Friday, November 06, 2020

Hamar and Engerdal 10-18 October - Not so promising

 After indications of large numbers of rodents in the Oslo area it was disappointing to not see the same going on further north in Hamar or up in Engerdal. 

Part of a flock of almost 1000 Pinkfeet kortnebbgås near Hamar. At least three of these had neck rings but these were just too fa off to read:(

In the Hamar area there were plenty of birds but without anything exciting - good numbers of geese and other wildfowl including some Pintail stjertand. Black Woodpecker svartspett, Goshawk hønesehauk, Nutcracker nøttekråke and the first small flocks of Waxwing sidensvans of the autumn were the only sightings of interest.


A late Chiff-chaff gransanger - interestingly pale legs visible on some of the pictures of this bird

One of a few Golden Eagle kongørn seen in Engerdal

Siberian Jay lavskrike

A Roe deer swimming across Engersjøen

Engerdal normally produces Great Grey Shrike varsler, Hawk Owl haukugle and more at this time of year but they were noticeable by their complete absence this time around. I managed to pick up a few Golden Eagle kongeørn, Siberian Jay lavskrike, Capercaille storfugl, Black Grouse orrfugl, Willow Grouse lirype and most of the usual suspects.

The main feature of birding in Engerdal was the huge numbers of thrushes, largely Fieldfare gråtrost feasting on the vast quantities of various berries above the treeline. The availability of these berries must be the deciding factor that dictates when these thrushes decide to leave for the UK and the continent. Berries were stripped on the rowan trees further down but the blueberries and others on the slopes more than make up for this shortfall. One heavy snowfall, however, and this food source will immediately become unavailable....

Predictably I missed a lot of good birds back in Øygarden including the first Bearded Tits skjeggmeis for the area.

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