Christmas birding

Christmas has been spent in Oslo where it has been quite grey and unpleasant weather although we did surprisingly end up with a white christmas with a snow fall on the 24th although warmer temperatures since have left us with just ice.

The Hawk Owl continues to find Maridalen to its liking but move around quite a bit in its search for rodents. The last few days it has been on the same power cables which hosted a lost Cockatiel in July - there can't be too many places where both the species have occurred!

Pine Grosbeaks are becoming harder to find with few rowan berries left and surprisingly they do not seem to have invaded the city either where there are berries to be found. That does not mean they are impossible to find and a quick trip out this morning revealed a small group including a fine adult male.

adult male Pine Grosbeak (konglebit)

3 young birds or possibly adult females

Hawkie on wires

it has also been hunting low down from roadside trees