A bit of this a quite a bit of that

Yesterday was a very productive day whereas today in similar weather conditions was spookily quiet. Yesterday I was curious to see if both the Wheatear and Tree Pipit were still present and indeed they were with the pipit also being there today when I walked the Mrs and the Beast. Both these birds are around 2 and a half weeks later than the previous latest records in Oslo and although both look healthy it is not likely they will survive the negative temperatures and snow forecast for next week.

In Maridalen yesterday the Great Grey Shrike and a Pygmy Owl (I think there are at least three birds in the valley at the moment) gave a great showing although I saw neither today. The shrike did its usual act of sitting high and open but this individual seems to be less shy than most individuals of its species and allows fairly close approach. It also looks to be an adult male and move widely around the valley with me seeing it at locations 2km apart yesterday. The owl though did not sit openly but chose rather to perch half way up trees although was not shy at all.

The shrike and owl also met and did not seem to enjoy each others company one bit although I couldn’t quite make out what was going on as they ended up in a bush. What must have been the shrike was very vocal with a call I have not heard before and they ended up exploding out of the bush and perching separately with I think the shrike being the aggressor.

There are hardly any birds on the lake at the moment but the Razorbill and Common Scoter are hanging on. 

Pygmy Owl (spurveugle)

here it is stretching just before flying and shows off its claws

looking for food

deciding if I am food

tiny wings

but important to take care of them

through the thermal imager you see that the face and eyes and also down the chest where the feathers split are the biggest causes of heat loss

Great Grey Shrike (varsler)

The Tree Pipit (trepiplerke)

and the Wheatear (steinskvett)