Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Yesterday saw my third and final day of guiding Angus and Denise and a very good day was had. No Bean Geese hunting this time and we were blessed with blue skies and a warm sun although a cold northerly wind had to be contended with at times.

We started the day with fantastic views of a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. They were initially displaying high in the trees but we later had cracking views of the male drumming low down.

At Fornebu we refound the Stonechat which hadn’t been seen since Sunday afternoon despite people looking and the Black Redstart was also present alongside many Twite, Linnets, Skylarks and a couple of Wheatear. A sit down for lunch was very well timed with migrating Rough-legged Buzzard, Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Goshawk on the raptor side, three large flocks of Pink-footed Geese and a very unexpected flyby Woodcock.

Maridalen still has far too much snow but we saw Snow Bunting appropriately enough and Willow Tit. A Lizard sunning itself was the first for the year and when I took Mrs OB there in the evening to show her the Lizard we failed but the first two Adders of the year were good compensation.

male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (dvergspett)

young Goshawk (hønsehauk) with Crow

a unique picture from Norway? Black Redstart (svartrødstjert) left and Stonechat (svartstrupe) in the same frame

Lizard taken with the bazooka

and with my mobile

Adder

and a black Adder

also taken with my mobile. Both the lizard and the adders were freshly emerged from their winter hibernation and were very lethargic