Dull

Some Oslo birding yesterday gave a few year ticks and the 2BCs in the Botanical Gardens but no interesting gulls which had been my main hope (there must a white-winged gull out there).

 Today was return of the Zak with a trip to deepest, darkest Østfold where there was no snow on the ground and many green fields. We found the Kingfisher (isfugl) in Halden quickly but it was still only half light and it flew off all too quickly before any photos could be taken. Continuing down to Berby in what is for all intents and purposes Sweden we failed to see any eagles where last winter there had been loads. A complete lack of crows and Ravens in the area was a strong indication that the feeding that had previously attracted all the birds to the area has now stopped.

The rest of the day was a bit disappointing. We had a few roadside Buzzards (musvåk) and Rough-legged Buzzard (fjellvåk) but no Great Grey Shrikes (varsler). A scan of a flat sea near Kurefjorden revealed only a Red-throated Diver (smålom) and a few Great Crested Grebes (toppdykker) and nothing a little scarcer which had been hoped for.

I did not take a single photo either yesterday or today so nothing to brighten up this rather dull post…