When I was on Røst in September the conversation one
evening was around how many species of phyllosc warbler each of us had
seen in Norway. This conversation was sparked by Norway’s second Two-barred
Greenish Warbler which had been on Røst just before I arrived and which the
other two had seen. I can’t remember exactly what the other two had seen (was I
think a very impressive 13 and 11 species) and then when they looked at me and
I sheepishly said six species I realised I had to do something about it. My
Dusky Warbler in October was a good start but once November was finished I
really didn’t think I would be adding any more species this year.
I visited Fornebu on Monday with the goal of seeing
and taking photos of the Bearded Tits in sunshine. A good sized flock had been discovered
at the weekend in a small reedbed which I was completely unaware of (despite
birding at Fornebu for 20 years now) and they were still present but the
cloudless sky that was forecast did not appear. I saw the birds well though and
with the use of the thermal imager could see there were a minimum of 20 birds
but the great photos that I was hoping for did not materialise. It was nice to
spend time with them though and I was actually pretty happy with how the
morning had panned out. Walking back to the car though things took a distinct
turn for the (even) better.
I heard from quite a distance a loud call being
repeated very regularly and immediately realised it was a phyllosc
warbler but I was unsure which. On the 5 Dec and with temperatures below zero
even a Chiffchaff would be very late and unlikely but that is always the
default choice and they do sometimes make strange calls. As I got closer though
the call became clearer and it’s similarity to Yellow-browed Warbler
immediately made me suspect Hume’s Warbler. I still could not see the bird in a
small copse in front of me but made sure I recorded the call - see video:
I entered the copse and immediately a Pygmy Owl flew up. This is a
distinctly scarce bird at Fornebu and was my first record there. The calling
continued and was so loud I initially thought it was the owl that was making it
even though it was not a call I have ever heard from one before. I soon
realised though that the call was coming from close behind the owl and glimpsed
a warbler high up in a birch. It was clearly alarm calling due to the presence
of the owl which explained why it called so frequently. I quickly forgot about
the owl and tried to work out how I could best view the warbler. I could see it moving
right so thought I could intercept it on the edge of the copse. When I
eventually saw it in the bins the wing bar and dull browny colouration
confirmed its ID and I fired off as many shots as I could.
I then decided to send out a message in our local Band
group and promptly lost the bird! People came excitedly to look for it but for
the next 2 and a half hours there was not sight nor sound of it. People began
losing interest and drifting off and I also started heading towards the car. I first
needed to take a leak though and guess what? – whilst I was occupied with other
things I noticed a small bird flitting in the canopy. Zip up, bins up and there
it was! New message and quite quickly all remaining birders were able to
connect. Proverbial high fives all round 😊
This morning the sun did shine so I thought I would
try Fornebu again although with temperatures at home falling to -9C overnight I
did not expect the warbler to still be present (alive). When I arrived at 09:50
the sun was shining nicely against the edge of the copse where the bird was yesterday
so I thought I’d give it a go. I was surprised there were no other birders
present but two turned up fairly soon after me and we spread out a bit to
look and listen. After half an hour bingo! I heard its distinctive call and
after a few minutes we saw it and it was then on show on and off until early
afternoon and probably around 30 birds connected with it. Blackcap and a tristis
Chiffchaff were also seen (the later causing a few problems..) and three
species of warbler together in Norway in December is perhaps a unique event.
This is only the second record ever for south east
Norway although the species is seen annually along the west coast. I now have
eight species of phyllosc in Norway 😊
Pictures from yesterday
Hume's (Leaf) Warbler (blekkbrynsanger)
Pictures from today:
a huge twitch!
surprisingly enough it was finding insects
and my first Fornebu Pygmy Owl (spurveugle) who I can probably thank for me finding the warbler
And the Bearded Tits
female Bearded Tit (skjeggmeis)
2 males with the bird in the background carrying a ring
9 of the minimum 20 birds in one shot
Four different females with noticeably different plumage
this female has just a very small black fleck visible on its back
As we enter December things are quietening down but
winter hasn’t arrived properly yet and the first big freeze and large dump on
snow should result in some new birds as they are forced once and for all out
inland and more northerly localities.
I have been in the forest a lot searching in vain
for large owls but Pygmy Owls have entertained me with one particularly
cooperative individual that posed and sang at close range. A pair of Hazel
Grouse also gave themselves up feeding on catkins of alder trees. As is usually
the case the female was difficult to see but the male was very obvious and I am
quite sure the male often places himself in between the perceived threat (me)
and his mate. I did see the female well though and she was a particularly well
marked individual.
Another visit to Fornebu revealed the female Grey-headed
Woodpecker and male Bearded Tit again but the Kingfisher only revealed its
presence by calling. A single Jack Snipe remains.
it really is strange to see a bird the size of a Hazel Grouse (jerpe) high up in tree clambering along thing branches to reach an alder (or) catkin
here the male is about to grab a catkin
......
that one....
got it
and the female with a very well marked and black throat suggesting an old bird
note in this video how the Pygmy Owl (spurveugle) pumps his throat when singing
Pygmy Owl (spurvugle)
a second and even more cooperative bird (the same as in the video)
turning its head
looking left....
and looking right
Bearded Tit (skjeggmeis)
Blackcaps (munk) are still very scarce over-wintering birds in Norway but this male at Fornebu has at least found some berries should he be tempted to stay
the female Grey-headed Woodpecker (gråspett)
how long will the Jack Snipe (kvartbekkasin) stay/survive?
