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.
