Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Oslo area 04-10 March 2020 - Early spring in the east

An afternoon trip out to Gressholm in Oslofjord was relatively exciting as there were good numbers of Redpoll gråsisik feeding on the ground - plenty of pale rumps to see and one bird especially looked very promising for Arctic Redpoll being pale, very lightly streaked and seemed to have a white rump. This prompted me to get the camera out of my bag but I never saw the bird again.

Common Redpoll gråsisik

Rump pale but very streaked on this one


Some of the Waxwing sidensvans present


At least 20 Waxwing sidensvans were also present on the island - feeding on rosehips and another more distant flock was seen on one of the neighbouring islands in the scope.

Otherwise several Shelduck gravand, a few Oystercatcher tjeld and the usual Velvet Scoter sjøorre etc.

I returned the following day and had a migrating Skylark sanglerke and a couple of Woodpigeon ringdue as newly returned migrants.

On 06 March I covered the now almost completely destroyed Fornebu. Amazingly a few singing Skylark sanglerke and a couple of Snow Bunting snøspurv amid the very worst of the destruction. Other species included Water Rail vannrikse, Hawfinch kjernebiter and a couple of Sparrowhawk spurvehauk.




Male Three-toed Woodpecker tretåspett

A long walk inland in decidedly more wintry conditions on 07 March produced a feeding Three-toed Woodpecker tretåspett as the undisputed highlight. What a mega this would be back home in the west! Fresh Hazel Grouse jerpe droppings were a sign that more eastern specialities were in the area.

Common Buzzard musvåk

Part of the Taiga Bean Goose sædgås flock

A day out with Oslo Birder on 09 March was quite productive with highlights being 124 Taiga Bean Geese sædgås, a singing Great Grey Shrike varsler, two Cranes trane, a few Stock Dove skogdue, a couple of Goshawk hønsehauk and several Common Buzzard musvåk. Skylarks sanglerke and Yellowhammer gulspurv were singing everywhere.








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