This spring and early summer has been very hot and
very dry in southern Norway and there have recently been news reports that
farmers already fear failed crops and bankruptcies. So a forecast of lots of
rain yesterday was certainly greeted by farmers but also by myself and
like-minded birders because as we all know rain in the summer can bring down
lots of otherwise high flying migrating waders. Now mid-June is not exactly peak
migration time and in fact there is a possibility that some birds are still
migrating north (e.g Ringed Plovers) whilst others are definitely going south
already (Curlew, Ruff and Spotted Redshank being obvious examples). Rain at
this time of the year is perhaps most likely to result in an interesting tern
though but either way Årnestangen and Svellet are the obvious choice of
locality to visit. A walk out to Årnestangen on a humid summers day is not to
be treated lightly. The plagues of mosquitos mean that one has to dress in long
sleaves and trousers and spray liberally with mossy spray. This means that ones
gets soaked (by sweat) even if it doesn’t rain (which of course you hope it
does).
Yesterday I arrived at the end of Årnestangen before
it rained and chalked up a singing Corncrake on the way (this species has become
VERY scarce in the last couple of years). At the tip there were a few waders:
Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, a Ruff, Curlew, Snipe, Lapwing and
Wood Sandpiper but no big numbers. Whilst I waited for the forecast rain to
arrive I checked out a pair of breeding Yellow Wagtail which Erling H had
suggested I do as the male looked very much like a Blue-headed. And indeed it
was, for me it ticked all the boxes and could be safely called a flava: it had
a bluey grey head, a very bold white supercilium and a very obvious white
subocular patch. The female appeared to be a thunbergi based on having dark
smudges on her breast although females are not straightforward. A mixed subspecies
pair would explain the many intermediate birds that are seen in lowland,
southern Norway.
When the rain finally came the only new waders that
turned up were a handful of Curlew and Greenshank and after half an hour I
decided to head back to the car. As I walked along the river I noticed to “gulls”
flying towards me but as they got closer I realised they were terns and terns
that large could of course only be Caspians. I had to get my camera out of the
bag but managed to record this auspicious moment but sending out a message in
the rain with wet fingers and a wet phone proved to be a task nearly beyond my abilities.
In the evening the terns were found resting at then tip and a Red-necked
Phalarope was a quality wader find.
In Maridalen the last brood of Lapwings numbers
three tiny young and on the same field a large youngster is already flapping his
wings and flying a few metres. Fingers crossed that there are still other young
hiding away and that these that decide to show themselves make it to fledging.
I have finally found the nest of one of the Wryneck
pairs and they are using the same nest as two years ago but which was used, and
walled up, by Nuthatches last year. The young have hatched and the parents are
busy bringing ants and larve and removing shit bags.
Caspian Tern (rovterne)
the 2nd bird
both birds
male Blue-headed (Yellow) Wagtail (sørlig gulerle)
wet adult Wryneck (vendehals)
food going in
shit coming out
this Sand Martin (sandsvale) in Maridalen was close to where single pairs have previously bred in holes in a wall and perhaps they are doing so again (otherwise this species seems to have disapeared as a breeding bird in Oslo)
3 tiny Lapwings (vipe) just 2 days old
and a much larger youngster probably around 3 weeks old
I haven’t finished going through all my pictures
from my memorable 24 hour trip last week so here is an update from Oslo.
The last Lapwing nest in Maridalen finally hatched yesterday.
The female was still sitting in the morning but late afternoon she was off the
nest and two tiny young were crouched there and she soon returned and sat on
them and the remaining two eggs. I wonder if I will see them again. In the same
field was one more half grown young and 4 other adults who may have had child
care responsibilities.
A nocturnal trip around the Dale with Jr on Friday
night revealed begging Tawny Owl young and a visit the next day found them with
a watchful mum nearby. A single youngster was still in the nest but two much
older ones were sitting together high up in a spruce watching us.
I had 3-4 Marsh Warblers and also heard the
beautiful tones of a (Thrush) Nightingale but in the end concluded it was a mimicking
Marsh Warbler as there was only ever a short element of song and it came from
exactly the same area as a Marsh W was singing. It was however quite a way away
and there were loud parties going on at seemingly every farm that evening so
hearing birds was quite a challenge.
On the bug front I have two (for me) significant observations.
First, I finally paid a visit to the only known locality in Oslo for the rare
Lilypad Whiteface dragonfly (vanlilljelibelle) which was successful with 3
males sitting on…lilypads and on the way to their favoured forest pond a large
shadow passed over me and my first proper views, and eventually photos, of a
Poplar Admiral (ospesommerfugl) were a factum. This has been a long time coming
but was an all too brief encounter.
I have also discovered a large population of Broad-bodied
Chasers (blåbredlibelle) which shows that the species has colonised Oslo and
done so very quickly when you consider there were only 10 records before this
year. In addition to having the species in Maridalen an area of marshland that
the council restored in 2021 in the forest of Lillomarka had at least 17 when I
visited on Thursday.
mum and a more than half grown Lapwing (vipe), let us hope all the other young and well hidden in long grass which is why I can't find them
Tawny Owl (kattugle) mum on watch
two fairly large young which clearly can fly/climb well enough to get high up a tree
but one young hadn't left the nest box yet
Lilypad Whiteface dragonfly (vannliljelibelle)
e
and with a Large Redeye damselfly (rødøyevannymfe)
and my first proper sighting of a Poplar Admiral (ospesommerfugl) flying along a shady forest track
before briefly stopping
and on my return I found it or the same one perched high up in a tree
Broad-bodied Chaser (blåbredlibelle)
a far more eye catching beast from above
the restored march where the chaser and may other dragons and damsels were. This original marsh had been drained and commercial spruc planted many decades ago but the council removed all the trees and dammed up the drainage ditches and a great marsh is redeveloping. Green Sandpipers also breed here
judging by the noise this Green Sandpiper (skognsnipe) was making there must have been young nearby
On Tuesday and Wednesday I had a fantastic 24 hours
of birding and butterflying and have a couple of thousand images to go through.
I took my note-to-self to heart and remembered that there are a lot of good
birds to see in mid June if you travel a bit away from Oslo. Pictures that Per
Christian sent me of a displaying Mountain Marsh Runner he found at the weekend
were all I needed for a spur of the moment trip. I planned on spending the
night (and sleeping little) as I reckoned activity would be highest in the very
early hours. As it happened the bird was far easier to find and I was left with
a lot of time on my hands.
Butterflies
returned to my thoughts though as it was really hot and sunny and from previous
research I reckoned there was potential to find 7 new species. I found 4 plus
saw Apollo again and am very happy with that outcome. But birds did also figure
and figure big time. I literally stumbled on nesting pairs of what must be
Norway’s two rarest species of breeding birds. As far as I know these are the
only pairs of these species discovered this year. Both species have long been
written off as having a future in Norway but they seem to cling on by the skin
of their teeth. As observer coverage is so thin and suitable habitat so
extensive there is of course (many) more are out there.
I
will come with blog posts with far more information on what I saw but for now
here is a little update from Oslo:
Oslo
also has its own share of interesting breeding birds. Honey Buzzards and
Hobbies are back although actual nest sites are as yet unknown. Blyth’s Reed
Warblers have turned up (late) at a few sites and checking out a reported
singing bird today I found a nest building pair. This is the fifth time I have
discovered breeding of this species and it amazes me that such thinly spread and
very scarce birds so easily find each other. An Arctic Tern at Maridalsvannet yesterday
was most likely a late spring migrant and mirrors a sighting I had on the exact
same date in 2021.
In Maridalen a Lapwing is still sitting on a nest and
if the eggs don’t hatch very soon then I think they must be infertile. The fate
of all the broods that have hatched over the last 3-4 weeks remains a mystery to
me as the birds, including adults, just disappear.
In the garden the Pied Flycatcher saga took a new
turn. The male who sang for three weeks non stop eventually attracted a new
female and with a fully furnished house awaiting her she got down to egg laying
in record time. An egg a day was laid but yesterday I could see nesting
material sticking out of the nest hole and the whole nest had been turned
upside down with 4 eggs no hidden under material and in the opposite corner of the
nest. I can only speculate what has happened but suspect a cat has got its claw
through the hole (as has happened once before). I do not know the fate of the
female but the male was singing outside and entering the nestbox which does not
bode well.
I have also had loads of Oslo bug action but will have to leave that for a separate post. I feel now that I have too many photos t go through, too many exciting observations to share and not enough time (or patience) to do so...
Male and female Honey Buzzard (vepsevåk), the female is at the bottom
now the female is at the top
and here at the bottom again
note the difference in shape with the female having broader wings
and here the male is being divebombed by a Common Buzzard (usvåk)
pair of Blyth's Reed Warblers (busksanger)
with nesting material
this was clearly the male as he sang at the same time
Arctic Tern (rødnebbterne) - presumably a late spring migrant
Lapwing (vipe) still on the nest in 30C. She seemed to be crouching with her wings out and I wondered if she was trying to cool the eggs down
while walking in the woods I heard a sound that reminded me of a chicken. I had a good idea what it must be but seeing this chick didn't quite seal the ID
although seeing mum did. There were at least 5 young Hazel Grouse (jerpe) and mum was calling quite a lot to keep them all together. Only the third time I can remember coming across a family party
Hobby (lerkefalk)
male Pied Flycatcher (svarthvit fluesnapper). Not the garden bird but a nice photo me thinks
Tawny Owl (kattugle) whose presence was given away by the scolding Fieldfare (gråtrost) to its left
after giving up last year the Whooper Swan (sangsvane) have 4 young this year (one was on the other side of mum)
Icterine Warblers (gulsanger) came quite late to Maridalen this year but I think there are way more that normal although the fact that many are still singing suggests not many are paired up. This one sang from an unusually exposed perch
I find the song of Iccy to be very variable and must admit to often having problems ID'ing them with me on more than one occasion thinking I have found a Blyth's Reed or Marsh Warbler but to then realise it was "only" an Icterine
