Great Oslo guiding

I was guiding Len and May from the USA today with a focus on photography and we had a very successful day! Østensjøvannet provided a myriad of close encounters with the usual suspects and hundreds of pictures were taken. We had a very close encounter with the Slavonian Grebe (horndykker) that was calling and appeared interested in a passing Great Crested Grebe (toppdykker) – presumably confirmation that it is alone and not mated as I previously thought may be the case. Most Tufted Ducks (toppand) do not seem to have started breeding yet with pairs still out on the water but some clearly started nesting a while ago as a female had 4 small youngsters and interestingly five adult males with her who all seemed to be helping to look out for the youngsters (a Lesser Black-backed Gull tried its luck). Maybe the female had been a bit promiscuous and as a result had the help of five males who all thought they were dad?

Whilst enjoying a song off between three Blackcaps (munk) we discovered a Wren’s (gjerdesmett) nest which was a ball of moss hanging from a crack in a rock – a fantastic construction in a bizarre and open locality. Reed Warblers (rørsanger) showed very well but Marsh Warbler (myrsanger) of which there is now a pair did not show openly. Nearby though two male Whitethroats (tornsanger) were fighting for territory and gave great views.

In Maridalen two red male Common Rosefinches (rosenfink) were going around together, a pair of Pied Flycatchers (svarthvit fluesnapper) showed well, two young Goshawks (hønsehauk) were surprisingly well grown and the four Whooper Swan (sangsvane) cygnets were being well cared for by their parents. And that was just a fraction of what we saw – Oslo is at is best right now.

Slavonian Grebe (horndykker) at Østensjøvannet

Tufted Ducks many helping hands for a brood of 4 youngsters (only 1 in shot)

singing male Whitethroat (tornsanger)

Willow Warbler (løvsanger)

Wren's (gjerdesmett) nest

Goshawk youngster stretching its wings

 

two heads