Common Eider [ejder]

Just look at that beak! Gustavsberg, Uddevalla, on October 20, 2019.

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

Harbor Life

I’ve never thought of grey herons and cormorants as friends, but here they are side by side, enjoying the warm October sun on one of the small islands in Uddevalla harbor. Uddevalla on October 20, 2019.

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

Barn Swallow [ladusvala]

It was quite a bizarre scene with this dead tree full of barn swallows. Pics from A. Nordens Ark, Åby, on August 31, 2019.

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

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

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 210mm, f/11, 1/250. 

Red Knot [kustsnäppa]

Adding one to the list of stints I would probably recognize when I see it again: the red knot. Haby bukt, Ramsvikslandet, on August 31, 2019.

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

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

Dunlin [kärrsnäppa]

I have a hard time identifying stints. There are so many – and they all look alike! I got some help identifying these, and guess what – two new in one pic for my list of photographed birds :) (And yes, there's a red knot in the pic as well.) Haby bukt, Ramsvikslandet, on August 31, 2019.

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

Barnacle Goose [vitkindad gås]

A goose with an attitude. From MerriamWebster and Wikipedia, I learn that a popular belief once (this dates back to the 12th century) was that the barnacle goose grew from the crustacean goose barnacle (what we in Sweden refer to as "långhalsar"). Haby bukt, Ramsvikslandet, on August 31, 2019.

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

Common Buzzard [ormvråk]

A commun buzzard circulated over our parking space this afternoon. Hedegärde, Uddevalla, on August 20, 2019.

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

European Herring Gull [gråtrut]

They're all over, really, the herring gulls. Pic from A. Rödön marina, Uddevalla, on August 13, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/10, 1/1000. 

Most of our field trips are like this …

… we sit quietly at a bench, binoculars in hand, thermos on the side, and watch some birds too far away to tell what they are, really. This time we were lucky, the waders are migrating back south and we saw both curlews and greenshanks. And some white-tailed eagles taking wind (not in pic). Hullsjön, Trollhättan, on August 3, 2019.

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

Black-Throated Loon [storlom]

"Our" loons in the lake in the forest didn't mind today's heavy rains, but patrolled the lake in silence. The more I see of these, the more fond of them I get. Today's pics are from A. Herrestadfjället, Uddevalla, on July 7, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/11, 1/400.

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

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

Common Kestrel [tornfalk]

We were lucky today, and found a kestrel hunting for lunch below the dark clouds. Kissleberg, Uddevalla, on July 7, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/16, 1/1000. 

Winchat [buskskvätta]

Dinner is, literary, in the air. Älje-Porsen nature reserve, Uddevalla, on July 3, 2019.

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

Eurasian Siskin [grönsiska]

The feeding station at Älje-Porsen nature reserve just outside Uddevalla is re-filled all year around. The siskins love their peanuts! July 3, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 3200, 300mm, f/5.8, 1/500. 

Hooded Crow [kråka]

The somewhat tufted crow – king of our woods. Hedegärde, Uddevalla, on June 25, 2019.

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

Eurasian Hobby [lärkfalk]

Today, I watched this hobby for hours, and could follow how it cought and ate dragonflies and other insects high up in the air. What a spectacular show! In the third pic, you can find it resting in one of the treetops. Älje-Porsen nature reserve, Uddevalla, on June 22, 2019.

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

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

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

Winchat [buskskvätta]

In the summer, Älje-Porsen nature reserve just outside Uddevalla is a paradise for winchats. June 22, 2019.

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

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

Eurasian Siskin [grönsiska]

The Swedish name translates to "green siskin" – but it's very yellow, isn't it? Älje-Porsen nature reserve, Uddevalla, on June 22, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/5,8, 1/400.

Marsh Tit [entita]

The marsh tit is so common around here, I almost forget how cute it is. Älje-Porsen nature reserve, Uddevalla, on June 22, 2019.

Pentax k50, ISO 200, 120mm, f/4,5, 1/200.

Common Cuckoo [gök]

The one you rarely see but hear – a lot, if you're lucky – this time of year. Today, several males accompanied our walk on Sandö, Smögen, with their distinct goo-ko. And suddenly, one of them sat in the shrubs next to the trail, long enough for me to get a picture. May 18, 2019.

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

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

Northern Wheatear [stenskvätta]

The wheatears were very busy today, keeping us at safe distance from their nests. Sandö, Smögen, on May 18, 2019.

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

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/9, 1/400. 

Osprey [fiskgjuse]

Visiting one our our favorite places for birdwatching in May. This is one of the best places I know to watch the ospreys fishing. Fruängen, Dättern nature reserve, on May 11, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/9, 1/400. 

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400. 

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/9, 1/400. 

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/800. 

White-Tailed Eagle [havsörn]

We were lucky enough to see at least two different white-tailed eagles, patrolling the area and scaring the geese and mallards. Fruängen, Dättern nature reserve, on May 11, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/800. 

Greylag Goose [grågås]

Guess what made the greylags take to their wings? Fruängen, Dättern nature reserve, on May 11, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/1000. 

Common Crane [trana]

Two of way too many cranes in the marsh area. Cranes are magnificent birds, but they prey on lapwings and other birds, and can cause a local population to crash. Fruängen, Dättern nature reserve, on May 11, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400. 

Grey Heron [gråhäger]

This must be a paradise for herons. Fruängen, Dättern nature reserve, on May 11, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/9, 1/400. 

Great Spotted Woodpecker [större hackspett]

Visiting one our our favorite places for birdwatching in May. Several woodpeckers in the woods. Fruängen, Dättern nature reserve, on May 11, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 800, 300mm, f/9, 1/250. 

Black-Throated Loon [storlom]

Today, there were no chance of missing them – we heard them long before we were even close to the lake. "Our" black-throated loons are back from their winter quarters. At least three of them on the lake this year (a fourth perhaps already on eggs?), which caused some rivalry. Herrestadsfjället, Uddevalla, on April 22, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1(800. 

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/800. 

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

Red-Necked Grebe [gråhakedopping]

From our field trip to Lake Hornborga: red-necked grebes – some very fond of each, others not. I've seen this grebe once before, but these are my first pictures of this beautiful bird. Hornborgasjöns utlopp, on April 6, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.

Great Crested Grebe [skäggdopping]

From our field trip to Lake Hornborga: great crested grebe. Hornborgasjöns utlopp, on April 6, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400. 

Common Crane [trana]

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/500.

From our field trip to Lake Hornborga: cranes. And even more cranes. This day they counted more than 27,000 cranes at the lake. Trandansen, Hornborgasjön, on April 6, 2019.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 200, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 135mm, f/9, 1/250.

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.

And one rarity – one of the cranes with brightly colored rings on its legs. These are used so that researchers can trace their migration, 

Pentax K50, ISO 100, 300mm, f/9, 1/400.