Temperatures were down to -2C at dawn today and with it being even
colder and with lots of snow further inland we can hope for some movements of
birds looking for slightly more hospitable conditions. There are signs that we
will have an invasion of Pine Grosbeaks this winter and the first bird was
found in Oslo on Saturday by Stig “Mr. Grosbeak” Kalvatn who seems to have a
magical ability to find this species in the forests around Oslo.
I also have high hopes of finding Great Grey and Hawk Owls given the
good breeding season both species have had in mid/southern Norway and the large
numbers of birds that should be moving around looking for food. Before these
exciting species hit us though we can hope for mountain breeding seaducks which
will be forced to head for the coast and maybe another wave of geese as the
last birds leave Trøndelag heading for the coasts of northern Europe.
A species I had today that is probably weather related was three Snow
Buntings which showed very well on one of the few remaining open areas at
Fornebu. They seemed to be finding plenty of seeds to eat and will maybe stay
for a few days. I also found a minimum of 14 Bearded Tits in a new area at
Fornebu (with none being located in the two normal reedbeds). It really makes
you wonder how many there have been in total this autumn and how many will stay
the winter.
A shoal of cod feeding in very shallow water close to land was an
unusual sight.
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| Snow Bunting (snøspurv) - one of three at Fornebu |
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| Bearded Tits (skjeggmeis) |
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| 8 birds visibile in this picture |
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| and 11 here! |
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| cod (torske) |
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| loads of them! |