First a Goldfinch

Goldfinches have been exceptionally numerous this autumn with a flock of at least 300 in Maridalen and groups of up to 50 many other places. They are of course a beautiful bird but not one I typically don’t spend much time looking at other than to count them. Yesterday though when I was looking in vain for Grosbeaks at Grefsenkollen I became aware of flock feeding on thistles in a lovely golden light so I just had to take some photos. 

Goldfinch (stillits)

 Goldfinches are all well and good but I know what you really want is some Piney and Hawkie both of which were sourced in the Dale yesterday.

I contented myself with arty shots of Hawkie

he was followed by a gang of photographers all day and he moved over a kilometre as a result. Because he doesn't seem bothered by people standing close by there soon develops a thought that it is OK to stand in a semi circle in front of him and have a good old chat whilst we wait for him to fly down and catch something (which is the photo everyone hopes to get). Of course by doing this he is very unlikely to catch something because no mouse is likely to stick his head out when all those noisy, and smelly, homo sapiens are around. In this photo I was watching from a kilometre away and the owl did actually land right by the photographers (can you spot him) causing them to have to back up to get him in frame. It is OK to quickly get a close photo and then move away but the problem occurs when he is followed for 6 straight hours.

male Pine Grosbeak fanning his tail