Spring is in the air (well, almost....)

Following an extremely mild winter we have just had some snow. Nonetheless, there are definitely some signs that spring is in the air. Common eiders Somateria mollissima (N=ærfugl) are starting to flock together in the harbour at Hommelvik. Numbers are expected to build up in the area when the local herring start to spawn, but in the meantime they are feeding on blue mussels. Today there were small flocks of Wood Pigeons Columba palumbus (N=ringdue) and Fieldfare Turdus pilaris (N=gråtrost) on passage. A few waders around at Midtsandan including small groups of Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (N=tjeld), 8 Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima (N=fjæreplytt), 2 Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus (N=vipe), and 6 Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (N=sandlo). Also a little group of Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis (N=snøspurv).

Common Eiders, Hommelvik

 

Oystercatchers, Midtsandan

 

Northern Lapwings, Midtsandan

 

Ringed Plover, Midtsandan

 

Snow Buntings, Midtsandan

 

Snow Bunting, Midtsandan