Beardies

If you can withstand the cold then it is fantastic to be out at the moment with blue skies and no wind. It is slightly warmer now with temperatures staying above -20C and we are forecast to have a brief period with plus temperatures on Thursday before it gets cold again.

There are still very few birds to see though and a long walk in the forest today in perfect listening conditions was very poorly rewarded although I did hear my first Black Woodpecker and Hazel Grouse of 2024. I also finally had a Pygmy Owl in Maridalen and with both Great Grey Shrike and Grey-headed Woodpecker yesterday then the trio of interesting birds remains.

A visit to Fornebu yesterday gave fantastic views of the Bearded Tits but again Wrens were absent and it wouldn't surprise me now if I don't see or hear one until the spring,

the Bearded Tits (skjeggmeis) were feeding on the edge of the reedbed and often went into bushes

this female had darks stipes on its back

here she has been eating snow

Grey-headed Woodpecker (gråspett)

in addition to the red feathers there is a piece of peanut skin on her crown

Pygmy Owl (spurveugle) and an angry Coal Tit (svartmeis)

a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (dvergspett) was a welcome sight in Maridalen 

the setting sun reflecting off windows south of Maridalsvannet and a sky with a lot of pollution from wood burning stoves adding to the colours

the Pygmy Owl