Flooding brings birds to Oslo

I kept it local and didn’t leave the city today. The fields at Hengsenga, Bygdøy are looking so good at the moment with lots of flooding. We now just need to hope that the water lasts another week and coincides with a good arrival of waterfowl. Ten Teal alongside the male Gadwall that has been present for a couple of days is a good start and with luck Shoveler or Garganey may turn up. Greylag, Barnacle and Pink-footed Geese are also present alongside three Greylag x Canada hybrids. Amazingly enough despite the number of people and dogs that use the area the birds all seem quite settled.

Waders are also present and I notched up a very impressive 6 species on Bygdøy today. The flooded fields held a whopping 34 Common Snipe which is the highest number ever recorded in Oslo!! plus a single Jack Snipe. There were also single Green Sandpiper and Lapwing and at Huk Oystercatcher and 7 Purple Sandpipers. The Purp Sands are now clearly very used to people would I am sure walked between my legs if I had positioned myself correctly!

In Maridalen there is still lots of snow – it is knee high in places and the diversity of birds is still low but Skylarks were up singing and small groups of thrushes were along the road where the snow has melted.

Not a single raptor today though which was a real surprise but low cloud would explain that.

male Gadwall (snadderand) - a rare Oslo guest

three Greylag x Canada hybrids were also present amongst Greylags (although no Canadas were present)

Jack Snipe (kvartbekkasin)

Mistle Thrush (duetrost) on the snow in Maridalen

Purple Sandpiper (fjæreplytt)

Long-tailed Tit

not often I take a picture of a Hooded Crow (kråke)