Pygmy Owl

Yesterday evening saw my fourth owling trip of the autumn and my number of species encountered has now increased to three although the target owl – Tengmalm’s – continues to elude me.

#3 was a Pygmy Owl which showed itself after sunset but before it got dark as is usual for the species. It came to me and then proceeded to hunt close to me when I also picked up a Three-toed Woodpecker which to my surprise was active so late. A Tawny Owl made quite a lot of noise in the area and twice I heard another noise which sounded owl like but I could not place to species. It is still early days so I haven’t given up on pulling in a Tengmalm’s or two in the coming couple of weeks.

A trip to Fornebu yesterday was with Yellow-browed Warbler as a specific target. Not that one had been seen there but on Sunday there had been a couple of inland records north of Oslo which had me hoping there were birds around. There were good numbers of Chiffchaff including one that looked very tristisy (but did not call) but I saw no wing bars nor heard any swiist calls.

Atempts to find more Jack Snipe have turned up blanks at both localities I had them last week suggesting birds have been moving through although birds should also turn up that will hang around at least until the first cold period.

a Pygmy Owl (spurveugle) on almost the exact same branch that I have previously photographed Tengmalm's on

see it?

an autumnal Chiffchaff (gransanger)

flocks of Pink-footed Geese (kortnebbgås) continue to head south of Oslo when the winds are favourable

this Slavonian Grebe (horndykker) has been at Fornebu for a long time now and is now in winter plumage after having arrived still in summer plumage

a flock of 5 Twite (bergirisk) in Maridalen were my first of the autumn and a quite good record of a species that is more more regular on spring passage

this juvenile Whooper Swan (sangsvane) at Fornebu is most likely the same bird that was first seen at Frognerkilen on 27th September. Normally young birds would still be with their parents and also still close to the nest site so for a lone juvenile to turn up away from a nest site so early is very unusual