Getting close to Jack

Prior to last winter (see here) there had only ever been a single report of a wintering Jack Snipe in Oslo (in Dec 2008). A report of one at Østensjøvannet last Wednesday encouraged me to look for it on Friday. The place where I understood it to have been seen was frozen and covered in snow (which had fallen since Wednesday) but a bit more searching did reveal some ice free water and before I knew it a snipe flew up and quietly called. Most snipes are found when they are flushed from their daytime roosts (although the use of thermal cameras has become a bit of a game changer) but those that are in Norway in the winter feed also in the daytime as there is so little available habitat and food. It is therefore not good when one is flushed away from its chosen spot and I felt bad for having done so.

I was inspired enough though to go searching on Sunday at a site which I thought could be good (a polluted stream that I have previously seen to be ice free) and which due to the lay of the land should enable me to find any birds present without flushing them. And it was a plan that worked better than all my expectations! I found two Jack Snipe within 150m of each other and did not flush either of them 😊 I was visible to the birds though which resulted in them freezing so I did not get to see them feeding and bobbing but maybe in the future with a bit more planning I can find a way to observe them in action.

It is very interesting that there is this increase in the frequency of winter observations of Jack Snipe in Oslo. Is it a genuine increase as a result perhaps of climate change (milder and later winters?) or just a result of greater observer awareness and effort?

 

My Friday visit to Østensjøvannet revealed one of the Water Rails with snow settling on his back and a largely bird free drive around Maridalen on Saturday revealed a flock of Waxwings which showed very well as they ate rowan berries right by the road. So far this winter I have seen more Grozzas than Waxwings but that is changing now with more Waxwings arriving from further north whilst the Grozzas are disappearing into the forests and quite possibly also heading back north already.

Jack Snipe (kvartbekkasin). A cropped close up showing the amazing colours of this bird which prove to be an amazing camouflague 

poluted stream

a Sparrowhawk (spurvehauk)

well insulated Water Rail (vannrikse)

Waxwing (sidensvans)

this bird hardly has any waxy bits on its wings and is therefore I assume a 1st winter bird

whereas this well adorned bird is an adult and probably a male

same bird