Close Wolf encounter
A couple of White-tailed Eagles perched in a tree on a felling lead us to believe that there could be a carcass lying around. We approached and walk over and over the open area and all of a sudden a Wolf runs off from just some 20 metres away from me. I draw my camera and get the Wolf in the frame on one shot before it disappears in the forest. We are so in awe!

Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata) - a first for Sweden!
What is likely to be Swedens´s  first Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata) was photographed on the remote island Understen in Stockholm archipelago yesterday. See pictures here! It will be only the second record ever in the Western Palearctic, the first was made on Fair Isle, Shetland in October 2004. Unfortunately it was not relocated today. A Siberian Thrush was also reported yesterday from Björns fyr north of Stockholm on the Uppland coast.

15:th of October 2011
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly (Anax parthenope) became a new species to Sweden only last year. This individual turned in to Ottenby Bird Observatory by a caring visitor was something like the 10:th record this year. So still a mega. Here showed to what is most likely the biggest crowd ever twitching a Dragonfly in Sweden. After release it posed in a bird cherry bush for quite some time but eventually took off and disappeared.

13:th of October
Northerlies and several flocks of Waxwings in the area. 30 the most. Lovely birds. A Pygmy Owl briefly in the afternoon. They are on the move this autumn.

11:th of October 2011
Despite a frosty night, the day gets sunny and warm. Black and Ruddy Darters fly by the lake and a Red Admiral in my garden. The first Waxwings for the autumn too, about ten birds.

11:th of October 2011
The Nutcrackers have started to appear without any hesitation or shyness to people. Today at least 3 individuals appear within a few meters and for a long time, eating hazelnut cores.

9:th of October
Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) , Pallas´ Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus proregulus) are the highlights of this Indian summer day with calm, sunny, absolutely brilliant weather. Quite a few birds ringed at the bird observatory lighthouse garden as well. I like the Chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus collybita)

8:th of October 2011

Another good day at Ottenby bird observatory. Today with more passerines in the mistnets. The clue of the day is surely the 4 Tengmalm´s Owls that are caught at night. They seem o have a bit of an outburst this autumn and why shouldn´t they be on the move? They´ve had a terrific breeding season.

7:th of October 2011
The first day on our Ottenby, Öland visit. A bit windy but impressive amounts of Barnacle Geese everywhere. Lots of Rough-legged Buzzards in the air, Peregrines, White-tailed Eagles and Waders. At Seby we spend quality time with a flock of Dunlins with Little Stint, Purple Sandpiper and Sanderlings. Only the Dunliuns got good enough on camera though.

White-tailed Eagles

Had a nice moment with two White-tailed Eagles at Lake Rörbosjön today. Subadult birds with pale yellow bills and rather white tails, but still with some black tips to the tail feathers. They where soaing in the wind for quite some time and came rally close, almost as if they where curious.

Eagle nr 1

The first of the 2 very similar White-tailed Eagles soaring together. Probably a bonding pair but not yet fully adult. Perhaps the next new pair to add to the already 4 couples breeding in the valley?

Eagle nr 2

This is the second individual. Same type of plumage (hence age) but note the broken tip of primary 2 in the left wing.

Eagle doublé

And the two of them together.

Cold Admiral

Even if it´s still mild (+15° C but strong wind) the Red Admiral still about in my garden looks a bit cold today as it sucks on the same rotting apple most of the time.

Wolfattacks in the valley

Since saturday, at least 20 sheap on 2 diffeent farms have been killed by wolves in and around Fläckebo in the Black River Valley. It´s known that a pair of Wolves with 7 or 8 cubs is residing in the area since a year back.

Summer lingers

1:st of October 2011
Summer lingers on in central Sweden with +22°. Probably the hottest october day I´ve ever experienced. Red Admirals are still out flying in my garden.

Red Admiral below

1:st of October 2011
and looks good from below.