Common Gull [fiskmås]

From the archive: A common gull, displaying itself against one of the pylons of the Uddevalla bridge. Mollön, Uddevalla, on March 28, 2015.

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

Common Magpie [skata]

From the archive: One of last year's last snowfalls, and the magpies are the first to spot there's new lard in the feeder. Hedegärde, Uddevalla, on March 26, 2015.

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

Marsh Tit [entita]

From the archive: The marsh tit is keen on the lard we provide in the feeder, but there's not much to do when one of the great spotted woodpeckers (this is the female one) shows no respect at all for the fine art of waiting in line. Hedegärde, Uddevalla, on March 19, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.

Chat and Starling at the Table Mountain

From the archive: Two more birds from our trip to Cape Town. These two we spotted on the Table Mountain, on March 19, 2011 (pics from A). First, in the clouds, a shy familiar chat.

Samsung WB600, ISO 200, 58mm, f/5.8, 1/500.

 And here's a stunning (and very curious) redwinged starling.

Samsung WB600, ISO 100, 30mm, f/4.4, 1/500.

Great Spotted Woodpecker [större hackspett]

From the archive: One of our regular guests at the feeding station, the great spotted woodpecker. This is the male. Neither he nor the female can land directly on the feeder, but has to land on a branch a bit above and then back their way down. Hedegärde, Uddevalla, on March 19, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 1600, 300mm, f/7.1, 1/800.

Pentax K50, ISO 1600, 300mm, f/7.1, 1/800.

Common Starling [stare]

From the archive: This is such a good spot for welcoming the starlings back in spring. Mollön, Uddevalla, on March 19, 2015.

Pentax K50, ISO 400, 300mm, f/7.1, 1/800.

Common Reed Bunting [sävsparv]

From the archive: One of my favorite singers is the reed bunting. Spring wouldn't be the same without it. Mollön, Uddevalla, on March 19, 2015.

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

More Birds from Around Cape Town

More South African birds from the archive, this time from the area around Cape Town, March 17–20, 2011. We met this southern masked weaver in Aquila Safari Park, a short trip north of Cape Town.

Nikon D5000, ISO 320, 200mm, f/10, 1/250.

We also spent a fantastic day in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (I think this is my favorite botanical garden in the world!) and happened to spot some birds among the flowers. As our goal for the day wasn't birding, it was quite a surprise to find an orange breasted sunbird in one of the pics of the stunning ericas.

Nikon D5000, ISO 200, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/400.

This is also a sunbird, but a female and much more difficult to identify. I've had good help from a Swedish birding forum in trying to identify these. However, the green spots on its wings suggests it's a malachite sunbird, but I'm not at all sure.

Nikon D5000, ISO 200, 200mm, f/6-3, 1/640.

The helmeted guineafowls are much more common, but spectacular anyway. And the chics are very cute, don't you agree?

Nikon D5000, ISO 200, 55mm, f/9, 1/320. 

And here's a hadeba ibis, picking in the shrubs.

Nikon D5000, ISO 1100, 55mm, f/5.6, 1/30.

Some Birds of Western Cape and Cape of Good Hope

From the archive: No trip to South Africa without visiting Cape of Good Hope! The cape gull is endemic to Western Cape. On March 15, 2011.

Nikon D5000, ISO 200, 200mm, f/10, 1/320.

We didn't expect to come upon the common ostrich at Cape of Good Hope, but these seemed to like the views.

Nikon D5000, ISO 200, 125mm, f/11, 1/500.

The Western Cape has its very own crow, the cape crow. 

Nikon D5000, ISO 250, 180mm, f/10, 1/250.

In South Africa, the oystercatchers are deep black.

Nikon D5000, ISO 200, 200mm, f/11, 1/400.

Penguins on the Beach!

From the archive: One of the best trips I've ever had went to South Africa. In Simon's Town we stayed next to the nature reserve area of Boulder's Beach, where there is a colony of african penguins. You can actually take a swim with them, and they don't seem to mind sharing the beach.  Boulder's Beach, South Africa, on March 14, 2011.

Nikon D5000, ISO 200, 190mm, f/10, 1/250.

Nikon D5000, ISO 200, 55mm, f/10, 1/400.

Nikon D5000, ISO 200, 55mm, f/11, 1/400.

Nikon D5000, ISO 220, 200mm, f/10, 1/250.

Nikon D5000, ISO 200, 135mm, f/5.6, 1/200.

Common Pheasant [fasan]

From the archive: It is as if they are made of gold, the pheasants. Mollön, Uddevalla, on March 14, 2012.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 13mm, f/4, 1/200.

Common Magpie [skata]

On display. Ramsvikslandet nature reserve, on March 10, 2016.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/14, 1/500.

Rock Pipit [skärpiplärka]

Early arrivals, or perhaps overwinterers? They kept distance, but there are at least three (well camouflaged against the granite) rock pipits in this pic. Ramsvikslandet nature reserve, on March 10, 2016.

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