A True Caribbean ”Pain in the Ass”

My favorite Puerto Rican bird is the chango, or greater antillian grackle [antillerbåtstjärt]. Just look at its tail! I don’t know if to compare it with our magpies or blackbirds. Or perhaps the jackdaw? Anyway, it’s all around, whistling loudly from sunrise to sunset, very curios, always hungry as it seems, and a real teaser – on several occasions, I saw them ambushing the iguanas from above to pick  on their tails (!) just for the fun of it. San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 20–25 2015.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/1250.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/250.

Iphone 4, ISO 80, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/686.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/125.

High Above San Juan, Puerto Rico

On my conference trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, I remembered to search the skies for raptors and other big birds. I saw a red-tailed hawk patrolling the highway, and some american oystercatchers patrolling the beaches (that’s my fourth species of my favorite bird!). I also saw these two patrolling the capital city on high altitude.

A brown pelican [brun pelikan], on May 24, 2015.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/1000.

A magnificent frigatebird [praktfregattfågel], on May 25, 2015.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/1000.

The Botanical Garden in San Juan, Puerto Rico

I've been on a conference trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lots of work, but also some birding. The Botanical Garden at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, holds not only lots of flowers, bromelias, palms and orchids, but also lots of birds. Most of these I only heard (I'm not used to birdspotting among palm-trees), but I saw some. On May 25, 2015.

I almost missed this lovely striated (green-backed) heron [brunryggig häger], fishing in one of the almost dried out streams.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/100.

There are lots of common gallinules [amerikansk rörhöna] in the ponds, waiting for the visitors to throw them some bread and hoping to catch it before the freshwater turtles or the fish does.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/160.

The pearly-eyed thrasher [vitögd härmtrast] is a lovely singer! But not at all cooperative when it comes to posing for a photographer!

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/125.

The pitirre or gray kingbird [grå kungstyrann], is a flycatcher and sits most of the on a branch, waiting to spot a fly. When it does, it makes a quick raid to snatch it, and then it's back to the branch to wait for the next snack.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/400.


The zenaida dove [zenaidaduva] is the national bird of Anguilla. There's plenty of these very curious birds in Puerto Rico as well.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/250.

Common Gull [fiskmås]

Gåsevik, Skaftö, on April 19, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 400, 300mm, f/9, 1/320.

Eurasian Oystercatcher [strandskata]

My favorites. Skaftö, on April 19, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/11, 1/400.

Common Crane [trana]

Just outside home. A quick glance in the sky caught these cranes, just passing by on high altitude. Uddevalla on April 21, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/10, 1/320.

Northern Lapwing [tofsvipa]

One of my spring favorites, and one of the first to return. Naturum Hornborgasjön, Broddetorp, on April 10, 2015.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/160.

Common Crane [trana]

Hornborgasjön is well known among bird lovers. In a few weeks in the spring, up to 25,000 cranes come together to dance, before they migrate further north. The whooper swans like to mingle. Trandansen, Hornborgasjön, on April 10, 2015.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/160.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/160.

Mute Swan [knölsvan]

A slightly odd angle but a common bird. Naturum Hornborgasjön, Broddetorp, on April 10, 2015.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/640.

Fieldfare [björktrast]

Another one of those birds that are all around: the fieldfare. Skräcklanparken, Vänersborg, on May 11, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/9, 1/320.

Common Wood Pigeon [ringduva]

Where there’s a park, there are pigeons. Skräcklanparken, Vänersborg, on May 11, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 1600, 300mm, f/9, 1/320.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow [pilfink]

I always have a hard time separating the tree sparrow from the house sparrow, trying to remember which one has the black spot on its cheek. This one has a black spot, I decide. Hence, according to the literature it’s a tree sparrow. Skaftö, on April 19, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/5.8, 1/400.

House Sparrow [gråsparv]

I always have a hard time separating the tree sparrow from the house sparrow, trying to remember which one has the black spot on its cheek. This one has no black spot, and a gray cap. Hence, according to the literature it’s a house sparrow. Vänersborg, on May 11, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 400, 300mm, f/9, 1/320.

Hooded Crow [kråka]

A pair of hooded crows are nesting in one of the old oaks. In just a couple of days, the nest will be completely invisible from below. Uddevalla, on May 11, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/10, 1/320.

Common Chaffinch [bofink]

A gray day, but the chaffinch doesn’t mind. Skalbankarna nature reserve, Uddevalla, on May 10, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/11, 1/320.

Common Redstart [rödstjärt]

This is a first for me! Skalbankarna nature reserve, Uddevalla, on May 9, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/9, 1/320.

Pied Wagtail [sädesärla]

Compare this pied wagtail to the one published the other day. Similar habitats, don't you think? You couldn't be more wrong. While the other one lives by the sea, this one has taken up residence at a small fresh water pond. The sea shells here are fossils, 10,000 years old. Skalbankarna nature reserve, Uddevalla, on May 9, 2015.

Pentax K-50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/7.1, 1/800. 

Pied Flycatcher [svartvit flugsnappare]

The flycatchers are all over now, with plenty of food around to feed the young ones. Skalbankarna nature reserve, Uddevalla, on May 9, 2015.

Pentax K-50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/13, 1/500. Pic from A.  

Pentax K-50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/9, 1/320.

Pentax K-50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/13, 1/500.

Willow Warbler [lövsångare]

One of the most common birds in Sweden, but it usually stays out of sight. Skalbankarna nature reserve, Uddevalla, on May 9, 2015.

Pentax K-50, ISO 400, 300mm, f/9, 1/320.

Black-Headed Gull [skrattmås]

I’m usually not that fond of gulls. Maybe that’s because they take over the cities? I prefer them like this. Skaftö, on April 19, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/11, 1/400. 

Pied Wagtail [sädesärla]

Traditionally, the pied wagtail is supposed to return on April 10. This year it did. This photo is from Gåsevik, Skaftö, on April 19, 2015, where it was searching for insects.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/11, 1/320.

Common Raven [korp]

It’s magnificent, isn’t it? No wonder the raven is so often used as a mythic symbol in literature and religion. Gåsevik, Skaftö, on April 19, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/9, 1/320.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/10, 1/320.

Osprey [fiskgjuse]

This might very well be the reason I decided to actually start photoblogging and not just keep thinking about it: our meeting with the osprey at Ranneberg, Uddevalla, on May 1, 2015. We were just having some coffee in the small harbor when the osprey sailed in from over the woods, caught its prey, and got chased by the opportunistic gulls hoping for fish for lunch. I'm especially fond of the pic with the osprey flying over the idyllic houses, and I love the last one in the series – just look at that gull!

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/13, 1/500.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/13, 1/500.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/8 1/800.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/11, 1/500.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/9, 1/320.

Pentax K50, ISO 400, 300mm, f/9, 1/320.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/11, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/11, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/11, 1/500.

Common Blackbird [koltrast]

What would spring be without the blackbirds? Like here, from the top of a tree, singing loud and clear for everyone to enjoy (and a very insisting wake up-call in the morning). Skaftö, on April 19, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/11, 1/500.

European Greenfinch [grönfink]

From the archive: a greenfinch the cat didn’t chase away, on May 5, 2012.

Samsung WB600, ISO 320, 58mm, f/5.8, 1/90.

Eurasian Siskin [grönsiska]

It was a wonderful morning in Älje-Porsen nature reserve, Uddevalla, on May 3, 2015 – and a bit of a drama at the feeding station. The siskin had its breakfast, minding its own business. But when the woodpecker says ”Move it!”, you’d better move.

Pentax K50, ISO 400, 300mm, f/5.8, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 400, 300mm, f/5.8, 1/400. 

Pentax K50, ISO 400, 300mm, f/5.8, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 400, 300mm, f/5.8, 1/400.

Pied Flycatcher [svartvit flugsnappare]

The first meeting with the pied flycatcher this year. It seems it has found itself the perfect housing. Älje-Porsen nature reserve, Uddevalla, on May 3, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 400, 260mm, f/5.6, 1/320.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/9 1/500.