All thawed out

The recent inclement weather in Trondelag has passed and the Ticker has tunnelled his way out and is back in the field scoring a very respectable 4 today with Tengmalms and Long-eared Owl, Wigeon and Canada Goose bringing his total upto 78. I am still on 162 but am travelling south to visit an old birding pal over easter so I hope to pick up some of the goodies recently on offer down there.

View from Trondelag

Not much ringing activity on sunday due to a stiff wind and as usual work interupted list quest today. However a picture from a wintery Trondelag to refresh our memories of winter.

Frampton Marsh RSPB

What a good place, needs to mature a bit but has potential to be a cracking place. Lots of birds about which included at least 3000 Brent Geese, 6 Little Egrets, a Wheatear, 2 White Wagtails, 27 Avocets, 30+ Twite and 2 White-fronts. With an accompanying cast of lots of wildfowl and Black-tailed Godwits. I did miss my first Swallow of the year though.

With the Trondelag Ticker snowed in, yes I said snowed in and unable to get out, I pulled the 3 species back that he scored on thursday. Uncle Birdy now 161 for year in UK. A Great White Egret on Tee,s Side will be a target if it stays into tomorrow.

Trondelag Ticker starts to move out of first gear

Two days now without a year tick for me, either bird or moth so the focus was on Verdal where Ticker scored with Shellduck, Lapwing and a Gyr Falcon which I hope hangs around for my visit in a few weeks. Trip to Frampton Marsh planned for tomorrow so should pick up one or two there.

A good start to the day

Not as many moths in the trap as I had hoped for but a very welcome lifer in the form of a Grey Shoulder-knot. A cracking moth of which I hope to get some pictures later this afternoon. Other moths last night were four Hebrew Characters and singles of Clouded Drab, Common Quaker and another new for the garden Acleris Hyemana which brings the garden list to 450.

Another bonus today was the arrival back of the Little-ringed Plovers onto some waste ground near my workshop, the male has been displaying all morning. This combined with three more singing Chiffchaffs could mean that spring is finally arriving, though its Easter next week so it will probably snow.

Late news from the Trondelag Ticker, he scored three today Green Woodpecker, Woodpigeon and Pygmy Owl, I only scored one with the LRP.

Anglo Norsk Year List Challenge

News just in from the Trondelag Ticker, he is now on 68 species for the year. Still lagging a long way behind my 157, but as the first migrant Starlings only reached Verdal on Thursday last week he has a lot of easy ticking to come.

Disappointing night

Despite temperatures in the garden staying at five degrees very few moths were caught. Three Common Quakers, four Clouded Drabs and five Hebrew Characters. There were also three titchy micros that will be visiting Dr Moff for identification later this evening.

Update on titchy moths, one Caloptillia Stigmatella and two Agonopterix Heraclianas. I am investing in a macro lens for my Nikon so will hopefully be able to post some moff piccies by the weekend.

First Spring Migrants

First spring migrants today with Sand Martin and Chiffchaffs putting in welcome appearences at Bishop Monkton. Also had a fly over Waxwing here first thing, Lesser pecker and five Buzzards also sighted, along with 49 birds ringed an enjoyable time was had by all.

After lunch a drive out over the moors towards Pately Bridge and a half hour stop at Skell Gill provided more raptor excitement with four more Buzzards a female Perigrine and a fantastic Red Kite. The local Red Grouse were also very active and several males were doing their best to attract some female interest.

After some much needed refreshment at Well House I decided to travel back via Leighton Res and was rewarded with a Short-eared Owl quartering the moors above Lofthouse.

All in all a good day and my first ever blog