Nötmyran - the vast floodplains and grasslands of the valley, with its red, little haybarns, is still very flooded. The view from Ösby is great as is the light for a few minutes in the afternoon.

Swan sundown

As I pass Lake Fläcksjön the sun is just descending behind a big snowcloud and again hundreds of Whoopers lie along the east shoreline.

Plenty of Swans and water

11:th of March –08

Even if the waterflow is lower this week, there are still plenty of flooded fields in the valley. Ploughed, flooded arable fields are the most popular feeding grounds for the Whooper Swans, when they stopover on migration.

   Today I count 1.795 Whoopers in the valley. That´s plenty, but I sense that this years migration is going fast over due to the mild weather. 

   Even today, despite mist and overcast, flocks of migrating Swans and Geese, are flying northeast, taking advantage of the mild, southwesterly tailwind.

Misty day with Cranes

11:th of March

A misty day almost painted in grayscale, or faint, military green as most colourful. Spring is in the air and the smell of manour tickles my nostrils. 

   Aint that the true smell of countryside birdwatching? A positive smell, promising new arrivals of migrating birds in the farmland.

   Right here where this picture is taken I spot this years first Crane, plenty of Lapwings, Bean Geese, some Starlings and Stock Doves.

    I also get good views of a Rough-legged Buzzard.

First butterfly this year

Friday the 7:th of March

Today I saw the first butterfly for this year. Not unexpectedly a Small Tortoiseshell. It flitted around in my garden and immedaitely drew the attention to itself and got chased by a Blue tit. Eventually it got away. I could not approach it with my camera after that, so I publish one of my shots from last year.

     Just a great feeling though that a new butterfly-season has dawned! And I can´t help thinking how remarkable it is that these delicate little creatures can survive the winter up here.

Bewick sundown

4:th of March

I find a Bewick´s Swan, my first for this spring, among the 250 or so Whoopers on the flooded fields south of Salbohed. A bird I´ve always liked. It looks so cute, just on the contrary to the Snow Buntings, it looks small to be big.

     Finally I take my favourite road down to Näs, at the north end of Lake Fläcksjön. The lake is open around the river mouth and some Whoopers lie here to.  The light is beautiful.

     The picture is from Näs 

overviewing the lake.

Spring in the valley

4:th of March

Northerly, cold winds, sunshine, blue skies, open water meets the ice. The open water on flooded fields and lakesides are getting filled with Whooper Swans. 

     I count 1.175 Swans on a drive around the valley. I find one tight flock of about 500 birds so tightly squeezed in a small puddle of open water, that they hardly seem to be able to turn around. 

     They fill the air with their loud calls, you can hear them 

everywhere. It´s lovely. I really love this part of the year. The valley is beautiful. There are also 

plenty of Taiga Bean Geese (Anser fabalis). About 2.228 Bean 

Geese are counted. Among  them I discover 8 Pinkfeet, and 8 Whitefronts as well. 

     Even a flock of 50 Snow Buntings are moving along the edge between ice and open water. Gorgeous little creatures, so big to be small.