Cracking

Nutcracker -  a garden bird in Oslo at this time of the year

The third juvenile Med Gull (svartehavsmåke) of the autumn was found in Oslo yesterday. This is an unprecedented influx in Norway and I have yet to see any of the birds let alone find one. It is known there have been three different birds because the first was ringed in Germany, the second was unringed (until the local ringers slapped a couple on its legs) and the third was unringed (so far).

I have looked for the first two birds unsuccessfully and had the same experience with the third bird today. These birds are presumably still wandering although it is only a matter of time before one or more of them settles into a routine and becomes easier to see.

The site of both the first and third bird is Valle Hovin, a park pond surrounded on two sides by apartment blocks. This site is also one of only three that I know of where Moorhens (sivhøne) breed in Oslo. When you don’t see Moorhen very often you realise what an attractive bird it is and the youngsters resemble far rarer crake (rikse) species.

juvenile Moorhen

In the garden the two Nutcrackers are still feeding in a small (but dense) hazel tree where there is clearly plenty of food.

Nutcracker

1st winter Lesser Black-backed Gull (sildemåke)

1st winter Great Black-backed Gull (svartbak)