Crane picknick

10:th of September 2009
A lot of people gather to take part of the Crane evening, mingle and taste the hot soup and sandwiches with a lot of tasty local produce on.

Giant spider

9:th of September 2009
On my way home today I stopped near Svanå to check out something that´s crawling across the road. When I get close I´ m for a moment convinced that it is some semiterrestrial hermit crab. I´m just so surprised to see one up here on dry land and 200 miles from Sea. After a closer look I realise that it´s in fact a giant spider. I have never seen anything like it before.

... with a face

9:th of September 2009
And on the back it carries a giant egg (or eggsack) and the egg has got a face (!)
Does it remind you of a parrot or the spanish horrormovie "the Orpheanage"?

Migrant Hawker

8:th of September 2009
Lately I´ve been intrigued by Blue Aeshnids dashing about without being approach- or catchable. Today I get some close views when I´m mistnetting and ringing birds at Lake Fläcksjön. One gets stuck in a net together with 2 Brown Hawkers. Apparently it is a Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta). Ten years ago that would have been a remarkable find here, but this species has spread northwards and is now widespread in late summer/ autumn.

Migrant upper

8:th of September 2009
Note the distinctive, yellow "nailmark" on segment 2 – a species characteristic for the Migrant Hawker.

New caterpillar

7:th of September 2009
Caterpillars of Moths and Butterflies are on the move this time of the year. I´ve been working hard trying not to run them over as they cross roads, then photograph and identify them. This one is new to me, a bit bigger (5-6 cm) and with a distinct V in the face. Any ideas anyone?

Dark and furry

7:th of September 2009
This dark, furry, rather small "cat" with a linear orangy, faint stripe on the back, I saw last year and several these last days. Not shure of it´s identity yet. Any suggestions are welcome!