Sandemar; 19th May 2008

Red Backed Shrike (Male)

Red Backed Shrike (Female)

Whitethroat

Four hours spent on the reserve this evening in good light, many of the late migrants have now arrived. Whitethroats everywhere, displaying at several points around the location. Ever elusive, Thrush Nightingales sang from dense cover, providing a wonderful backdrop of sound. A male Garganey present was my first this year. 2 White Tailed Eagles flew past, both 4th Calender birds. A Common Rosefinch was also heard, though not seen. Temmincks Stint and Little Ringed Plover fed in the margins, a Redwing was found singing also. A personal first was a Water Shrew feeding in a waterlogged ditch, a wonderful little surprise! A pair of Red Backed Shrike rounded of a very nice evening, allowing some photo's which are posted here...

Utö; 9th May 2008

Wheatear(female)

Arrived on the island of Utö at 10am, immediately had several species, the best being 2 Shelduck, Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Red Breasted Merganser. Migrants were in evidence around the harbour, including several Lesser Whitethroats, Pied Flycatchers and numerous Whinchat. I slowly walked south along the road before turning west into an open area of scrub and meadow. Woodlark was a highlight here, a displaying male sang over my head, another flushed from my feet. Wheatear were immediately noticed, several pairs having taken territory in the area.

Wheatear(female)

This female Wheatear was particularily confiding, photos here, with videograb below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsM_oIDxKqQ

Utö

Moved west along the road towards the Baltic, plenty of Eider, Common Terns and Long Tailed Duck present offshore, though no passage was evident at sea. Worked my way back, picking up a pair of Willow Tits in a damp wooded area.

Wood Warbler

Wood Warbler

Wood Warbler was a late highlight, this male singing it's heart out provided superb views as it sang oblivious to my presence, a lovely bird. Repeatedly return to favoured perches in a small area, coming to withing three metres of where I stood. Other species noted late in the day included House Martin, 2 Black Woodpecker, Kestrel and a fine Green Woodpecker...

Peacock Butterfly

Butterflies are also now active, Brimstones, Peacocks, Dark Green Fritillary, Small White and 3 Camberwell Beauty were the best....

Wryneck; Landsort; 1st May 2008

A elusive species at the best of times, the day on Landsort today finally led to my first photo's of Wryneck. found this one at Norra Udden, after a game of hide and seek I eventually managed a couple of decent shots before it dissapeared as they are so good at doing. The best of the summer migrants seen today on the island....

Redstarts; Landsort; 1st May 2008

The first bird seen today around the harbour, a glorious summer male which set the day up beautifully. I located three more during the day around the island, one of which posed on one of the many sculpted iron work pieces found on the island and resulted in a really interesting photo that I am rather pleased with. A favourite species of mine and I was delighted to finally get some good images of them during the day....

Videograb at the link below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAfuVxckazU

Whinchat; Landsort; 1st May 2008

A single cock Whinchat present at Norra Udden today, a really confiding bird that could not of been more cooperative, really giving itself up for the camera.

Pied Flycatchers; Landsort; 1st May 2008

A total of 12 Pied Flyacatchers were found feeding in the north of the island, the majority males, all showing well and allowing some decent photo oppotunities. Superb little birds!

Angarn; 28th April 2008

Yellow Wagtail

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Male Ruff

Lapwing

Greylag Pair

Cranes migrating


A really enjoyable day out at Angarn in glorious spring sunshine today. The reserve is in pristine condition, with perfect water lavels and bird activity was high all day. Waders were a feature, with 8 male Ruff a highlight. 7 Wood Sandpiper were also present feeding along the margins, for once they were remarkably approachable and allowed me my best shots of the species to date. A booming Bittern provided a great backdrop to the scene as it called through the evening from the reedbeds. 2 Eurasion White-fronted Geese were notable, as were 4 Marsh Harriers, both pairs nest building. Summer passerines were also noted, resplendent Yellow Wagtails the best, 3 were seen during the day, singing on territory. My first Willow Warblers of the year also heard and small numbers of newly arrived Swallows hawked insects overhead. 9 Slavonian Grebes provided a touch of vivid colour and gave superb views.

Other species noted included 7 Cranes, 4 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 6 Shoveler, 8 Pochard, Sparrowhawk, Common buzzard, 8 Whooper Swans, 2 Redshanks among a host of commoner species...

Slavonian Grebes; Angarn; 28th april 2008

Slavonian Grebe

Pair Nest Building...

Slavonian Grebe

Displaying Pair...


The species I went to Angarn specifically for today were these Slavonian Grebes, which have just returned to the site. At the minute the lack of lush vegetation at the reserve makes them easily viewed as they set up territory, display and nest build. In a few weeks however, they will be much more difficult to see as dense reed and sedge growth progresses rapidly, offering thick cover to the birds, within which they raise their young.

A stunning species in summer plumage, the golden ear tufts in particular give them a rather exotic appeal. I saw nine birds today, four of which were paired and showing signs of breeding, with one pair actively nest building. A joy to relax in warm spring sunshine and watch these birds, allowing me both to sketch and photograph them at about 30 metres range.

Tyresö Slott; April 23rd 2008

Great Crested Grebe

Coot

A really quiet day at the slott, nothing really notable. Had hoped for some early summer migrants, but as yet nothing has arrived and it may be a week or so until the floodgates open. Great Crested Grebes were present in numbers, as always at this time of year, with about 15 pairs displaying and nest building. A few Coot pairs were also busy nest building and squabling over territory. No sign of the Green Sandpipers seen here two days ago whilst fishing, also Hawfinches were not seen or heard today, though a pair have been present at the site. Black Woodpecker heard distantly, with an elusive Green Woodpecker still avoiding the camera lens, wondering if I will ever get a decent shot of this species! A couple of Redwings were seen among the feeding flocks of Fieldfare, passage birds on their way north....

Tyresta National Park; 3rd April 2008

Reed Bunting (male)

Male Blackbird in morning dew...

Chaffinch (male)

Nuthatch

Nyfors Falls, Tyresta.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (male)

Flaten, Tyresta.


A very early start saw me on site at 6.00am. The reason for this was that woodpeckers drum rather intensively just after sunrise at this time of the year, as well as the dawn chorus being at it's peak at the same time. The first couple of hours produced excellent numbers of the expected woodpecker species, the best being 6 Black Woodpeckers, four of which were seen, three males and a single female, albeit fleetingly as is so typical of the species. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was also located at it's drumming post, it's higher pitched blows ringing through the forest making it easily found. 19 Greater Spotted Woodpeckers and an excellent total of 10 Green Woodpeckers made the day rather successful. At least one pair of Three Toed Woodpeckers are present in the park, however the park is vast and locating these birds will take a huge effort and not a little luck, suffice to say no joy today. Other good birds included a Parrot Crossbill briefly, whilst a Nutcracker was frustrating heard calling without being seen. A pair of Black Throated Divers were present on Flaten Lake, though distantly viewed, still superb to see in fresh summer plumage. A pair of Hawfinches were also located on territory. Amongst the 43 species noted the others worthy of a mention included a male Goshawk, 1 Lapwing, 30+ Jay, 5 Common Buzzard, 1 Raven, 4 Long Tailed Tit, 6 Crested Tit, 5 Willow Tit, 1 Mistle Thrush and 2 Lesser Black Backed Gull.

A huge amount of ground covered today over eight hours birding, really enjoyable though and well worth the effort. Roll on the arrival of the summer migrants....

A video grab here of the drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, picture is a little dark as it was very early, though the sound quality is good for those interested in how this species sounds...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnlhX87rG1g

Ural Owl Watercolour; 31st March 2008

Ural Owl; Finished Watercolour

Ural Owl Watercolour; Detail

Finished this Watercolour of Ural Owl today, 24x16 inches.