Oslo 20-27 December 2020 - Christmas in the east

 For the most part a grey and wet Christmas.

I was out in some form every day, ranging from short strolls in downtown Oslo to 10km+ walks in the surrounding area.

Bygdøy on 20 December produced Black Woodpecker svartspett and  five Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt as the best sightings.

Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt

Gressholmen on 22 December was very quiet for the most part but a Goshawk hønsehauk looked like it was hunting the many rodents there. Red-throated Divers smålom, Guillemots lomvi and Razorbill alke gave good views from the boat. An unusual finding was a dead Lesser Spotted Dogfish on the shore.

Goshawk hønsehauk

Red-throated Diver smålom 

Some of the many Guillemots lomvi present in inner Oslofjord

A long walk around Bogstadsvannet on 23 December produced a Hawk Owl haukugle as the best bird along with Black Woodpecker svartspett, Dipper fossekall and most of the usual stuff.

Hawk Owl haukugle

Christmas tree decorations as they should be!

Fornebu is a place I tend to avoid as the development there makes me sick, but unable to think of aywhere else to go I went there on 24 December. A flock of Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis were as always delightful and a couple of Water Rail vannrikse made themselves known.

The Botanic Gardens were full of feeding Fieldfare gråtrost, Goshawk hønsehauk and a single Hawfinch kjernebiter.

Goshawk hønsehauk in the Botanic Gardens