Another week where it was difficult to get out, but this time in Oslo.
On 17th I spent 15 minutes in the Botanical Gardens and the gardens were full of life with lots of birds present, many of them new arrivals for me. Some Hawfinch kjernebiter remained but Chaffinches bokfink had arrived and were singing as were Starling stær and Woodpigeon ringdue.
Chaffinch bokfink
Hawfinch kjernebiter
Woodpigeon ringdue
On 21st I headed into the gardens again before heading down to catch the ferry to Gressholmen. The gardens held at least a couple of Stock Dove skogdue as the best sighting, along with Great Spotted Woodpecker flaggspett and others.
Stock Dove skogdue in the Botanic Gardens - I'd have been very pleased to get shots like these of this species in Øygarden where they are rather scarce migrant.
The trip to Gressholmen was quite suceessful with a few decent flocks of Pinkfeet kortnebbgås heading north. A couple of Goshawk hønsegauk, a few Shelduck gravand, five Ringed Plover sandlo, more Stock Dove skogdue, two Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt and plenty more to see. Oystercatcher tjeld, Greylag Goose grågås and Barnacle Goose hvittkingås were also the first I've seen in Oslo this year. A big increase in Black-headed Gull hettemåke and Common Gull fiskemåke numbers since last time and several Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke too. A great morning out!
The first of a few flocks of Pinkfeet kortnebbgås that headed north
Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt
On 22nd I visited Østensjøvatnet which was amazingly still almost totally frozen, though obviously thawing around the edges. Highlights here were my first singing Reed Bunting sivpsurv of the year, some Great Crested Grebes toppdykker, a couple of Pintail sjtertand, a good selection of gulls out on the ice, over 20 Coot sothøne and most of the usual suspects.
Lots of Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke, Common Gulls fiskemåke and Black-headed Gulls hettemåke at Ostensjøvatnet.
One of at least three Great-crested Grebes toppdykker present
One of two Pintail stjertand present, the other had "bling"
Back home in the city centre a Whooper sangsvane flew over.
A week with quite a bit of wind and rain and a lot of time sitting with my laptop.
Nevertheless, a number of new arrivals were seen.
On 9th March I only left the house just before it got dark but a male Teal krikkand, the first of the year locally for me, turned up on the sea in front of my house during the morning. Otherwise just a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn and the usual. There was also an obvious arrival of Blackbirds svarttrost with larger numbers than usual at various places.
Coal Tit svartmeis in the garden
Teal krikkand at Nautnes
The following day I had to head to Straume on an errand and had the first two Woodpigeon ringdue of the year flying over at Solsvik whilst waiting for a traffic light. After work I headed to Hjelme where a nice female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle saved the day.
Female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle, Hjelme
On 11th March I got out to do a few drive-bys which turned out quite productive. A Little Grebe dvergdykker was still at Dåvøy - it has been a good winter for this species here with up to three present simultaneously. Heron gråhegre numbers jumped to 42 here. A couple of Pied Wagtails svartryggerle were at Tjeldstø with another bird that I didn't quite make out, despite looking I never managed to get further views, a Woodpigeon ringdue was in the same place. Lapwings vipe have started to get onto their territories out in the reserve which is a good sign of things to come....
A male Stonechat svartstrupe at Breivik was a nice observation and the female Tufted Duck toppand remained on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø without the male that has been present recently.
Last stop was Hjelme where the female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle remained and three Mistle Thrush duetrost finally gave good enough views to clinch them. I strongly suspect I have seen two others between late February and now but they have always been too far off / too brief.
Herring Gulls gråmåke at Dåvøy
Little Grebe dverdykker at Dåvøy
One of three Mistle Thrush duetrost at Hjelme
The female Pied Wagtail svartryggerle was still at Hjelme
On 12th March I was stuck inside all day but the first Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke of the year from the terrace turned up during one of the downpours.
The next day I spent a couple of hours out and about in the afternoon Gannets havsule heading down the fjord was the main event, although a migrant Black-headed Gull hettemåke turned up at Breivik. Hjelme was quiet with just a few presumably newly arrived Redwing rødvingetrost of interest.
Black-headed Gull hettemåke at Breivik
Gannet havsule at Tjeldstø
Female Tufted Duck toppand at Tjeldstø
On 14th March I did Skogsøy, more to test that I still can do it than any other reason. Turns out I can and I even managed to jog a fair bit of the way home. Birdwise nothing to shout about as predicted under the current conditions. Small numbers of auks, a movement of Gannets havsule and a couple of Kittiwake krykkje were all that was seen here.
The way home was rather more productive with Mistle Thrush duetrost and a Grey Wagtail vintererle at Tjeldstø as the best finds. Hjelme held four species of thrush and a (the?) Pied Wagtail svartryggerle.
Having been away all week with a work thing I spent most of 7th March out and about. The day started calm and foggy - so no good for sewatching. I headed to Hjelme where I frustratingly had what was probably the second Mistle Thrush duetrost of the year. But a pair of Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett seemingly inpsecting potential nest sites was a welcome distraction. Let's hope they stay:)
A few hours out and about with #2 daughter gave the first Song Thrush måltrost of the year at Tjeldstø, the first Lapwings vipe at Kollsnes and Tjeldstø and a nice selection of the usual suspects. On my way home three female Stonechat svartstrupe at Kollsnes were nice to see, although far from as sensational as the ongoing influx in the east of Norway where this species is rather more uncommon.
Male and female Grey-headed Woodpeckers gråspett
This video is worth watching to the end. Then it becomes understandable why the woodpecker seemed to be just staring at the pole for no good reason:)
Lapwings vipe at Kollsnes
Otherwise a noticable increase in the number of Greylags grågås, Oystercatcher tjeld and Starling stær and small numbers of Fieldfare gråtrost around. A look at the sea at Sæle gave 42 Long-tailed Duck havelle, a Velvet Scoter sjøorre, 11 Common Scoter svartand and several Black Guillemot teist, now starting to turn black.
On 8th March I decided to give Skogsøy a go but the visiblity was too poor for any meanigful seawatching. A Shelduck gravand was the only migrant of note. A Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke was back at the usual breeding spot and another early Song Thrush måltrost sang here too.
The drive to Skogsøy before the sun came up gave Tawny Owl kattugle and quite a lot of birdsong - largely Robins rødstrupe and Blackbirds svarttrost but also Wren gjerdesmett giving it a go.
I popped in at a few places on the way home - some more signs of spring without anything special, Chaffinch bokfink at places I haven't seen them at during the winter, a couple of migrating Skylark sanglerke at Hjelme.
Milder conditions for the most part has led to something of a thaw, but all the lakes remain more or less completely frozen.
During the week I did not manage to get out in any meaningful way but managed a few drive-bys. Small numbers of Starling stær and Oystercatchers tjeld arrived here and there.
Starlings stær at Tjeldstø, 24.02. Small flocks turned up at various localities during the week
Merganser siland from my terrace
Oystercatcher tjeld at Dåvøy
Not sure what it was eating but seemed to be the contents of a large shell
Oystercatcher tjeld at Herdlevær
Water Rail vannriske still hanging on - though conditions must surely be improving for this species
On Saturday 28th I did Herdlevær in fantastic weather, here the highlight was the first Skylark sanglerke of the year. A couple of Great Northern Divers islom fed, a minimum of four White-tailed Eagles havørn were seen and a few Oystercatcher tjeld and couple of Greylag grågås added to the feeling of spring. Despite the lack of wind there was a heavy swell running which kept passing birds hidden most of the time. The Tawny Owl kattugle at Skjold continued to sing in the evening.
Skylark sanglerke at Herdlevær
I covered Breivik afterwards but nothing of note seen there
Another sign of spring:)
The next day I spent a couple of hours seawatching at Skogsøy, 169 Oystercatcher tjeld headed north - all of them flying high in the glorious calm and sunny conditions, there was a light but obvious passage of auks and Common Gulls fiskemåke too. Otherwise just small numbers of various duck and a Great Northern Diver islom heading south. Stationary birds included a flock of 35 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, a Whooper Swan sangsvane , two White-tailed Eagles havørn bird of the day - a Slavonian Grebe horndykker busily feeding in the bay.
A stop at Tjeldstø on the way home gave a Red-throated Diver smålom on the sea and 22 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt resting on one of the islands.
A Stonechat svartstrupe was reported at Kollsnes but I did not manage to relocate it during an afternoon visit.
Arriving back after dark on 18th February is probably not the most likely scenario for picking up a new species for me in Øygarden. But this is indeed what happened! After digging my car out of the snow at the airport I headed home. Conditions were calm and quiet and it is early spring in some contexts - so why not listen for some owls? Well a pair of Tawny Owls kattugle sang - for me a near mythical species in northern Øygarden.
Although in a way I am pleased to get this new species for my Øygarden list it gets me thinking:
Up to several years ago there is no way Tawny Owls could have established a territory here. They would have been wiped out by the Eagle Owls hubro!
There are probably a pair or two of Eagles Owls hubro hanging on but it is probably just a question of time before these too disappear in the same way so many pairs have disappeared. Opening up for the possibility of other owl species to establish themselves is good for listing. I'd rather skip the extra species and hear the song of an Eagle Owl like I used to.......
The next two days were spent working, although I did manage a Water Rail vannrikse on 20th, White tailed Eagles havørn from the terrace and the usual.
On Saturday 21st I had a late start with one of my daughters and we did Hjelme Vest in glorious sunny weather which produced the first migrating Oystercatcher tjeld of the year with a nice flock of 25 heading north and another three milling around. A lone White-billed Diver gulnebblom on the sea, a few Long-tailed Duck havelle, a Black Guillemot teist and a couple of small flocks of Common Scoter svartand were among the other species seen here. The woods were fairly quiet but some Common Crossbill grankorsnebb, Crested Tit toppmeis were seen.
Sparrowhawk spurvehauk at Hatten
After this I headed to Tjeldstø where another White-billed Diver gulnebblom was feeding along with the rarer (in wintertime) Red-throated Diver smålom, several Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, a White-tailed Eagle havørn and a few Greylags grågås.
Otter feeding with a Greylag grågås keeping watch
Three Otters seen during the day, one at Hjelme, one at Tjeldstø and one from my terrace.
The following day was overcast with snow in the morning and drizzle in the afternoon. I did Herdlevær first which was relatively quiet although an Oystercatcher tjeld and a Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke were seen here. Other places produced more with three Little Grebe dvergdykker present at Dåvøy, a flock of 17 Fieldfare gråtrost at Breivik and a Water Rail vannriske as the best sightings.
Snipe enkeltbekkasin seem to have disappeared, hardly surprising given the winter we have had but some Woodcock rugde still to be seen here and there - though rather harder to find than last time I was home - hopefully this is because the ground seems to be thawing at long last.
Absolutely not a birding trip but catching up with family in Northumberland and Teesside never fails to produce something even without trying.
A Barn Owl tårnugle hunting over the fields on 9th February at my Dad's place in Wooler was the first I've seen for some time. Long-tailed Tits stjertmeis, Kestrel tårnfalk, Siskin grønnsisik, Goldfinch stillits, Dunnock jernspurv and Jay nøtteskrike were among the species seen in the garden.
Next up was the Darlington area. And an actual birding trip, the only one of the week, to Salthome on industrial Teesside. For a Norwegian birder in February this place is incredible with Avocet avosett, 1500++ Lapwing vipe, big numbers of waders and wildfowl of many species, several Pochard taffeland, plenty of Little Grebe dvergdykker, a few Little Egret silkehegre and lots more. The year list at this place was at 108 during my visit.
Back in Northumberland a short family walk at Druridge Bay meant that I had to spend 10 minutes at the hide at Cresswell. Getting out of the car was a good start with a hunting Short-eared Owl jordugle seen immediately.
The pool held a nice selection of waders and wildfowl including Gadwall snadderand, Little Egret silkehegre and several species of wader.
At least nine species in this photo....
A family walk at Wallington gave me the first Dipper fossekall I've seen in the UK for ages along with a good selection of woodland species.
A ridiculously tame Robin rødstrupe at Wallington
Back in north Northumberland on 16th with rather mixed feelings. My Dad's place in Seahouses is on the market and it is highly unlikely I will ever stay here again😪. What a view and what a birding location in its own right, as well as being close to many others! Even though there are better seawatching locations literally right around the corner I have seen countless Manx Shearwater havlire and Sooty Shearwater grålire from the comfort of the sofa here. If I had lived closer I would have bought this place.
Last view from "Seabirds" in Seahouses?
Also popped in at a very flooded Monkshouse - but plenty of Shoveler skjeand, a few Brent Geese ringgås and decent selection of the usual Northumberland suspects.
A stop at Beal meant that we "had to" check out the causeway at Holy Island. The tide was too high for the best of the birding but a Little Egret silkehegre a nice flock of pale-bellied Brents ringgås, good numbers of Curlew storspove, Lapwing vipe and Shelduck gravand were among the species noted here.
In the capital again, this time to include a Stage Dolls concert at the Rockefeller:)
On 3rd February a walk in the woods behind the radium hospital produced a nice Black Woodpecker svartspett busy working away on a tree:)
Black Woodpecker svartspett
I was confined to barracks with work for the rest of the week but the morning after the Stage Dolls concert I was out and about for the afternoon picking up Oslo scarcities such as Water Rail vannrikse and Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin. I also picked up my first Yellowhammers gulspurv and Redpoll gråsisik of the year.
Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin
Redpoll gråsisik
In the pre-lump days we'd have called this a Mealy....
Water Rail vannrikse
On 8th February I visited Gressholmen briefly where a Peregrine vandrefalk and a Red-throated Diver smålom were the highlights. Generally quiet but Common Scoter svartand numbers were well up on my previous visit there with 18 feeding actively among good numbers of Herring Gulls gråmåke. Still a few auks present in Oslofjord too:)
One of a two Common Seals steinkobbe seen from the ferry
