House Sparrow steals the day

Per Christian Moan and I had a pleasant if rather disappointing pre-breakfast trip to Fornebu today. The Willow Warbler drought continued although we did just about break into double figures. In fact Yellow Wagtails were nearly as numerous and this is just wrong wrong wrong!

Whinchats has increased to 6 but that is still low and there are still no Bluethroats although 2 Redstarts were good. A couple of Lesser Whitethroats and 5 Whitethroats were probably locally bred birds but at least added some variety. Two Red-backed Shrikes and a very skulky Wryneck added some class but rarest bird of the days was not one but two House Sparrows and juveniles to boot suggesting local breeding. I cannot remember having seen this species before at Fornebu although my records suggest I have Never-the-less when a House Sparrow makes your day then you know it’s been a dull one!

They don't come much rarer than this - House Sparrows (gråspurv)

there may not have been many of them but one at least did pose for a pic - Willow Warbler (løvsanger)

A Lesser Whitethroat (møller) in a berry bush where I had dreamt I would find a Barred Warbler (hauksager)

This Red Admiral was nice to see and there were also a couple of small blue butterflies that I don't have the competence to ID to species but butterflies have generally been very scarce this year.