The weather today was gorgeous and I was down to a t-shirt before noon. But days with blue skies are generally speaking poor for birds and today was no exception. I stuck to Maridalen where I hoped some raptor migration might save the day but the only I raptors I had (Sparrowhawk, Goshawk and Buzzard) were local birds.
Of course if you use long enough time then you do see something. I had two patch year ticks in the form of Linnet and a very rare Collared Dove (only my second record on the patch). A flock of 150 Pink-footed Geese headed north and a Crane had joined a flock of 15 Greylags also heading north. There were still two pairsif Black-throated Divers on the lake and they even sang a bit. Another bird flew over calling.
The good light did bring out the best in the new camera and close brick licking Common Crossbills and a Twite resulted in some pictures and (hand-held) video that I am happy with. I also witnessed a pair of Long-tailed Tits collecting feathers from the remains of a dead (presumably at the talons of a Goshawk) Wood Pigeon which they then flew off with to their nest (which I didn’t manage to locate as the birds flew surprisingly far).
Simon Rix
Simon Rix is an English Birder who has lived in Oslo, Norway since 2001. Birding has been his passion since primary school and after an education as an economist and career within oil and gas and then drinks industry he turned his attention full time to birds as middle age approached. He is particularly interested in patch birding and migration and is an active guide, blogger and photographer. He is a member of the Norwegian Rarities Committee (NSKF).
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