Lesser Black-back?

Is this a Lesser Black-backed Gull? (the slightly hunch-backed, dark mantled individual in the centre of the picture)

Gulls in Västerås harbour

Enjoyed a sunny afternoon session with the Gulls down the harbour. It´s a great place for Gull watching, with the peer and the lighthouse. Possibly a Lesser Black backed Gull today among Great Black backs and plenty of Herring Gulls.

Great House Sparrow

Aren´t House Sparrows just great?

Brilliant and cold day

25:th of October 2010
A thin crust of ice covers the lakes in the Black River Valley today. Sun shines from a blue sky and the Nutcracker feeding station is teeming with life. Crested–, Coal–, Willow– and the other tits and plenty of Nuthatches are all over.

Nutcracker eating

25:th of October 2010
Good light and good appearance of at least 5 Nutcrackers. This picture was taken by my son Leon Green, 24.

Red-breasted Goose

24:th of October 2010
After scanning some flocks of Barnacles I manage to refind the Red-breasted Goose that´s been moving around in the area the last few days. Great bird! Excellent scope views but a bit distant for the 400 mm. Can you see it standing in the centre of the crowd?

Irresistible Barnacles

24:th of October 2010
Finally a bit brighter skies after a dull, rainy morning with southwesterly wind. Some Little Gulls, Auks, Divers, Ducks and a Caspian Gull at the strip. The thousands of Barnacles moving around in the area are hard to resist.

Grey Phalarope

23:rd of October 2010
A Grey Phalarope is the highlight of the day. Despite close range, no fully sharp pictures unfortunately. On the same site – Gräsgårds hamn – plenty of Twite and among them an Arctic Redpoll. Waxwings are flying around all over the island.

Barnacle evening

22:nd of October 2010
The first snow has fallen. Yesterday started with icy roads on snow on the roofs. Today it´s a bit milder. Lot´s of Barnacle Geese by the Ottenby lighthouse road in the evening.

The Accentor remains

The Black-throated Accentor on Ottenby, Öland is still present for the 6:th day in consecutive. Lot´s of twitching down there, being only the 3:rd record for Sweden ever with the last 2 ones 1-day records. Photo by Mr Max Green. See a load of his excellent pictures from our wonderful last weekend at Ottenby on his flickr page!

Thick-billed Nutcracker

12:th October 2010
A really thick-billed one.

Nutcracker in tree

12:th October 2010
Nutcracker in tree.

Obliging Nutcrackers

12:th October 2010
4 Nutcrackers are really obliging at my feeding station today. Good light conditions as well.

The Jump

12:th October 2010
and off he jumps.

Mr Red Squirrel

12:th of October 2010
A Red Squirrel joins in for the feast.

Steppe Eagle

10:th October 2010
On the way up north on the island, we stop for a juv Golden Eagle. Soon enough 5 White-tailed Eagles and a (2:nd calender year) Steppe Eagle join in soaring together above us in clear blue skies and sunshine. What a final to the weekend. Photo by Max Green.

Accentor showup

10:th October 2010
The Black-throated Accentor at Ottenby bird observatory on showup for the crowd by the fence.

Black-throated Accentor

10:th of October 2010
A juvenile Black-throated Accentor gets caught and ringed. Initially misidentified as Siberian Accentor. Releasd 10.36 in "Bertils trädgård". Hold by Simon S. Christansen.

Red-flanked Bluetail

9:th of October 2010
A Red-flanked Bluetail (Tarsiger cyaneus) in a small copse at Sandvik (Hålsnäs) is the final treat of the day. In a beautiful setting with a beautiful sunset (eventually).

Radde´s Warbler

9:th of October 2010
After lunch a Radde´s Warbler (Phylloscopus schwarzi) is found at the southern tip of the Ottenby lund (forest). It attracts a big crowd but after an hour of waiting it finally appears for some brief views in splendid light.

A bunch of 3

9:th of October 2010
Two Pallas´Leaf Warblers and a Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus) is also ringed during the morning.

Firecrest

9:th of October 2010
It´s a good morning at Ottenby with just a little breeze from the east and clear skies. A lot of birds in the lighthouse garden and a Firecrest is the first good catch.

Long and short ears

8:th of October 2010
The night is somewhat windy but an after dinner walk up the lighthouse road gets rewarding. Gabriel and Stina´s fine teamwork with torchlight and net gives 2 succesful swings. A short-eared– and a Long-eared Owl. What a nice couple!

Pallas´s Leaf Warbler

8:th of October 2010
Among plenty of birds in the lighthouse garden the Pallas´s Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus proregulus) is today´s clue. Photo by Max Green.

Yellow-browed killed

8:th of October 2010
Birds are fluttering around the lighthouse lantern in the early, slightly misty morning. Among the few birds found dead under the lighthose is – unfortunately – a Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus).

Ottenby Owl night

7:th of October 2010
The first Long-eared Owl for the autumn gets caught by Stina Andersson tonight. By hand and torchlight! Great job Stina!