least the GPS tagged bird) have moved on to their next staging ground record early and this despite there still being overnight frosts but at the same time only a few Pink-footed Geese have moved through and there have been no significant arrivals of thrushes or finches.

The first Woodlarks arrived at the weekend at their breeding grounds near Gardermoen airport and I paid them homage on Monday although only a single bird showed for me but it showed very well. I would normally combine this trip with a search for the Taigas but I knew they had already moved on so contented myself with the perhaps even more frustrating search for a Bewick’s. I did find one bird after over 30 minutes of searching but as a reward I did get my best views so far.

Maridalen has been very quiet with next to no signs of any new migrants. The Pink-footed Goose flock has finally moved on and a regularly drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is perhaps the only scarce bird around. In the evenings there is still loads of activity from Tawny Owls with a single male constantly singing only a couple of hundred metres from a pair who I don’t think have started mating yet and the female of this pair calls a lot whilst the male sings occasionally.

Woodlark (trelerke)

Bewick's Swan (dvergsvane)

the bill pattern looks to be the same as the third bird from my previous post

Bewicks leading the way and its smaller size is very apparent

Lapwing (vipe) in Maridalen. I have again only seen three the last couple of days

my first Reed Bunting (sivspurv) of the year was the reward of another futile search to find a Stonechat

the pair of White-fronted Geese (tundragås) have reappeared at Bygdøy (the pattern of black barring shows them to be the same) although presumably have never left