Warming up

There is still snow on the ground but we now have plus temperatures so the snow will melt quite quickly and there is even rain forecast for tomorrow. It will be interesting to see if this results in any movements of birds. A few Pine Grosbeaks are being reported and it would be great to bump into some of these close to Oslo again. I have been up in Maridalen both yesterday and today but saw no sign of the released Hawk Owl. The Whooper Swan family has been very visible though so has clearly not left the valley yet. There have also been other Whoopers on the lake with 17 in total yesterday and 16 today. The Scaup are also still present but now hanging out in the north of the lake and the Tufted are also still here but not together with the Scaup.

The Great Grey Shrike also put in an appearance today and yesterday I had a Snipe flying over presumably searching desperately for somewhere to look for food.

I asked a few days ago if I was missing anything with regards in to which category the recent Yellow-throated Bunting should end up in. Well today my Rarities Committee colleague Oddvar Heggøy has apparently gone and found another one so that would definitely appear to be something I was missing…..

There is still snow on the ground but we now have plus temperatures so the snow will melt quite quickly and there is even rain forecast for tomorrow. It will be interesting to see if this results in any movements of birds. A few Pine Grosbeaks are being reported and it would be great to bump into some of these close to Oslo again. I have been up in Maridalen both yesterday and today but saw no sign of the released Hawk Owl. The Whooper Swan family has been very visible though so has clearly not left the valley yet. There have also been other Whoopers on the lake with 17 in total yesterday and 16 today. The Scaup are also still present but now hanging out in the north of the lake and the Tufted are also still here but not together with the Scaup.

The Great Grey Shrike also put in an appearance today and yesterday I had a Snipe flying over presumably searching desperately for somewhere to look for food.

I love this picture with the necks looking like snakes! Hard to believe there are 8 birds.

It looked dangerous to be behind this bird when it was stretching its wings

There was lots of noise and lots of preening going on

it looks like two of the necks are in a knot

what I assume to be dad kept his distance

the other 7 Whooper Swans with Cormorants in the background and a Goldeneye to the right

This video shows them preening and in flight. Just before they flew they started making a lot of noise which I guess was them talking with each other and taking a vote as to whether it was time to move on.

The 5 Scaup. I assume all are 1cy birds and the two on the right in the inset have grey feathers appearing on the back showing them to be 1cy males. In the lower picture one can see the vegetation that they are diving for and eating

I asked a few days ago if I was missing anything with regards in to which category the recent Yellow-throated Bunting should end up in. Well today my Rarities Committee colleague Oddvar Heggøy has apparently gone and found another one so that would definitely appear to be something I was missing…..