Common snipe at 30m-kärret

Another pic from last Sunday. I took this while about 20 mosquitos were trying (and half-way succeeding) to eat me alive.


Enkelbeckasin -- Bekassine -- Common snipe -- Bécassine des marais -- Gallinago gallinago

Northern lapwing

At least two lapwings were sitting on eggs at Säby strandäng on Sunday. One of them got really angry and sort of attacked the canada geese and goslings when they got too close. But it settled down as soon as the geese had passed and posed patiently for som pics.





































Bird of the day:
Tofsvipa -- Kiebitz -- Northern Lapwing -- Vanneau huppé -- Vanellus vanellus

Canada goslings, Säby strandäng

Some more shots from Säby strandäng, Sunday. A couple of canada geese proudly strutted around with two goslings.




Bird of the day:
Kanadagås -- Kanadagans -- Canada goose -- Bernache du Canada -- Branta canadensis

Shoveler at Säby strandäng, Norra Järvafältet

Also Sunday was a fantastic summer day - while Anders had to stay at home to work (and do the laundry and cook...) I took the liberty to get out once more and enjoy the sun. It wasn't all fun - about 10 mosquitos took the liberty and enjoyed me. Another ten died trying. But I kept going, thinking that this is just some little foretaste of Norrland (Northern Sweden where we are going to do some bird censusing) in June...

Anyway, here are some pics from yesterday's trip to Norra Järvafältet: A couple of shovelers at Säby strandäng.

The male















The male again.






















Male and female.

Bird of the day:
Skedand -- Löffelente -- Northern/Common Shoveler -- Canard souchet -- Anas clypeata

Green sandpiper

Yesterday was one of those fantastic days in May, where the temperature goes up to summer levels, but nature is still pristine and in spring blossom. We took a walk around Isbladskärret/Djurgården in sunny 22 degrees C (around 72 F) and a light afternoon breeze. Very nice!

Isbladskärret is subject to active restoration to keep it attractive to birds. This year that means draining more or less the whole thing. I guess it's for a greater good, but it has had a negative short term effect for the birds. A lot less species and number of individuals than usual at this time of ear.

This Green Sandpiper observed us with slight suspicion form it's elevated position on a stone, as we passed by.



Skogssnäppa -- Waldwasserläufer -- Green sandpiper -- Chevalier cul-blanc -- Tringa ochropus

Red-breasted goose: A real tourist!

Just a flock of barnacle geese (Weisswangengänse, vitkindade gäss) on Skeppsholmen, Stockholm City?

You might want to have a closer look:

(Photo taken by shaky phonescoping - using my cell phone camera and my binoculars, both hand-held.)

It's hard to believe, but true. Yesterday, in the company of about 30 barnacle geese, a red-breasted goose strolled around in the middle of Stockholm. Actually it might very well be the same goose that we went all the way to Nyköping for, a few weeks ago. Well, if one is in the neighbourhood anyway, why not use the opportunity and pay Stockholm a visit?

Bird of the day:
Rödhalsad gås -- Red-breasted goose -- Rothalsgans -- Bernache à cou roux -- Branta ruficollis

Nesting times at Isbladet

Following the rumors/reports of another Red-breasted goose at Djurgården in Stockholm, I headed out there this morning to check them out. No such bird was to be found, but it proved to be a nice morning anyway. Isbladskärret is in the Djurgården area and I really like it there.

Breeding season is in full swing, which was evident at Isbladskärret today. Birds are nesting all over the place and I guess no one can miss the Grey Heron colony in the southern part of the small swamp. They are loud and visible! I never really can grasp the fact that they are tree living birds. They don't look it, with their long legs and big bodies. To me the colony is more reminiscent of something from an African savanna scene, by a water hole, than a scene from the outskirts of Stockholm.





Eggs and chicks attract predators and omnivores, which was evident from a Raven circling above and a prowling Red Fox, which emerged from the woods, upsetting the Lapwings. It sneaked around for a while and even passed quite close and had a good look at me. I took a good number of photos.






Bird of the day:
Häger -- Graureiher -- Grey Heron -- Héron cendré -- Ardea cinerea