Østensjøvannet

Time to give Østensjøvannet a chance. In the autumn an unusual duck or two can stop here for a few days and indeed a male Long-tailed Duck was reported yesterday. I saw the Long-tail which was in a different plumage to the one off Fornebu last week but found no other interesting ducks although there were 72 Wigeon which is a good count. Best bird was a Water Rail which I glimpsed for a couple of seconds in a ditch before it disappeared into reeds. This species probably breeds here but is very rarely reported and this is only the second time I have seen one in Oslo although I have heard them here a couple of times before.

In Maridalen the Common Scoter had moved on but a Great Crested Grebe on the lake was a reminder that something new can turn up every day at this time of the year.

male Long-tailed Duck (havelle)

 

wonder whether this late young Coot (sothøne) will make it

In Maridalen this roadkill squirrel proved tempting for a Crow

1cy (left) and 2nd cy Herring Gulls. I puzzled a bit over the 2cy

female Pintail (stjertand) at Østensjøvannet

Teal (krikkand) at Østensjøvanet. It is clearly flightless as its flight feathers are still growing out