Maridalsvannet is not a classic locality for terns. The water is very deep and there is little vegetation along the sides or shallow bays. When water levels are low though and there are hatches of insects then it can attract a few terns to feed. These are normally Common Terns that are presumably visiting from their nesting colonies on the fjord although the length of time that birds visit suggests they are perhaps non breeders as it is quite the journey back to the fjord if you have a nest there.
Arctic Terns have proven to be more regular than previously
realised or else they have become more regular and are now an expected annual
guest with the timing making it sometimes difficult to know whether they are
late spring migrants or early autumn migrants. Two records of Black Tern and of
course the Gull-billed Tern on 10 June 2023 show that there is always potential
for something rarer and more exciting.
This week has seen a hatch of insects and there have been
lots of Common and Black-headed Gulls hawking insects and with them upto 8!!
Arctic Terns and 4 Common Terns. We have had quite a few rain showers and one of
these at least caused an arrival of Arctics (they increased from 5 to 8). With
records of a Gull-billed and a number of Sandwich Terns to the south and a
White-winged Black to the north I have of course been hoping to find something
rarer myself and have also expected Little Gulls to turn up. They haven’t
unfortunately but it has been fun observing all the different birds and it is
always a challenge identifying Common and Arctic Tern. Anyone who says it is
easy is either really good or lying. One of the Arctic’s has been
present every day and is readily identifiable due to is missing one of its
outer tail feathers and also showing signs of immaturity that have led me to
age it is a 2nd summer / 3rd cy.
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| the 3cy Arctic Tern (rødnebbtern). All black bill, incomplete black hood and dark feathering on front of wing are all signs of immaturity |
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| here you can also see it is missing (or maybe it hasn't grown out yet) its left outer tail feather |
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| an adult Arctic |
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| adult Arctic |
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| and here an adult Common (makrellterne) and adult Arctic with a Black-headed Gull (hettemåke). In this grainy picture you can still see that the black line on the undersde of the primaries is narrower and more defined on the Arctic which is also a slight smaller bird |
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| adult Common Tern here with the black tip to the bill also visible |
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| all the terns were nearly always in flight but here the 3cy Arctic perched on a rock |
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| same bird |
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| same bird |
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| adult Arctic |
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| Adult Arctic in fron of a ski jump - one of my signature shots ;-) |
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| adult Arctic swooping for food |
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| it is difficult to see what it caught - either a small fish or a large insect |
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| the 3cy Arctic |
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| adult Arctic |
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| adult Common |
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| Adult Common |
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| adult Common |
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| adult Common |
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| adult Common |
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| here catching a small fish |
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