Northern lights over the Black River

It´s not often that Northern lights/ Aurora borealis gets documented in our area. Yesterday there was an alert out that it could be possible to see over big parts of Sweden. Luckily Margot and Roger Cattin from Germany where out and got some pictures over Lake Gussjön.

Wolf photographed in the Black River Valley

Since about a year back, theres´s been reports of tracks and droppings from Wolves in the Black River area again. There are at least 6 wolf territories in the county Västmanland, but all are west of us. This is the first time a wolf has been documented in the area for several years. Pictures by Alf Johansson (5) and Ulf Broberg (1-4).

"Nutskimmer" puzzles

Autumn is a great time to photograph Nutcrackers in the Black River Valley. They are busy collecting hazel nuts for the winter and happily take the peanuts we offer as well. The individual in silhouette (bottom picture) is aberrant with a ring of red, bare skin around the eyes, and an unusually long lower mandible, creating an underbite impression - a bit like a Skimmer in fact - a "Nutskimmer" perhaps! ;) and is also extremely unshy. Some experts have given it a diagnosis. I´m not so shure.

Bluethroat on bicycle track

A Robin-like bird jumping on the side of a bicycle track in central Sweden is usually most likely to be…just a Robin. However this time of the year (late August - early September) it isn´t at all rare to find a Bluethroat. Carl von Linné gave it the scientific name Luscinia svecica, back in 1758, meaning "the Swedish Nightingale". It still fills me with a very old-fashioned nationalistic pride when telling people this!

Osprey season final

The Osprey photography season is nearing it´s end but yesterday they were really at it. Several times we had 5-6 Ospreys around the boat, eager to catch the fish (local bream) that we throw them. We believe this is the only operation in Europe where you get such great possibilities to photograph fishing Ospreys at close range on an open lake. Young, talented photographer Simon Green, got some nice pictures.  

Hornet Moths in my garden

For the 2.nd summer I found Hornet Moths (Sesia apiformis) in my garden in Fläckebo. These creatures look like wasps or hornets but are in fact Moths in disguise. They lay their eggs under the bark of poplar trees. It can take them up to three years to develop from egg, through larvae and pupae to full imago. This is the third species of Clearwing Moths I have encountered in the garden this summer.

Clearwing encounter

Found 2 Large Red-belted Clearwings or Mygglik glasvinge in swedish (Synanthedon culiciformis) in my garden in Fläckebo yesterday. I thought they where another species first, actually the Raspberry clearwing (Pennisetia hylaeiformis) but this was more unexpected. These little creatures are in fact Moths even if they look like something else.