A review of 2024 is for all intents and purposes a review of #Oslo2024. I did of course cross the county line into Akershus and bird Fornebu and Nordre Øyeren but there was no trip to Nordland and Værøy this year although I did have my annual trip(s) to Beitostølen and Valdresflye.
I did not start the year intending to have an Oslo big year but
by mid-March I was aware how far ahead of normal my year list was and then
started to have a focus on it. I had far more visits to the islands than ever
before which definitely paid off and I chose to seawatch from Huk rather than
Fornebu or further south and I did try to be quick to twitch species when the
chance arose. However, on top of increased focus it has to be said that 2024
was a really good year and it was a combination of my focus and the luck of the
draw that resulted in me smashing my old year record from 2019 by 16 species.
My total of 207 will unfortunately be recorded for prosperity as 205 because in
the autumn the three Redpoll species were lumped into one species and Lesser
and Arctic which were on the list were lost.
Amazingly enough I did not see a single national rarity
during the year not in Oslo or in the whole country but I added an impressive
five species to my Oslo list: Brunnich’s Guillemot, Woodlark, Great Northern
Diver, Curlew Sandpiper and Sanderling. The last time I added more than this
was in 2019. Another indication of the quality of the year was adding seven
species to my Maridalen list – the last time I added more than this was back in
2013!
So even if there were no extreme rarities there were lots of
local scarce species. My wader list was 26 species which is way longer than it
has ever been (22 in 2019) and in addition to the two new species mentioned
above I also saw Little Stint, Grey Plover and Turnstone, each of which I had
only seen once previously in Oslo. This was a result of visiting the islands so
regularly and even if Gressholmen was a bit disappointing I found that
Galteskjær could really deliver.
I will list the species of #Oslo2024 added per month.
Obviously January was the most productive month followed by, also as expected,
May but an unusually productive August was perhaps the month that was key to me
breaking the previously dream barrier of 200 species.
January:
|
1 |
European
Greenfinch |
01-Jan-24 |
|
2 |
House
Sparrow |
01-Jan-24 |
|
3 |
Bohemian
Waxwing |
01-Jan-24 |
|
4 |
European
Robin |
01-Jan-24 |
|
5 |
Eurasian
Blackbird |
01-Jan-24 |
|
6 |
Eurasian Nuthatch |
01-Jan-24 |
|
7 |
Great Tit |
01-Jan-24 |
|
8 |
Eurasian
Blue Tit |
01-Jan-24 |
|
9 |
Hooded
Crow |
01-Jan-24 |
|
10 |
Common
Magpie |
01-Jan-24 |
|
11 |
European
Herring Gull |
01-Jan-24 |
|
12 |
Eurasian
Bullfinch |
02-Jan-24 |
|
13 |
White-throated
Dipper |
02-Jan-24 |
|
14 |
Willow
Tit |
02-Jan-24 |
|
15 |
Great
Spotted Woodpecker |
02-Jan-24 |
|
16 |
Yellowhammer |
02-Jan-24 |
|
17 |
European
Goldfinch |
02-Jan-24 |
|
18 |
Redpoll |
02-Jan-24 |
|
19 |
Eurasian
Tree Sparrow |
02-Jan-24 |
|
20 |
Eurasian
Jackdaw |
02-Jan-24 |
|
21 |
Common
Gull |
02-Jan-24 |
|
22 |
Eurasian
Coot |
02-Jan-24 |
|
23 |
Common
Moorhen |
02-Jan-24 |
|
24 |
Rock Dove |
02-Jan-24 |
|
25 |
Common
Goldeneye |
02-Jan-24 |
|
26 |
Mallard |
02-Jan-24 |
|
27 |
Mute Swan |
02-Jan-24 |
|
28 |
Barnacle
Goose |
02-Jan-24 |
|
29 |
Greylag
Goose |
02-Jan-24 |
|
30 |
Fieldfare |
02-Jan-24 |
|
31 |
Goldcrest |
03-Jan-24 |
|
32 |
Crested
Tit |
03-Jan-24 |
|
33 |
Coal Tit |
03-Jan-24 |
|
34 |
Eurasian
Jay |
03-Jan-24 |
|
35 |
Great
Grey Shrike |
03-Jan-24 |
|
36 |
Grey-headed
Woodpecker |
03-Jan-24 |
|
37 |
Twite |
04-Jan-24 |
|
38 |
Eurasian
Treecreeper |
04-Jan-24 |
|
39 |
Great
Cormorant |
04-Jan-24 |
|
40 |
Great Black-backed
Gull |
04-Jan-24 |
|
41 |
Black-headed
Gull |
04-Jan-24 |
|
42 |
Razorbill |
04-Jan-24 |
|
43 |
Purple
Sandpiper |
04-Jan-24 |
|
44 |
Common
Woodpigeon |
04-Jan-24 |
|
45 |
Red-breasted
Merganser |
04-Jan-24 |
|
46 |
Velvet
Scoter |
04-Jan-24 |
|
47 |
Common
Eider |
04-Jan-24 |
|
48 |
Little Grebe |
04-Jan-24 |
|
49 |
Tufted
Duck |
04-Jan-24 |
|
50 |
Spotted
Nutcracker |
04-Jan-24 |
|
51 |
Hawfinch |
05-Jan-24 |
|
52 |
Eurasian
Goshawk |
05-Jan-24 |
|
53 |
Lesser
Spotted Woodpecker |
08-Jan-24 |
|
54 |
Common
Raven |
09-Jan-24 |
|
55 |
Black
Woodpecker |
09-Jan-24 |
|
56 |
Eurasian Pygmy-Owl |
09-Jan-24 |
|
57 |
Hazel
Grouse |
09-Jan-24 |
|
58 |
Peregrine
Falcon |
10-Jan-24 |
|
59 |
Long-tailed
Tit |
11-Jan-24 |
|
60 |
European
Shag |
11-Jan-24 |
|
61 |
Common
Guillemot |
11-Jan-24 |
|
62 |
Little
Auk |
11-Jan-24 |
|
63 |
Common
Scoter |
11-Jan-24 |
|
64 |
Eurasian
Wren |
12-Jan-24 |
|
65 |
Great
Crested Grebe |
12-Jan-24 |
|
66 |
Eurasian
Sparrowhawk |
12-Jan-24 |
|
67 |
Eurasian
Siskin |
17-Jan-24 |
|
68 |
Eurasian
Green Woodpecker |
19-Jan-24 |
|
69 |
Common
Crossbill |
20-Jan-24 |
|
70 |
Eurasian
Three-toed Woodpecker |
23-Jan-24 |
|
71 |
Brambling |
31-Jan-24 |
|
72 |
Brunnich's
Guillemot |
31-Jan-24 |
2024 started very cold with temperatures in Maridalen down
to at least -27C but there was a surprising good variety of species. Regular
Grey-headed Woodpecker and Pygmy Owl in Maridalen were the best birds until I
found my first Oslo Brunnich’s Guillemot at the month’s end.
 |
| female Grey-headed Woodpecker (gråspett) in Maridalen |
February:
|
73 |
Black-legged
Kittiwake |
01-Feb-24 |
|
74 |
Eurasian
Wigeon |
14-Feb-24 |
|
75 |
Rook |
15-Feb-24 |
|
*76 |
Lesser
Redpoll |
15-Feb-24 |
|
*77 |
Arctic
Redpoll |
15-Feb-24 |
|
78 |
Tawny Owl |
19-Feb-24 |
|
79 |
Collared
Dove |
21-Feb-24 |
|
80 |
European
Stonechat |
22-Feb-24 |
|
81 |
Eurasian
Oystercatcher |
23-Feb-24 |
|
82 |
Smew |
23-Feb-24 |
|
83 |
Stock
Dove |
23-Feb-24 |
|
84 |
Eurasian
Skylark |
24-Feb-24 |
|
85 |
Common
Chaffinch |
26-Feb-24 |
Spring migration started very early with a Stonechat which
is a real local rarity, albeit one that is now annual and by the end of the
month I had seen 2.
 |
| perhaps my rarest bird of the year - Brunnich's Guillemot (polarlomvi) |
 |
| one of three Stonechat (svartstrupe) I saw during the course of 2024 in Oslo |
 |
| little & large |
March:
|
86 |
Common
Starling |
01-Mar-24 |
|
87 |
Whooper
Swan |
02-Mar-24 |
|
88 |
Greater
White-fronted Goose |
02-Mar-24 |
|
89 |
Northern
Lapwing |
04-Mar-24 |
|
90 |
Snow
Bunting |
05-Mar-24 |
|
91 |
Mistle
Thrush |
05-Mar-24 |
|
92 |
Canada
Goose |
06-Mar-24 |
|
93 |
Parrot
Crossbill |
09-Mar-24 |
|
94 |
Lesser
Black-backed Gull |
14-Mar-24 |
|
95 |
Common
Ringed Plover |
14-Mar-24 |
|
96 |
Common
Shelduck |
14-Mar-24 |
|
97 |
Grey
Wagtail |
14-Mar-24 |
|
98 |
Common
Reed Bunting |
17-Mar-24 |
|
99 |
Pink-footed
Goose |
18-Mar-24 |
|
100 |
White-tailed
Eagle |
19-Mar-24 |
|
101 |
Pied
Wagtail/White Wagtail |
19-Mar-24 |
|
102 |
Common
Linnet |
22-Mar-24 |
|
103 |
Eurasian/Green-winged
Teal |
23-Mar-24 |
|
104 |
Gadwall |
23-Mar-24 |
|
105 |
Common
Crane |
23-Mar-24 |
|
106 |
Common
Buzzard |
25-Mar-24 |
|
107 |
Eurasian
Woodcock |
25-Mar-24 |
|
108 |
Goosander |
25-Mar-24 |
|
109 |
Meadow
Pipit |
27-Mar-24 |
|
110 |
Redwing |
27-Mar-24 |
|
111 |
Woodlark |
27-Mar-24 |
|
112 |
Tundra
Bean Goose |
28-Mar-24 |
|
113 |
Dunnock |
28-Mar-24 |
|
114 |
Song
Thrush |
30-Mar-24 |
|
115 |
Common
Chiffchaff |
31-Mar-24 |
March is the first month when any sizeable number of
migrants turn up and also a month when there is a good chance of something
unusual which definitely happened this year. White-fronted Goose and Tundra
Bean Goose on a flooded field at Bygdøy were far from annual and my first ever
Oslo Woodlark which flew over me in Maridalen and which I then refound later in
the day singing was a classic bird for late March.
 |
| White-fronted Geese (tundragås) |
 |
| it might only be a sub species and therefore does not appear on the list but Pied Wagtails are Oslo rarities and this year was good for them |
 |
| my first Oslo Woodlark (trelerke) |
 |
| Tundra Bean Goose (tundra sædgås) |
 |
| not in Oslo but seeing this singing Great Grey Owl was probably the coolest experience of 2024 |
|
116 |
Ring
Ouzel |
01-Apr-24 |
|
117 |
Common
Snipe |
05-Apr-24 |
|
118 |
Northern
Wheatear |
07-Apr-24 |
|
119 |
Grey
Heron |
07-Apr-24 |
|
120 |
Green
Sandpiper |
07-Apr-24 |
|
121 |
Eurasian
Curlew |
07-Apr-24 |
|
122 |
Common
Pochard |
08-Apr-24 |
|
123 |
Northern
Pintail |
08-Apr-24 |
|
124 |
Northern
Shoveler |
08-Apr-24 |
|
125 |
Merlin |
08-Apr-24 |
|
126 |
Common
Kestrel |
08-Apr-24 |
|
127 |
European
Golden Plover |
08-Apr-24 |
|
128 |
Barn
Swallow |
09-Apr-24 |
|
129 |
Rough-legged
Buzzard |
10-Apr-24 |
|
130 |
Osprey |
10-Apr-24 |
|
131 |
Black-throated
Diver |
11-Apr-24 |
|
132 |
Red-throated
Diver |
12-Apr-24 |
|
133 |
Eurasian
Blackcap |
15-Apr-24 |
|
134 |
Hen
Harrier |
18-Apr-24 |
|
135 |
Western
Marsh Harrier |
18-Apr-24 |
|
136 |
Lapland
Bunting |
19-Apr-24 |
|
137 |
Tree
Pipit |
19-Apr-24 |
|
138 |
Black
Redstart |
20-Apr-24 |
|
139 |
Willow
Warbler |
24-Apr-24 |
|
140 |
Slavonian
Grebe |
25-Apr-24 |
|
141 |
Common
Sandpiper |
25-Apr-24 |
|
142 |
Whimbrel |
25-Apr-24 |
|
143 |
Little
Ringed Plover |
25-Apr-24 |
|
144 |
Eurasian
Wryneck |
27-Apr-24 |
|
145 |
Common
Greenshank |
29-Apr-24 |
|
146 |
Whinchat |
30-Apr-24 |
|
147 |
European
Pied Flycatcher |
30-Apr-24 |
There were lots of good Oslo birds this month of the type that you know you will probably see but always stress about such as Pochard, Shoveler and Pintail, Hen and Marsh Harrier, Lapland Bunting, Black Redstart and Slavonian Grebe but no real rarities.
 |
| Pochard (taffeland) and Pintail (stjertand) at Østensjøvannet |
 |
| Slavonian Grebes (horndykker) and Whooper Swan (sangsvane) on Maridalsvannet |
 |
| my only Oslo Lapland Bunting (lappspurv) of the year at Østensjøvannet |
May:
|
148 |
Common
Tern |
01-May-24 |
|
149 |
Wood
Sandpiper |
01-May-24 |
|
150 |
Wood Warbler |
02-May-24 |
|
151 |
Lesser
Whitethroat |
02-May-24 |
|
152 |
Western
House Martin |
05-May-24 |
|
153 |
Red-necked
Grebe |
05-May-24 |
|
154 |
Western
Yellow Wagtail |
05-May-24 |
|
155 |
Spotted
Flycatcher |
05-May-24 |
|
156 |
Black
Grouse |
05-May-24 |
|
157 |
Common
Swift |
09-May-24 |
|
158 |
Icterine
Warbler |
09-May-24 |
|
159 |
Eurasian
Hobby |
09-May-24 |
|
160 |
Red-throated
Pipit |
09-May-24 |
|
161 |
Great
Northern Diver |
09-May-24 |
|
162 |
Arctic
Tern |
09-May-24 |
|
163 |
Arctic
Skua |
09-May-24 |
|
164 |
Bar-tailed
Godwit |
09-May-24 |
|
165 |
Garden
Warbler |
13-May-24 |
|
166 |
Greater
Scaup |
13-May-24 |
|
167 |
Common
Whitethroat |
14-May-24 |
|
168 |
Red-backed
Shrike |
14-May-24 |
|
169 |
Common
Kingfisher |
14-May-24 |
|
170 |
Common
Cuckoo |
14-May-24 |
|
171 |
Common
Reed Warbler |
15-May-24 |
|
172 |
Eurasian
Nightjar |
21-May-24 |
|
173 |
Common
Rosefinch |
21-May-24 |
|
174 |
Common
Redstart |
21-May-24 |
|
175 |
Temminck's
Stint |
23-May-24 |
|
176 |
Garganey |
23-May-24 |
|
177 |
Marsh
Warbler |
23-May-24 |
|
178 |
Thrush
Nightingale |
24-May-24 |
|
179 |
Dunlin |
24-May-24 |
|
180 |
Grey
Plover |
24-May-24 |
|
181 |
European
Honey-buzzard |
26-May-24 |
|
182 |
Sand
Martin |
27-May-24 |
|
183 |
Brent
Goose |
29-May-24 |
May is of course a key month and May 9th was a key day when Jack and I had a very productive sea and viz mig watch at Huk which gave important species like Arctic Skua, Arctic Tern, Red-throated Pipit and Bar-tailed Godwit. Other good species in the month were Red-necked Grebe, Scaup, Temminck’s Stint, Garganey, Grey Plover, Thrush Nightingale and Brent Goose none of which can be considered guaranteed species.
 |
| the view of May 9th |
 |
| Garganey (knekkand) on Maridalsvannet together with Teal (krikkand) |
 |
| Scaup on Maridalsvannet |
 |
| and a Temminck's Stint on a tiny patch of mud at Maridalsvannet |
 |
| Gressholmen supplied only my second ever Oslo Grey Plover (tundralo) |
 |
| Thrush Nightinale (nattergal) also on Gressholmen |
June:
|
184 |
Long-eared
Owl |
03-Jun-24 |
|
185 |
Two-barred
Crossbill |
07-Jun-24 |
|
186 |
Blyth's
Reed Warbler |
13-Jun-24 |
June is always going to be a quiet month for birds although
is good for bugs. Only three additions to #Oslo2024. Long-eared Owl was my
first in Maridalen and the Blyth’s Reed was the only good nocturnal singer it what
was a terrible summer for them. A Great Northern Diver on Maridalsvannet for a
couple of weeks was bird of the month although not an addition as I had already
seen one (my first in Oslo) from Huk on May 9th.
 |
| a brute of a Great Northern Diver (islom) with a Canada Goose was a most unexpected addition to the Maridalen list in the middle of June |
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