Oslo 05-09 January 2026 - Urban Birding continues

 Not the best week for various reasons so it was especially good to be rewarded by the bird gods in some way or another almost every time I was out of the house:) Not quite the Azure Tit asurmeis currently present further north but worthwhile anyway:)

The cold and snowy weather continued throughout.

On 5th January a short walk in the Botanic Gardens followed by a quick stroll along the river in rapidly fading light gave some nice results - a 2nd year Goshawk hønsehauk hunting thrushes (it even had a go at the Nutcracker nøttekråke) was the best sighting and gave some nice photo opportunities, other things included a couple of Hawfinch kjernebiter, a Treecreeper trekryper and a Wren gjerdesmett that was feeding under the snow.

Goshawk hønsehauk in the Botanic Gardens

The river produced a female Goosander laksand and a nice flock of Long-tailed Tits stjertmeis.

Female Goosander laksand on the river close to the city centre

The following day I was in another of the city parks briefly without much of interest but a couple of Common Gulls fiskemåke, two Long-tailed Tits stjertmeis and two Treecreeper trekryper were nice to see.

Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis in Frognerparken

Treecreepers trekryper in Frognerparken

On 8th January the sun was shining and we took a walk in the Botanic Gardens. Highlight was watching a male Sparrowhawk spurvehauk eating a Robin rødstrupe. A small flock of Siskin grønnsisik were the first I've seen this year. Otherwise two nice Hawfinch kjernebiter and smaller numbers of thrushes.

Male Sparrowhawk spurvehauk eating a Robin rødstrupe

Siskin grønnsisik in the Botanic Gardens

We covered a slightly longer stretch of the river and saw a total of four Goosanders laksand.

On 9th January it was time to head to Gressholm again. It was not as good as my previous visit but there were still some birds to see. Common Scoter svartand and a few Guillemots lomvi were the first I've seen in 2026. Thrushes obviously struggling more and more in this prolonged cold spell. Most of the Blackbirds svarttrost seen were feeding on the shore.