Grebes this week

click to enlarge

Skäggdopping - Podiceps cristatus - Great Crested Grebe, nesting

NF Photo 110627 in Djulö lake

I was out kayaking yesterday and headed for a place with lots of waterlilys. Then I realised that a crested grebe was there, sitting on eggs. Totally open for everyone to see. Strangely, the bird did not leave the nest as they usually do when I approach.  Instead it spread teh wings and facial feathers to show how big and dangerous it was. I had expected the agressive sound they sometime perform in that situation. But it was silent. Strange! Maybe it was close to hatching the eggs. Well, I took some shots and then moved the kayak away from the nest.

Svarthakedopping - Podiceps auritus - Horned Grebe
NF Photo at Östra Vingåkers wetland

Horned Grebe! The chicks are rather large by now. From the 7 pairs I found nesting there are only 5 chicks. Not much I think. There are 2 families with 2 chicks each, and one with a lone chick. The rest was unsuccessful. As you can see the greenary on the watersurface is overtaking the little lake.

  World Bird Wednesday XXXII

Watery Wednesday

Do you have some Winged friends you want to show? Take a look at NF Winged

Labels: Fågel, NatureFootstep, Monica Johansson, foto, photography, natur, nature, fotoutmaning, photo challenge, photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, BPW, fåglar, bird, birds, fågelskådning, birding, swedish, svenska, fågelfoto, birdphoto, camargue, öland, vadare, wader, ,galleri, gallery, vilken fågel, what bird, Svarthakedopping, Podiceps auritus, Horned Grebe, Skäggdopping, Podiceps cristatus, Great Crested Grebe

Styltlöpare - Himantopus himantopus - Black-winged Stilt

click to enlarge

Styltlöpare - Himantopus himantopus - Black-winged Stilt

NF Photo 110423 on Gozo, Malta

I visited Malta 2 months ago. There were not many birds but I did see these Stilts flying back and forth for a long time. It was nice watching them as I usually see them walking in the water.

BPW148
 
Labels: Fågel, NatureFootstep, Monica Johansson, foto, photography, natur, nature, fotoutmaning, photo challenge, photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, BPW, fåglar, bird, birds, fågelskådning, birding, swedish, svenska, fågelfoto, birdphoto,

Blåhake - Luscinia svecica - Bluethroat

click to enlarge

Blåhake, hane - Luscinia svecica - Bluethroat, male
NF Photo 110616 at Storulvån Mountain Lodge

Our guide at Storulvån asked us the first day what we expected from this trip. I said I wanted some great shots from this bird. Then it turned out that most of the group wanted it. This little bird was "wanted" and we got it. Sadly though, I did not see any female. But they might have been laying on eggs. It was singing a lot and very nice to listen to. It seems to be good at mimicking other sounds like the cowbells for one.  It was rather common up there.

About Bluethroat at wiki

World Bird Wednesday XXXI

I found a great video where it is singing.
Labels: Fågel, NatureFootstep, Monica Johansson, foto, photography, natur, nature, fotoutmaning, photo challenge, photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, BPW, fåglar, bird, birds, fågelskådning, birding, swedish, svenska, fågelfoto, birdphoto, camargue, öland, vadare, wader, ,galleri, gallery, vilken fågel, what bird, Blåhake, Luscinia svecica, Bluethroat, Storulvån

Svarthakedopping - Podiceps auritus - Horned Grebe

click to enlarge

From the back this time. I don´t think I have that before.

The first time I saw this one was 2011-06-05 that makes it about 2 weeks old. It looks a bit rugged so it might be changing the first feathers. Probably the first one hatched this year.  

Svarthakedopping - Podiceps auritus - Horned Grebe

NF Photo 110618 at Östra Vingåker

There have been 7 families in the little wetland this year. At least from what I have seen. Most of the nests are now empty but oen is still on it. And that one has been laying there for more then a month. There are not many chicks. One or two per family. I think that is very little. In Storulvån this week we saw a family with 4 chicks.

This little lake is now getting lots of green algeae and I think that is bad. There were also fewer adults there. Last year they left long before the chicks so maybe, if the breeding was unsuccessful, they started the migrating already.

Camera Critters #167

BPW 147
Labels: Fågel, NatureFootstep, Monica Johansson, foto, photography, natur, nature, fotoutmaning, photo challenge, photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, BPW, fåglar, bird, birds, fågelskådning, birding, swedish, svenska, fågelfoto, birdphoto, camargue, öland, vadare, wader, ,galleri, gallery, vilken fågel, what bird,Svarthakedopping, Podiceps auritus, Horned Grebe

Kärrsångare - Acrocephalus palustris - Marsh Warbler

click to enlarge

Kärrsångare - Acrocephalus palustris - Marsh Warbler

NF Photo 110602 at Åkerö

About Kärrsångare on wiki
singing on youtube

Labels: Fågel, NatureFootstep, Monica Johansson, foto, photography, natur, nature, fotoutmaning, photo challenge, photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, BPW, fåglar, bird, birds, fågelskådning, birding, swedish, svenska, fågelfoto, birdphoto, camargue, öland, vadare, wader, Kärrsångare, Acrocephalus palustris, Marsh Warbler, galleri, gallery, vilken fågel, what bird

Rörhöna - Gallinula chloropus - Common Moorhen

click to enlarge

Rörhöna - Gallinula chloropus - Common Moorhen

NF Photo 110611 at Östra Vingåker

BPW #146


A nice surprice in the wetland today. A Moorhen! It was the first time I have seen it showing off those beautiful tailfeathers. Love it!  It has not been here earlier. Maybe it is heading south already.
Labels: Fågel, NatureFootstep, Monica Johansson, foto, photography, natur, nature, fotoutmaning, photo challenge, photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, BPW, fåglar, bird, birds, fågelskådning, birding, swedish, svenska, fågelfoto, birdphoto, camargue, öland, vadare, wader, Rörhöna, Gallinula chloropus, Common Moorhen

Sånglärka - Alauda arvensis - Common Skylark

click to enlarge

Sånglärka - Alauda arvensis - Common Skylark

NF Photo 110602 at Marieberg

I loved this. I took those shots from "the comfort of my car". This lark really showed off. Too bad it was not a little closer still.  We call it Songlark, but this one can´t sing with all the food in it´s beak. These are the best shots I´ve got from it. Mostly you see it in the air, hovering and singing it´s heart out. :)  And, no, the camera was not on autoshooting. The lark was there for a while. Seemed to like that straw. :)

World Bird Wednesday XXIX

Labels: Fågel, NatureFootstep, Monica Johansson, foto, photography, natur, nature, fotoutmaning, photo challenge, photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, BPW, fåglar, bird, birds, fågelskådning, birding, swedish, svenska, fågelfoto, birdphoto, camargue, öland, vadare, wader, Sånglärka, Alauda arvensis, Common Skylark

150 birds in sweden

With the Nightingale post I have posted 150 spieces photographed in Sweden. But I have one more to post. :)  Counting European birds there are a lot more. Not to mention the Costarican ones.

But for Swedish birds, I am about halfway now. :)


Labels: Fågel, NatureFootstep, Monica Johansson, foto, photography, natur, nature, fotoutmaning, photo challenge, photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, BPW, fåglar, bird, birds, fågelskådning, birding, swedish, svenska, fågelfoto, birdphoto, camargue, öland, vadare, wader, 150

Näktergal - Luscinia luscinia - Thrush nightingale

click to enlarge

Näktergal - Luscinia luscinia - Thrush nightingale

NF Photo 110601

About Thrush nightingale on Birdguides.com
Singing on youtube

I was about to call this post "Mission Impossible".  June 1st I heard the Nightingale for the first time this year. It was in a garden in the countryside. I went out of the car and tried to locate it. Took me about 15 min before I saw it in the bushes. I managed to get the shots above half hanging in the bushes myself.

Next day I went to Kvismaren. A Bird Observatory about an hours drive from where I live. I heard Nightingales all over the place. Lots of them. And close. But in the bushes. No matter how hard I tried to locate them I could not see them. Not a single one.

The same today, as I am setting up the first post on them. It was really hard to find information on them. In swedish I did not find anything. And this is a common bird. Talk about weird. Well known by everyone. But obviously hard to get a shot at. And information without a shot....forget it! :(

BPW 145

Labels: Fågel, NatureFootstep, Monica Johansson, foto, photography, natur, nature, fotoutmaning, photo challenge, photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, BPW, fåglar, bird, birds, fågelskådning, birding, swedish, svenska, fågelfoto, birdphoto, camargue, öland, vadare, wader,  Näktergal, Luscinia luscinia, Thrush nightingale, trast, trush

Sädesärla - Motacilla alba - White Wagtail

click to enlarge

Sädesärla - Motacilla alba - White Wagtail

NF Photo 110602 at Åkerö

Himmelsk
Sky watch Friday

Labels: Fågel, NatureFootstep, Monica Johansson, foto, photography, natur, nature, fotoutmaning, photo challenge, photo meme, Bird Photography Weekly, BPW, fåglar, bird, birds, fågelskådning, birding, swedish, svenska, fågelfoto, birdphoto, camargue, öland, vadare, wader,  Sädesärla, Motacilla alba, White Wagtail, Åkerö,