Autumn Migration Has Started
Late summer heralds the start of wader movements here at Voss. July, a time when most people are in the middle of their summer holidays, us birders are witnessing the start of the autumn migration when the first waders start moving down from their mountain breeding grounds. A morning visit to one of my local haunts produced juv Ringed Plover, 3 Common Redshanks, 2 Greenshank and 5 Common Sandpiper. A welcome surprise was an adult and a juv Green Woodpecker, could they have breed in the surrounding woodland? Next stop was a place called Ulvikpollen. Situated on the Hardangerfjord, this small tidal area has produced a good selection of waders during late summer. However all was quiet . A Common Crane was the best bird. It was stood beside a juv Grey Heron so it was interesting to compare the size difference between these two “long legged” species. Hoping to see some warblers I took a walk along the old disused railway line at Øvre Granvin. Like most disused railway lines thick and lush vegetation provide perfect habitat for several passerines. A family of Blackcap were the first to be found followed by Willow Warbler, the only other species of warbler to be found. There were plenty of other birds to watch though. Fieldfare and Song Thrush were feeding on the first of this year’s berries while Common Chaffinch and Yellowhammer were looking for seeds along the path. On reaching the fields a family of Whinchat “ticked” nervously as I approached while out on the lake that runs beside the railway line, a Great Cormorant was busy fishing and a female Red-breasted Merganser tried to keep her 5 small chicks in tow behind her.