A few days in Oslo produced no big surprises, though I did see record numbers of Wigeon brunnakke and Mute Swan knoppsvane on 25.11 at the well known locality Østensjøvatnet. I have never seen so many birds on this lake that I only visit occasionally. A hybrid Mallard / Wigeon got the pulse racing at long range!
The visit was not really planned so I ended up there with only my superzoom - it did the job though:)
Lots of auks in the area around Oslo, many of them obviously dying of either disease or starvation. I saw Red-throated Diver smålom catch fish that were almost too big for them to swallow so perhaps it is something to do with not being enough smaller fish...
On one of my visits to Gressholmen the "lagoon" there was completely frozen over - a sure sign that things are cooling down a bit....
The Botanic Gardens were also full of birds, a bit different from other winters with no Waxwings sidensvans and little in the way of finches. A Goshawk hønsehauk and plenty of Fieldfare gråtrost though.
The period 30.11-04.12 was spent in Engerdal where the best sightings in a local context were a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett and a couple of Goldfinch stillits at Drevsjø. Most of the local specialities showed up - species such as Hazel Grouse jerpe, Capercaille storfugl, Siberian Jay lavskrike, Black Grouse orrfugl and more. Still no owls and not a lot of rodent activity.
Rather more wintery than back west - most freshwater here was frozen and there was a covering of snow (although nothing like as deep as it will get!).
Dippers are finding their habitat shrinking rapidly - still some open areas of water for them to find food though.
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