Dagens fågel - Bird of the day

Watching the young ones grow up

2008-07-27T20:15:00.002+02:00

These days we barely do any birding at all. July is quiet around here and vacation is over, so we can't go anywhere else either. However, it's always a pleasure to sit on the balcony and follow the backyard bird families and watching the young ones grow up.

The Magpies have been successful this year and this one often perches in the Cherry tree next our balcony.

Bird of the day:
Magpie - Skata - Elster - Pica pica

Square 2

2008-07-13T21:05:00.008+02:00

Just from looking at the map we suspected that it might not be a whole lot easier walking Square 2, than it had been doing square 1 (see earlier post). Square 2 was located about 1.5km south-west of the Godu glacier and straddled two steep mountains, as well as a frozen mountain lake (click for map). No trees and swamps this time, but we still figured it might be a challenge to walk a straight line up there.

Getting there, our suspicions were more or less confirmed. Rocky, steep, hillsides, a frozen lake and cloud level walking all contributed to an interesting and challenging route. The open terrain however meant that keeping the pace wasn't a big problem.

After having covered about half of the square the weather got worse and we were suddenly engulfed by thick gray clouds. Balancing our way in a rock field at about 1000m and seeing nothing we decided to abort due to bad weather and started to head back to the tent.

As we made our way down the hillside we came across the badly savaged carcass of what used to be a reindeer calf. It wasn't freshly slain, but the bad visibility combined with the knowledge that another team had had close bear encounters on a mountainside last year made us feel a little bit uneasy with the whole situation.

In the end we made it back safe to the tent by the frozen lake. We also managed to get a couple hours of rest, before breaking camp and heading out again. As the rain started to fall, we began our walk down the Vistas valley. That's however a separate story and you know all about that adventure already and if you don't, have a look at our first longer post from this trip.

This post concludes our trip report from the northern adventure. Vacation is over, we're back at work and birding is slow during July. Migration season is however already under way and we'll start seeing waders in the coming weeks or so, and after that it's August and migration will begin in full force. :-)

Bird of the day: Long-tailed Jaeger -- Fjällabb -- Falkenraubmöwe -- Labbe à longue queue -- Stercorarius longicaudus

Going up the country

2008-07-07T11:12:00.008+02:00

After having covered square 1, we headed out the next day for a two-day hike to the next, and final, square. Square 2 was located in a mountain range in, the heart of the Abisko-Kebnekaise region and the only way to get there is by walking a couple of days, so we got our gear and headed out and up.

On the way we encountered both reindeer and Willow Ptarmigan/Willow Grouse (Dalripa) in the lower birch regions.

Abisko is at around 400 meters above sea level and square 2 was at around 850 meters above sea level, so walking there is more or less a matter of going uphill for two days straight. A fact which your legs soon bear witness to... it was quite exhausting. Carrying in excess of 20kg (44 pounds) on our backs added to the challenge for our office and lab life bodies as well I guess.

After a day or so we were above the tree line and the landscape shifted to a more tundra like landscape.

June is early in the season at this level and latitude, so the spring green of the valleys had not yet reached above the tree line. The lakes still had ice and snow covered the mountain sides and filled pockets that were protected from the midday sun. The temperatures ranged from around zero to around 8 degrees Celsius (around 46F).

Since the snow was melting quickly during the day the landscape had plenty of streams coming down from the sides of the mountains. The larger ones had bridges, but the smaller ones had to be waded which was an ordeal in itself, walking in the ice cold streams, carrying your boots around the neck and hoping not to slip and fall.

By the end of the second day of walking we reached the site of square 2 and could rest for a couple of hours, before getting up to start the census at 4am the next day. The weather was slightly better and the sun even shone for one of the few times that walk.

Bird of the day: Willow Ptarmigan (Willow Grouse) -- Dalripa -- Moorschneehuhn -- Lagopède des saules -- Lagopus lagopus

Square one - walking the line

2008-07-06T12:05:00.012+02:00

For this years vacation we decided to volunteer for the University of Lund, counting birds as part of the larger European Bird Census effort. In theory it seemed like a good plan - get up north, stroll around enjoying great views and fauna while taking a few notes about the birds you see and hear. Basically that's what we do anyway when we're out birding, so there really shouldn't be any problems.

In reality it turned out to be quite a daunting task which really required a lot of physical effort. The way you go about counting birds is of course systematical, so forget about the strolling around and enjoying the views. You need to follow a straight line and deviate as little as humanly possible from that line, regardless of the terrain.

Furthermore you need to do this at a specified time of day (4am in the morning!) and at a specified pace, so forget about taking breaks, or doing it at a time of day that suits you.

In our case the first square was a Godforsaken piece of marshland squeezed in between a small lake and the bigger lake Torneträsk (click for map). Much of it was very wet, filled with mosquitoes and densely vegetated with a small form of birch called Fjällbjörk (direct translation is Fell birch, or Mountain Birch). It was close to impenetrable terrain. In the end it took us around eight hours to do the round and we fought every bit of the way to keep the pace up and to get it right.

Luckily, at that latitude the sun never sets at this time of year, so at least it was light when we climbed our rented mountain bikes for about an hour of biking to get there in time. It's also light enough to take a few photos, which we did, to remember this horrible ordeal.

Parts of the marshland was open and filled with large boulders from the ice age. The fields provided a nice break from the dense vegetation, but in the end it turned out to be almost as hard to balance your way over instable and sharp rocks as it was forcing your way through the undergrowth.

Our favorite parts were however the parts were nature had found a way to combine the rock fields, water and dense overgrowth! It was unbelievable and in the end we had to laugh about it - fighting your way through the marsh at five o'clock in the morning while trying to keep pace and direction while identifying and counting all the birds you hear and see.

Only one person is supposed to do the actual counting, so we split the tasks and Claudia did all the counting and I tried to keep pace and direction. Species wise it wasn't a gold mine, which was good since that meant that most species were familiar and could be counted without too much effort.

Bird of the day: Lövsångare -- Fitis -- Willow warbler -- Pouillot fitis -- Phylloscopus trochilus

A long walk down the Vistas Valley

2008-06-28T21:24:00.012+02:00

Ok,
this is the first proper post since our northern adventure. As mentioned in our last post we have been to the north of Sweden, trekking and counting birds for the University of Lund. Claudia will explain more about that in a later post.

I'll start with the end - the Vistas Valley exit. Initially we had intended to take the scenic (western) route from Abisko to Kebnekaise, but bad weather and a lot of snow in the Tjäktas pass forced us to re-route at Alesjaure and take the lower Vistas Valley out (click for map). The Vistas Valley can be described as a luscious green valley. That would be wrong.

The valley is indeed a green valley, but hard to force, filled with mosquitoes and generally mostly a long swamp. As we descended down to the valley floor, heavy rain set in and continued for the coming 24h hours without interruption. Rain can be cooling at times, but the temperature up there is not more than around 8 deg C, so it was cool enough without the rain...

There were no suitable places to put up a tent in the swamp land so we decided to press on until we eventually reached the Vistas cabins were we could seek shelter. The first night we shared a cramped room with five exchange students from Gothenborg and the next day was spent drying out our clothes and recuperating from the trip so far.

The cabin was great and we left it reluctantly to continue down the swamp valley. Two long days and a many ice cold streams to cross lay ahead. The valley was however full of birds and wildlife and we saw and heard Blue Throats all over the place. An elk was a steady visitor at the cabin and around it and we saw reindeers on the mountain sides.

Leaving the Vistas Valley we left the Swedish fells for this time and returned to civilization at the small village of Nikkaluokta.

Bird of the day: Bluethroat -- Blåhake -- Blaukehlchen -- Gorgebleue à miroir -- Luscinia svecica

Back from the hard track

2008-06-26T23:01:00.004+02:00

Ten days in the wild and we're back. Rain, hard terrain and mosquitoes have all been faced and withstood on our journey in the Abisko-Kebnekaise area, in the very north of Sweden. We went up there to count birds for a project run by the university of Lund and it turned out to be quite a challenge - roughly 30km by bike and 90km by foot, carrying tent and all the supplies needed to make it on our own in the mountains.

The weather was mostly too bad to take photos, but we managed to squeeze off a couple of shots anyway. We'll keep you posted as we get settled back home again. See you around!

Vacation time!

2008-06-14T22:44:00.002+02:00

Yes,
it's vacation time. We have some birding adventures ahead of us and too little time to prepare. We're heading north this time, where the wind is still cool and the sun never sets this time of year. It's going to be great.

Bird of the day:
Barn swallow -- Ladusvala -- Rauchschwalbe -- Hirondelle rustique -- Hirundo rustica

Serin at Ottenby Bird Observatory

2008-06-08T22:28:00.004+02:00

One of my easiest lifers so far. During the volunteer course at Ottenby one of the participants got a message: A serin had just been captured and ringed at Ottenby Bird Observatory. The ringer was going to show it to anyone interested in 5 minutes, in front of their facilites. The course had to be discontinued.

Gulhämpling -- Girlitz -- European serin -- Serin cini -- Serinus serinus

And Germany just won the first match in the European Championship. Oooh, wie ist das schön... :-)

Common rosefinch

2008-06-04T10:56:00.002+02:00

Another "meeting-bird" from Ottenby: Male rosefinch.

Common Rosefinch -- Rosenfink -- Karmingimpel -- Roselin cramoisi -- Carpodacus erythrinus

Red-breasted flycatcher or: Having meetings at Ottenby Bird Observatory

2008-05-29T13:23:00.002+02:00

I spent last weekend on Öland or more precisely, in Ottenby, to attend a volunteer course arranged by the Swedish Ornithological Society (Sveriges Ornitologiska Förening, SOF). It was really a lot of fun and on top of that I got 8 new species for my Sweden list and 5 new lifers. The female red-breasted flycatcher shown below was not such a lifer, but still - how often do you get to see it that close?

Background to that particular pic: The committee for bird interest (which has recruited me a few months ago) had a meeting at Ottenby Bird Observatory and the guy in charge of the ringing was so kind to drop by the meeting room whenever he had something we might want to see. Which was very appreciated. To be continued...

Bird of the day:
Red-breasted flycatcher -- Mindre flugsnappare -- Zwergschnäpper -- Gobemouche nain -- Ficedula parva

Mew gull at Huvudkär

2008-05-28T20:30:00.003+02:00

Mew gulls are everywhere and of course at Huvudskär as well. This one seemed alone and we never saw any partner. Often enough it sat on the pole and called out for it's friends.

Bird of the week:
Fiskmås -- Sturmmöwe -- Mew gull -- Goéland cendré -- Larus canus

Arctic Tern at Huvudskär

2008-05-24T22:04:00.005+02:00

Another report from our trip last weekend to Huvudskär. The island hosts a small colony of Arctic terns just outside from the minimal harbor. The terns were busy nesting, or involving in "pre-nesting" activities when we were there, as you can tell from the last picture below.

I love terns and it was a pleasure to follow the activities of the colony during our stay. Since the winters are spent in the southern hemisphere they actually spend most of their lives in migration. Amazing birds by all accounts.

Arctic Tern -- Silvertärna -- Küstenseeschwalbe -- Sterne arctique -- Sterna paradisaea

Back from the annual Huvudskär excursion

2008-05-18T21:01:00.006+02:00

About a year ago we joined Södertörns Fågelklubb's annual trip to Huvudskär in the Stockholm archipelago. This year the trip was extended to an overnight stay and although the weather wasn't really at it's best we enjoyed a good trip anyway.

Huvudskär is interesting because it lies in a local hot spot for birds in migration. Last year we encountered ridiculous numbers of Robins and Northern Wheatears. This year they were replaced with Lesser Whitethroats (Sylvia curruca) and Spotted Flycatchers (Muscicapa striata) who were all over the place. A lot of them seemed to disappear over night though and today most (or a lot) of the Lesser Whitethroats were gone.

The islands also hosted a couple of Bluethroats and early this morning we managed to get these photos of a curious fellow who came out from under a bush right next to us.

A typical view at Huvudskär.

Bird of the day: Bluethroat -- Blåhake -- Blaukehlchen -- Gorgebleue à miroir -- Luscinia svecica

Common snipe at 30m-kärret

2008-05-16T21:38:00.000+02:00

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

2008-05-15T08:30:00.001+02:00

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

2008-05-13T21:43:00.001+02:00

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

2008-05-12T08:00:00.000+02:00

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

2008-05-11T10:26:00.004+02:00

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!

2008-05-07T21:57:00.004+02:00

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

2008-05-04T16:31:00.010+02:00

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

About sitting doves

2008-04-25T21:00:00.000+02:00

At work, right outside our lab and easily spotted from our windows, we had a wood pigeon (ringduva, Ringeltaube) sitting on eggs - until about two weeks ago, that is. A female sparrowhawk attacked the pigeon on the nest and, took it placidly apart until only feathers and feet were left, all sitting right next to the two doomed eggs, completely undisturbed for more than three hours. Cruel, but fascinating at the same time.

And that's all that's left, the eggs are gone by now, too. Unfortunately I never took a photo of the pigeon brooding, I was so sure that there was no hurry - well, it only shows that you never know!

So the day before yesterday I discovered another wood pigeon on the campus which was sitting on eggs and I knew that if I wanted a pic I might have to be quick. So I brought the camera yesterday and here is a wood pigeon which has so far escaped any hawk's claws. Good luck!

Bird of the day:
Common Wood Pigeon -- Ringeltaube -- Ringduva -- Pigeon ramier -- Columba palumbus

Red-breasted goose - X

2008-04-18T20:15:00.007+02:00

This morning we got up around 4 AM in order to drive South with two fellow birders - a red-breasted goose, foraging among 150-200 barnacle geese, had been reported yesterday from the Nyköping area, from an area called "Horns båtvarv".

The sight we met there on our arrival around 7 AM was somewhat unsettling - not a single birder (in spite of the fact that red-breasted goose is rather sensational around here) and above all - NOT A SINGLE GOOSE! Obviously we first thought that we were at the wrong spot.

But about half an hour later a huge flock of barnacle geese flew in and - among them the red-breasted one after all! We were able to observe the bird for about an hour, until we had to head back again.

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

Oystercatchers downtown

2008-04-16T21:48:00.002+02:00

I enjoyed fresh oysters just the other day, although I guess it's getting a little late in the season (season being all months with an "r" in them around here). I would however be surprised to learn that the Oystercatchers care about proper oyster season. Actually I don't think they eat oysters at all - how would they manage to prey open those stubborn clams?

Anyway, these fellows landed downtown in Stockholm last weekend and that's where I took their picture. Enjoy! :-)

Bird of the day:
Eurasian Oystercatcher -- Strandskata -- Austernfischer -- Huîtrier pie-- Ostrero Euroasiático -- Ostraceiro -- Haematopus ostralegus

Afternoon at Ågesta

2008-04-12T20:22:00.003+02:00

Today I went to lake Ågesta and spent about 3 hours there. Saw and heard 37 different species, including a hunting osprey, a Marsh harrier collecting nest material, a gadwall, many teals, a deeply booming bittern and last but not least: Starlings. singing as if there was no tomorrow!

Here, you have to imagine the song:

Bird of the day:
Stare -- Star -- Common Starling -- Étourneau sansonnet -- Sturnus vulgaris

Barnacle Geese

2008-04-06T20:02:00.006+02:00

Oh,
this has indeed been a busy year so far. Weekend birding has unfortunately had to stand back for other more pressing matters. Yesterday we finally managed a walk in the sun on Skeppsholmen together. Spring is here for real and the birds are pouring in from the south. A cold sea breeze made the walk a little colder than expected, but none the less relaxing and entertaining.

For me, the sight of the newly arrived Barnacle Geese and Oyster Catchers was among the highlights of the walk. It's nice to be able to go downtown and enjoy so many species in the middle of the city. I guess it's one of the reasons why I enjoy living here.

Bird of the day:
Barnacle Goose - Vitkindad gås - Weißwangengans - Bernache nonnette - Branta leucopsis