In June 2010 I visited Oslo, Norway to attend the science meeting at the end of the fourth International Polar Year (2007/8), a major data collection and analysis initiative to improve our understanding of the physical and biological environments of the polar regions. I gave a presentation on Antarctic sea which, surprisingly, had been increasing in extend for the previous couple of decades in complete contrast to sea ice across the Arctic Ocean that was decreasing. It was a busy week, but I found time to make a couple of short trips to places that I’d read were good birding sites. Both locations were lakes and are indicated on the map below.
The first, and the most productive trip, was to Ostensjovannet Lake (‘A’ on the map), the city’s major wetland and bird reserve area. It’s easily accessible via the Oslo metro system and many birds can be seen on the water and in the surrounding forested areas. In the forests I saw Common Chaffinch, Fieldfare, Hooded Crow, Common Magpie, Eurasian Nuthatch, Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
On the lake there was a good selection of waterfowl, including Green-winged Teal, Great Crested Teal, Tufted Duck and Barnacle Goose.
I also made a very brief visit to Akerselva Lake, which is southeast of Central Oslo. I didn’t have much time to spend here and only got reasonable photos of Pied Wagtail and Fieldfare.
