Siberian Jays in Ammarnäs

23:rd of March 2010
A lovely spring-winter´s day out in the snow on ski-doos in this gorgeous part of the world called Ammarnäs, in Swedish Lapland. 4 Siberian Jays appear down to a meter away, feeding on the sausages we give them. 1 Hazelgrouse seen along the road.

Starlings in snow again

21:st of March 2010
Starlings haven´t been around at all for quite some time now and since the ground is still covered with 50 cm of snow here it is quite a surprise to see the (baited) apple tree in our backyard all of a sudden filled with a flock of 15. Later a Sparrowhawk raid them but without success, and I manage to get a few shots before.

Bullfinch and Hawfinch

21:st of March 2010
Practically blizzard here today, so refilling the feeders feel like a mission. And I´m greated by dozens of birds, including 2 Hawfinches, 2 Bullfinches, Bramblings, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Yellowhammers and the common tits and Blackbirds.
Despite the wintery weather it sounds like spring with singing Wood pigeon, Chaffinch and Yellowhammer. Just great!

Flock of Bramblings

21:st of March 2010
At least 7 Bramblings where at my feeding station today. Female Chaffinch top left.

House sparrow in snow

21:st of March 2010
How cool aren´t the House sparrows. Our backyard is blessed with a colony of 50+ birds. Today they are singing in the snow.

Dead Parrot

16:th of March 2009
It´s still very much winter here. Half a meter of snow on the ground and even though it is starting to thaw, the nights are cold and daytime it´ s sunny but just above zero due to northerly winds. No spring arrivals more than Goldeneye and Goosander and the first Tufted Ducks. The everpresent Crossbills are getting killed far too often on the roads. Might this be a female Parrot Crossbill?

Ruby Crossbill

10:th of March 2010
Can´t help to be impressed by the abundance of Crossbills in the forest this season. They are everywhere! Like little rubys they are. This one´s a male Common Crossbill.

Indoor Butterfly

9:th of March 2010
This Small tortoiseshell woke up and crawled the stairs in our house today. It was very dozy though so I hope it goes back to sleep again. But still... a sign of a season to come.

4 White-tails

6:th of March 2010
Erik Hägg gets a good session with at least 4 White-tailed Eagles on the site today. 2 juveniles and 2 adult birds. 1 of each clearly ringed, should be identifiable.

Walking about

6:th of March 2010
Walking about. Photo: Erik Hägg.

Eagle away

6:th of March 2010
...and flying away. Photo: Erik Hägg

Traffic-killed Crossbill

6:th of March 2010
On our way out to a family picknick we find a dead Crossbill female on the road. It´s not an unusual phenomenon. On a 20 km road I found no less than 7 Crossbills today. Sad, now that they breed as well. This female almost look like a Parrot Crossbill too.

Feeding Gulls at Stockholm´s stream

4:th of March 2010
Stockholm´s stream is a classical spot for winter birds. The little jetty where the local authorities provide good food for the birds is an institution and attracts Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks, Goosanders, Coots, Mallards and Gulls. Needless to say, they are not afraid of people. As a birdfriend you can´t help being charmed.

Laughing (at) gulls

4:th of March 2010
Feeding gulls can be fun, even if there´s no Laughing gull here.

Black-headed Gulls

4:th of March 2010
Black headed Gulls are velvety and smart in the soft, snowy light.

Herons on ice

4:th of March 2010
The Herons on Råstasjön in Stockholm have become a phenomenon. They are congregating on the frozen lake and since they can´t find any food, and since people feed them cinnamon buns that make them sick, the local authorities have started an official feeding program with just herring. Still they look a bit worn.

The Heron eye

4:th of March 2010
The Heron eye.

Dark-throated Thrush revisited

3:rd of March 2010
The Dark-throated Thrush in Stockholm performs well in sunshine but still –10° and cold winds. This garden is teaming with birds. Photo by Scott Maxwell.

Eagle session

2:nd of March 2010
Scott Maxwell from Glasgow does his second session in the eagle-hide and despite wind and driving snow, he gets some really nice shots. Have a look below.

White-tailed Eagle and Raven

2:nd of March 2010
An immature White-tailed Eagle sets off with a Raven. Photo: Scott Maxwell.

Golden landing

2:nd of March 2010
Landing in snow... Courtesy of Scott Maxwell.

Chased by Raven

2:nd of March 2010
The juv Golden Eagle chased by Raven. Photo: Scott Maxwell.

Bullfinches rule

1:st of March 2010
In the 2-barred Crossbill-garden there are lots of birds but no Crossbill today; Redpolls, Siskin and especially Bullfinches are everywhere. Calling with the trumpeting sound as well as the normal. Do we have Caucasian birds this winter again?

Bullfinch again

1:st of March 2010
Bullfinch male again.

Brilliant sunrise

1:st of March 2010
The first brilliant morning for a couple of days is always promising, and beautiful... still a whole lotta winter.

Three-toed action

1:st of March 2010
Wading through deep snow we find a male and a female Three-toed Woodpecker feeding down to only a few meters distance. A really good show! And lasting for a good while too.