December to February is a quiet time for birders in Norway, days are short and species diversity is relatively low. Birds tend to stay put, and typically you see much of the same birds every time you visit your local patch. There are plent to see along the coastline though, large numbers of wintering divers, grebes, ducks and other seabirds are scattered all over the coast. The beautiful King Eider and Steller's Eider rarely penetrate further south than Troms , and White-billed divers are regular south to Tr ndelag. Up to 1500 of these magnificent birds winter along the coast, with most in Nordland and Troms counties.
Birds tend to be very inactive, and can be hard to find.
At the end of February the first few migrants arrive, typically a small wave of Skylarks are followed by Lapwings, Common Ringed Plovers and Starlings. In early March Oystercatchers arrive at the beaches and in mid month several thousand can migrate past on a good day. Curlews and a few Golden Plovers add to the diversity among the flocks of Lapwings and Oystercatchers. While this is happening, auks and Kittiwakes arrive at the breeding colonies, and the early breeders such as owls and Ravens lay their first eggs. Mealy Redpolls and Pine Grosbeaks arrive in the northern Pine forests as the daylight returns, and the tits start singing to attract a mate.