Siberian Jays in Ammarnäs

23:rd of March 2010
A lovely spring-winter´s day out in the snow on ski-doos in this gorgeous part of the world called Ammarnäs, in Swedish Lapland. 4 Siberian Jays appear down to a meter away, feeding on the sausages we give them. 1 Hazelgrouse seen along the road.

Starlings in snow again

21:st of March 2010
Starlings haven´t been around at all for quite some time now and since the ground is still covered with 50 cm of snow here it is quite a surprise to see the (baited) apple tree in our backyard all of a sudden filled with a flock of 15. Later a Sparrowhawk raid them but without success, and I manage to get a few shots before.

Bullfinch and Hawfinch

21:st of March 2010
Practically blizzard here today, so refilling the feeders feel like a mission. And I´m greated by dozens of birds, including 2 Hawfinches, 2 Bullfinches, Bramblings, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Yellowhammers and the common tits and Blackbirds.
Despite the wintery weather it sounds like spring with singing Wood pigeon, Chaffinch and Yellowhammer. Just great!

Flock of Bramblings

21:st of March 2010
At least 7 Bramblings where at my feeding station today. Female Chaffinch top left.

House sparrow in snow

21:st of March 2010
How cool aren´t the House sparrows. Our backyard is blessed with a colony of 50+ birds. Today they are singing in the snow.

Dead Parrot

16:th of March 2009
It´s still very much winter here. Half a meter of snow on the ground and even though it is starting to thaw, the nights are cold and daytime it´ s sunny but just above zero due to northerly winds. No spring arrivals more than Goldeneye and Goosander and the first Tufted Ducks. The everpresent Crossbills are getting killed far too often on the roads. Might this be a female Parrot Crossbill?

Ruby Crossbill

10:th of March 2010
Can´t help to be impressed by the abundance of Crossbills in the forest this season. They are everywhere! Like little rubys they are. This one´s a male Common Crossbill.