Curing a cold, waiting for spring

I'm at home, trying to cure a stubborn cold that is going on it's sixth day. I guess if I had stayed at home immediately it would be gone by now, but unfortunately I chose not to. Outside the weather is slowly beginning to shift around and although it's winter, spring is definitely around the corner. In just one month it will be here.

This winter has been a lot better than last year and consequently it is easier to cope with it. As long as the temperature stays mostly below zero it's actually quite agreeable. The Great tit is already singing of course, heralding the coming change in season.


Bird of the day:
Talgoxe -- Kohlmeise -- Great tit -- Mésange charbonnière -- Parus major

Yellowhammer

The Yellowhammer is/was among the most common birds in Sweden. Living in an urbanized area I find it hard to believe. You almost never see any around here, but once you get outside of Stockholm they are common. On the other hand they are in serious decline across Europe, so I guess that might contribute as well.

To me it's a winter bird, although I know it is wrong. It might be the yellow color, contrasting against the pale colors of winter that lead me to associate them with winter. On the other hand their distinct song, counting to seven and spelling out "A little bit of bread and no cheese.", is a clear sign of spring and early summer.


Whatever the reason, it is a very nice and recognizable bird in Sweden, Europe and Asia. Too bad they are on the decline...

Bird of the day:
Gulsparv -- Goldammer -- Yellowhammer (bunting) -- Bruant jaune -- Emberiza citrinella

Early signs of spring - singing blue tits

Just a quick post on this Thursday afternoon to celebrate that it finally seems like the worst part of winter is over! About time... At this time of the year the sun goes up at 7:30 AM and sets around 4:30 PM - we win about 3 hours relative to December!
Even more rewarding, the stationary birds have started singing, particularly the songs of blue tits and great tits are ubiquitous.


Bird of the day:
Blåmes -- Blaumeise -- Blue tit -- Mésange bleue -- Cyanistes caeruleus

Tough nuthatches

I have said it before on this blogg but I like repeating myself: Nuthatches are among the very few overwintering birds that are entirely devoted to their local patch. Once they have established a territory they stay. For good.

Inspired by this, I took a walk in our own local patch the day before yesterday and guess whom I met?



The nuthatch was among our 51 species in the birdrace as well, of course. Anders captured this one at the bird feeder next to Råstasjön North of Stockholm:


Bird of the day:
Nötväcka -- Kleiber -- Eurasian nuthatch -- Sittelle torchepot -- Sitta europaea europaea

Last light

The sun sets at around four in the afternoon this time of year, which means that dusk sets in at around three. At around two pm on birdrace Saturday, we had reached Norra Järvafältet in a faint hope to see the Yellow-browed bunting again. This didn't work out, but we still got to see a couple of species that we hadn't seen before in the day.

We spent the remainder if the day there and when the light got too low for seeing birds, we finished off with listening for them in the woods.

During the day we were pleasantly surprised to find a couple of overwintering robins. To me, they add a warm note to the cold winter. Nice!


Bird of the day:
Rödhake -- Rotkehlchen -- European Robin -- Rougegorge familier -- Rødhals (DK) -- Roodborst (NL) -- Pettirosso europeo-- Erithacus rubecula

Action birding

Birdracing means being constantly on the move. There is just no time for the long meditative waiting of your normal birding day. No, you make sure you head out with as much intelligence gathered beforehand as possible and a solid plan to make the most out of the brief daylight hours.

This year Jörgen had really made his homework and he took us to unknown places in Tullinge where he does his local patching on regular days. Some were accessible and some required more work to reach.

The Tullinge tour really paid off though and it most likely was the thing that tipped the scale to our advantage in the race and placed us third. Among the Tullinge highlights I would like to mention the Tawny Owl and a trek down an icy forest ravine to find a Dipper. Jörgen is for sure the birding Tsar of Tullinge! ;-)


Bird of the day:
Tawny Owl -- Kattuggla -- Waldkauz -- Chouette hulotte -- Strix aluco