More Grozza Guiding

Today I was guiding Stephen (see his Belgian Birding blog here) who had come from the low countries with one bird in mind: Pine Grosbeak! Previous trips to Lapland had not delivered the species so Oslo it was.

Before it got light we tried for the GGO (along with a few other hopeful punters) but without luck although as I predicted it did turn up in the late afternoon and entertained those who were wise enough to give it a second go. Grosbeaks were much more cooperative though and we had birds at two sites (2+16). The flock of 16 had been discovered a couple of days previously by Mr Grosbeak himself, aka Stig Johan Kalvatn and are the most urban birds so far as you will see in the pictures.

Stephen also had the December issue of Birdwatch magazine with him which had one of my pictures in it. I wonder how much chasing up I will have to do this time before they pay for it….?

Pine Grosbeak in need of energy 

another selfie..

Stephen enjoying the Grosbeaks. Seconds earlier a man had walked under a male at less than 50cm distance without him or the bird reacting

christmas decorations

my picture in Birdwatch

Great Grey Owl from Thursday morning

and on Wednesday morning taken with the phone