Yesterday´s Hawk Owl

Another Hawk Owl
Driving home after feeding the Eagles, taking a detour to scan the area. In the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of something perched in a spruce tree top. Just about the right size for… or was it a crow? Hitting the breaks, reversing…Yes! It´s a Hawk Owl! In a new place, where I´ve often looked for Owls but never seen one. I get the camera out to take a few snapshots, although it´s getting afternoon dusky. The bird is very active and move constantly between perches. I might not get the moments I´d hoped for photographically, but a spontaneous encounter with a Hawk owl is always a memorable moment.

Vagrant downfall

The passed weekend became an epic megararity downfall event over Sweden and especially on the east coast and the islands. I went to Öland and saw Azure Tit, 3 Siberian Accentors, Dusky Warbler, Pallas´ Warbler, Little Bunting, Hawk Owl (not a rarity over here although a bit scarce in the south) and eventually discovered a Desert Wheatear. More pics to come here but first a few samples of Azzar - the lovely Azure Tit.

Lynx with 3 kittens!!!

Oh, my god what a lucky guy I am today. On my way home from Fläckebo a couple of animals puzzled me on long distance. Were they Boar? Hares? Foxes? I couldn´t get my head around what I saw first, when I started to suspect Lynx. And Yes! when I got closer I could see an adult (female) with  3 little ones, in slightly different sizes. The female disappeared instantly, the kittens slower, but one - the smallest I think - lingered on the gravel track leading into the forest. Luckily the camera was just beside me and I managed to get some shots although it was dusky. I used 2.500 iso. The first blurry shot is through the windshield, the others through the side window opening. They are all totally uncropped. The baby Lynx appeared a bit curious, looking a bit at me before it turned and followed his mother and brothers into the forest. I stayed to look for them but they vanished totally in the vegetation.

Nutcrackers and allies

Had a go on the Nutcrackers in afternoon back-light the other day. Autumn can provide a nice color and atmosphere on this site. I hope to get a bit more yellow the next time. Finished the day with 2 Pygmy owls at dusk. One of them calling like a juvenile begging parents for food and perched low and really close (5-6 meters).

Hawk Owl hunting

Two different Hawk Owls hunted in the burnt forest – Hälleskogsbrännan nature reserve – yesterday. One of them was active on low perches and moved around quite a bit and reasonably close. Offered a few chances.