Common Buzzard [ormvråk]

Sometimes you're lucky: bird on the ground, not moving, camera at hand, no car behind you so you can make a stop … One shot, then he made it for the woods. Älje-Porsen nature reserve, Uddevalla, on June 24, 2016.

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

European Herring Gull [gråtrut]

Begging for food. Mollön nature reserve, Uddevalla, on June 24, 2016.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 210mm, f/5.6, 1/640. 

Pied Wagtail [sädesärla]

From the archive: Another wagtail, straight from the bath. Lilla Askerön, on June 21, 2008.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/500.

Birding in the Middle of London

From the archive: When I visited London in 2013, I had not read the fantastic blog on the birds in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park (this is now one of my favorite bird blogs). Therefore, I was rather surprised by the number of birds in the middle of London. The grey herons chase fish everywhere, like here, in the Italian Gardens. On June 15, 2013.

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

A greater scaup.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 22mm, f/4, 1/400.

A coot's nest.

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

Side by side, what I think is a common pochard and a great cormorant.

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

A mute swan and its cygnets.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/405.

Not Only Flowers on Display at Kew Gardens

From the archive: When I visited London a couple of years ago, Kew Gardens was on top of my list. Not surprisingly, birds were all around. However, on this visit, I wasn't focusing the birds. A moorhen, looking for something to eat in the weeds. On June 15, 2013.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/315.

A coot, bringing straws to its nest in the pond wall.

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

A blond mallard, in the pond next to the fantastic victorian orangeries.

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

Of course, no garden of this size is complete without some peacocks. This one was resting in one of the beds close to the main entrance.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/3.5, 1/60.

Western Jackdaw [kaja]

The jackdaws in our small coastal villages are always hungry, always curious and not a bit scared of humans. Grebbestad, on June 13, 2016.

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

European Green Woodpecker [gröngöling]

From the archive: One of the green woodpecker that lives in the woods nearby, on one of its regular visits to our rowan. Hedegärde, Uddevalla, on June 13, 2012.

Samsung WB600, ISO 80, 58mm, f/5.8, 1/250.

Common Sandpiper [drillsnäppa]

Today, I got close enough to a common sandpiper to get some nice pics. Älje-Porsen nature reserve, Uddevalla, on June 6, 2016.

Pentax K50, ISO 3200, 300mm, f/5.8, 1/800.

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

Tree Pipit [trädpiplärka]

The tree pipits are funny to watch as take to the air, quite high, and looks just like a paper plane when they descend and go in for landing. Älje-Porsen nature reserve, Uddevalla, on June 6, 2016.

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

Pied Wagtail [sädesärla]

There's plenty of food around for the pied wagtails and their young ones. These are our neighbors. Hedegärde, Uddevalla, on June 6, 2016.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 260mm, f/5.8, 1/320.

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

Canada Goose [kanadagås]

I know, they're a real pest (and these ones had pooped all over the place where we intended to have our coffee), but you must agree this gosling, carefully protected by its parents, is adorable! Herrestadsfjället nature reserve, Uddevalla, on June 1, 2016.

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

Meadow Pipit [ängspiplärka]

I love the pipits for their singing. And for the show they put on this time of year. Mollön nature reserve, Uddevalla, on June 1, 2016.

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

European Herring Gull [gråtrut]

He's spotted a small child with a biscuit in her hand. Where there's children and biscuits, there will be crumbles. Krossekärr, Grebbestad, on May 28, 2016.

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