White-fronted Geese on passage

Yesterday there where White-fronted Geese present on several locations in my local area. The clear morning sky saw a flock of 60-70 flying northwards rather high up at Asköviken. I heard their piercing calls from far away. Later in the afternoon at least 250 birds where staging/ feeding near Hjälstaviken together with some Bean Geese and Barnacles too. I find these birds fascinating (the White-fronts). Not only have they increased noticeable in the last decades (used be a scarce bird or at least not numerous), but they also tend to stay longer in spring, especially the 100 or so that stage every spring in the Black River Valley. They often linger well into May and stay behind weeks after the more early Bean Geese. That makes me wonder where these birds actually breed? How far into Russia do they fly? Because certainly they don´t breed in Scandinavia. It would be interesting if somebody could raise some funds and start a project to put some transmitters on a few of the White-fronts on spring passage in the Black River area for instance!

Great Grey Owls in new places

There seem to be Great Grey Owls around in some new places this spring. We are starting to hope this might be a better breeding season than last year. Although we had summering GGO´s in the area but none bread. Surveys indicate good presence of Ural owls and Pygmy owls too, so it looks hopeful of the birds at least.

Another Hawk Owl

Another at least two Hawk Owls was spotted near Västerås recently. Got reasonably close to one of them just before dusk today. Always a great bird to see!

Three Owls in a day

It was a great day yesterday (despite low clouds and poor light) with a bunch of great birds in the Black River area. Starting with a very unshy Great Grey Owl in broad daylight, soon after a Hawk Owl, adding on Hazel Grouse, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, several Black Grouse and just by dusk a Ural Owl in hunting mode at very close range.

Hawk & Ural owl in the Black River Valley

It´s been a good last few days for birds and photography in the Black River Valley, Västmanland. Here´s a few samples. Hawk- and Ural Owl, Nutcrackers, Whooper Swans.

The Skulker

The most skulking bird in the swedish forest is the Hazel Grouse. After perhaps a year without even a glimpse of this descrete, little beauty, 2 males walked up on the forest track in front of my car. Drab weather and poor light but at least a couple of shots to prove it´s existence.

Goshawk presence

Great day for raptor photography from our hides in the Black River Valley yesterday. Snow and brilliant light. This Goshawk female was present for a long time in front of Lennart Hyse and Lars Karlsson. Pictures by Hyse.