Barn Swallow [ladusvala]

Dinner on it's way! Röe gård, Brodalen, on July 31, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/7.1, 1/800.

Pied Wagtail [sädesärla]

Röe gård, Brodalen, on July 31, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/7.1, 1/800.

Common Buzzard [ormvråk]

An unusually (for me) close range sight of a buzzard. Dättern nature reserve, Vänersborg, on July 27, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/1000.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/14, 1/6400.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/800.

Western Marsh Harrier [brun kärrhök]

Another marsh harrier – there are plenty around. Dättern nature reserve, Vänersborg, on July 27, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/640.

Northern Lapwing [tofsvipa]

Today we visited the tower on the west side of the shallow Dättern (last week we visited the tower on the east side). Now there where hundreds of lapwings; these took to the air after a raptor (a marsh harrier?) showed too much of an interest. Dättern nature reserve, Vänersborg, on July 27, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/800.

Grey Heron [gråhäger]

Dättern nature reserve, Vänersborg, on July 27, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/13, 1/500.

Eurasian Hobby [lärkfalk]

Suddenly, the barn swallows got very annoyed and when we looked up, we saw the hobby with its prey. The swallows kept on attacking, so after just a couple of seconds it took its prey and left. Hunneberg, Vänersborg, on July 24, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/9, 1/3200.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/1000.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/9, 1/3200.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/9, 1/3200.

Barn Swallow [ladusvala]

Posing patiently. Hunneberg, Vänersborg, on July 24, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/640.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/11, 1/320.

Common Magpie [skata]

After today's rain, searching for bits and snacks. Hedegärde, Uddevalla, on July 21, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/5.8, 1/500.

Common Goldeneye [knipa]

A pair of female goldeneyes. Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/14, 1/500.

Western Marsh Harrier [brun kärrhök]

There are several marsh harriers patrolling the reeds of Dättern. The first pic is so typical: one march harrier in the air, keeping an eye on the waterfront, and another one sitting in the reed, almost invisible if you don't know it's there. These birds were quite rare some years ago, but their numbers are increasing. Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/8, 1/1600.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/14, 1/500.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/1000.

Osprey [fiskgjuse]

On yesterday's visit to Dättern, a shallow enclosed part of lake Vänern, we counted about 30 species of birds. Considering it's between seasons for birding, thats rather good, I'd say. One of the many highlights: an osprey patrolling the sky. Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/800.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/1000.

Eurasian Wigeon [bläsand]

The wigeons are gathering, preparing for their migration. Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/14, 1/500.

Hooded Crow [kråka]

Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/1250.

Common Reed Bunting [sävsparv]

The reed is not far away, but for now, it seems as if the crops can do just as well for this reed bunting. Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/14, 1/500.

Northern Lapwing [tofsvipa]

These took me by surprise. The lapwings are already preparing for their fall migration. There were more lapwings passing by the tower today than I saw in all spring. Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/6400.

Great Cormorant [storskarv]

They do fly, the cormorants, though you often come upon them when they sit on rock, drying their wings. Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/14, 1/640.

Great Crested Grebe [skäggdopping]

Changing of the guards. The male came back from his fishing round to take responsibility of their young one and let the female swim away for a while. Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/14, 1/640.

Common Gull [fiskmås]

Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/800.

Grey Heron [gråhäger]

Dättern is a part of lake Vänern, the biggest lake in Sweden, but only 2m deep at its most. The grey heron almost matches that in its wingspan. Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/1000.

Greylag Goose [grågås]

This must be paradise for a greylag! Dättern nature reserve, Grästorp, on July 20, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/13, 1/500.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/14, 1/500.

Great Cormorant [storskarv]

Cormorants are among the most disliked, and even hated birds, along the Swedish coast. Henån, Orust, on July 14, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 260mm, f/16, 1/640.

Common Crane [trana]

The cranes often return to the same field year after year to breed, and if you know where to find them, you often can observe them for a good while. Something (not me) made these anxious, though, and suddenly they took to the air, loudly telling everyone else off. Dalskog, on July 8, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/5.8, 1/400.

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

Pied Wagtail [sädesärla]

This wagtail sure knew where to find the best lunch. Fengerfors bruk, on July 8, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/7.1, 1/800.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/8, 1/1000.

Common Magpie [skata]

The young magpie looks just like its parents, but it still demands to be fed. Fengerfors bruk, on July 8, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/640.

Common Chaffinch [bofink]

Quietly looking for some food. Fengerfors bruk, on July 8, 2015.

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

Pied Wagtail [sädesärla]

From the archive: A pied wagtail watching tourists watching birds. Henån, Orust, on July 6, 2014.

Canon EOS 550D, ISO 100, 250mm, f/6.3, 1/320.

Hooded Crow [kråka]

From the archive: Two of last years young crows, keeping a close eye on the neighborhood. Hedegärde, Uddevalla, on July 6, 2014.

Canon EOS 550D, ISO 640, 250mm, f/7.1, 1/400.

Canon EOS 550D, ISO 800, 250mm, f/6.3, 1/400.

Common Magpie [skata]

From the archive: Bird on a hot tiled roof. Hedegärde, Uddevalla, on July 5, 2014.

Canon EOS 550D, ISO 160, 250mm, f/6.3, 1/320.

Harris’ Hawk [kaktusvråk]

From the archive: These are so beautiful! They are part of the Trafalgar Square Project, to keep the square free from pigeons. Trafalgar Square, London, on June 17, 2013.

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

Common Gull [fiskmås]

What you see is not always what you get. I saw seven cattle, idyllically chewing by the creek. The camera saw a gull, and what I believe is a young starling. Tun, Lidköping, on July 3, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 150mm, f/14, 1/500.

Goosander [storskrake]

Today's treat: a family of goosanders, the young ones – eight of them! – taking turn to get a free ride and taking after their mother in the fine art of catching a fish for lunch. Hindens rev, Vänern, on July 3, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/14, 1/500.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/800.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/8, 1/2500.

Pied Wagtail [sädesärla]

Today we went all the way to the westernmost point of Hindens rev, a very straight and very narrow (often not more than 20–50 meters) peninsula stretching five kilometers out in lake Vänern. At the head, the young wagtails were busy catching insects. Hindens rev, Vänern, on July 3, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/16, 1/800.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 260mm, f/16, 1/640.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/14, 1/640.