Finally some birding although the eight year old who
accompanied me has now decided that she is not at all interested in birds so I
wasn’t able to stay particularly long at any one place.
We started at Linesstranda near Drammen where some of the
locals provide a great amount and variety of food for wintering birds. This has
resulted in a good selection of overwintering birds including a Bearded Tit (skjeggmeis)
in the reedbed (although as far as I know this has not come to food). I was hoping
for some great views of the Bearded and Long-tailed Tits (stjertmeis) but
neither showed for us whilst we were there. A Robin (rødstrupe) was my first of
the year though – this winter they seem to have been very scarce. There was a
lot of bird song in the woodland here mostly from Siskins (grønnsisik) and
Bullfinches (dompap) – a positively spring feel was in the air.
Moving onto Horten I easily found the overwintering Mistle
Thrush (duetrost). It is exceptional that they overwinter but this one has
found a good supply of mistletoe berries to keep it going.
At Presterødkilen in Tønsberg we heard a couple of Bearded
Tits in the reedbed but failed to see them and at nearby Jarlsø there were four
Little Grebes (dvergdykker).
I tried for two Hawk Owls during the day but failed to find
them. Recent increase in records in
hedmark and Oppland counties could be a sign that birds are moving north
looking for suitable breeding sites.
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| a not particularly good picture of a Mistle Thrush high up in a tree but note the mistletoe on which it feeds |
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| equally poor picture but I have never noticed that the undertail coverts are so boldy patterned before |
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