Fog more fog and finally the golden globe

 My new favourite Maridalen fields were jinxed by my last post and have been almost empty since! Fog also covered the valley on Wednesday and until early afternoon on Thursday but today we had sun from the get go and I had sky high expectations. With a light southerly wind I was expecting Falsterbo heavy but had to wait a looooong time for my first raptor. In the meantime a number of small flocks of Pink-footed Geese headed north but I really thought there should be raptors. We have not had a raptor migration day yet this spring and by my reckoning there should be thermals full of Common Buzzards and Sparrowhawks waiting to head north. Well, my reckoning doesn’t seem to count for much.

There were NO Sparrowhawks, and none of the four Common Buzzards that eventually passed in front of my field glasses looked to be actively migrating. One of them, a very pale bird, looked to be the same as I have seen in previous years. There was one raptor highlight though that then brought a little rush. I picked up a young Golden Eagle heading very slowly west over the north of the valley whilst I was stood at Nes. I drove up to the north and did not find it but did pick up a Kestrel and a White-tailed Eagle heading north so there was some quality if no quantity. Along with Goshawk I had five species of raptor today and am already up to to nine for the year in Oslo.

 

The first Adders are also out showing themselves and my first butterfly, a Small Tortoiseshell was on the wing today so spring is springing!

a young Golden Eagle (kongeørn) at far too long range but you can see what it is

One of 4 Common Buzzards (musvåk) none of which was actively migrating. This very pale bird looks to be the same that has been in the valley in previous years

Goshawk (hønsehauk)

Goldcrests (fuglekonge) look to have really suffered due to the cold spell so it was nice to find this bird which was also singing

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers (dvergspett) are making themselves known singing and drumming and I have seen a pair together. Here the male

and here the female who was reacting to the male in the next door tree

Pink-footed Geese (kortnebbgås) - one of a number of small flocks heading north today

pair of Teal (krikkand)

male Adder (hoggorm)

and a different individual