After a mild December, January came with low temperatures and a rough period for wintering birds around the Oslofjord.

A Northern Lapwing (vipe) suddenly showed up at Hvasser the last days of December.

After the cold weather set in, most freshwater froze over. Nevertheless, a few Jack Snipes (kvartbekkasin) found open diches at Tjøme.

Water Rails (vannrikse) also survived where they could find open water.

A couple of Stock Doves (skogdue) was surprising guests at a feeder near Larvik.

A group of Tundra Bean Geese (tundrasædgås) rested a couple of days under harsh conditions at Brunlanes.

With them came a single Greater White-fronted Goose (tundragås)…

…while a single Barnacle Goose (hvitkinngås) stopped over at Hvasser.

Another winter-surprise was a Dunnock (jernspurv) at a feeder at Hvasser.

Three Shore Larks (fjellerke) was present at Mølen the frist weeks of January…

…accompanied by a single Skylark (sanglerke)

Of more regular wintering birds, Robins (rødstrupe)…

…and Blackbirds (svarttrost) were present in good numbers.

In Horten the Mistle Trush (duetrost) has been an annual winter guest.

Horten also has a local population of Rooks (kornkråke).

Treecreeper (trekryper), Horten.

Coot (sothøne), Borre.

Tufted Ducks (toppand), Borre.

Dipper (fossekall), Borre.

Marsh Tit (løvmeis), Gjennestadvann.

Collared Dove (tyrkerdue), Hvasser.

Adult male Goshawk (hønsehauk), Tønsberg.

A stop in Drammen gave a good view of the Mandarine Duck (mandarinand) hanging around the Mallards.

A day in the woods at Maridalen north of Oslo offered nice encounters with some typical woodland-species, like this Black Woodpecker (svartspett).

Crested Tit (toppmeis), Maridalen

Willow Tit (granmeis), Maridalen