So yesterday our birding club went on a trip to the sea. Our first place to visit was close to the nuclear power plant Ringhals. Lots of birds here and to mention a few, we could see Common Shelduck, Eider, Little Grebe and Smew. The spring was in the air and despite being at the sea and some wind coming from the west it was not cold. After one hour at the sea we went to a address where Long-Eared Owl has been stationary for a number of years. It is so funny that they like to be so many in the same tree, we count to 7 in one tree.
After enjoying the owls we moved to a site near a lighthouse where we took a walk near the shore. Here we could see my first
Northern Lapwing for the year. Also present was
Ringed Plower, Oyster Catcher and several Snow Buntings, really one
of my favourite bird!
And just as we were about to leave, one of the guys found a bunch of Shore Larks! I have been looking for this bird for 6 months, so sweet to finally see it! Shame I could not get any good photos on it.
Finally we went to the famous Swedish site, Getterön. Here we could see some ducks that was new for the year to me, Wigeon and Pintail among a few others.
So, we was on the road home when we came up with the idea of go looking for Eurasian Pygmy Owl. We took the car 10 km or so into the woods and we whistled a few times. Instantly we saw movement and this amazing, tiny little owl came and sat just near us, on a branch 5 meters away.
Suddenly it attacked our driver who just managed to put his head down, and the owl sat in a tree on the other side of the road, considering his next move. Were we rivals or not? So, suddenly another owl came and sat in the tree next to our, his female! And then.. they mated! We could not believe our eyes, mating Pygme Owls?! And then they flew away, observing us from 50 meters away. What a day! Can birding get better? 3 lifers, and a experience of a lifetime.
After enjoying the owls we moved to a site near a lighthouse where we took a walk near the shore. Here we could see my first
Northern Lapwing for the year. Also present was
Ringed Plower, Oyster Catcher and several Snow Buntings, really one
of my favourite bird!
And just as we were about to leave, one of the guys found a bunch of Shore Larks! I have been looking for this bird for 6 months, so sweet to finally see it! Shame I could not get any good photos on it.
Finally we went to the famous Swedish site, Getterön. Here we could see some ducks that was new for the year to me, Wigeon and Pintail among a few others.
So, we was on the road home when we came up with the idea of go looking for Eurasian Pygmy Owl. We took the car 10 km or so into the woods and we whistled a few times. Instantly we saw movement and this amazing, tiny little owl came and sat just near us, on a branch 5 meters away.
Suddenly it attacked our driver who just managed to put his head down, and the owl sat in a tree on the other side of the road, considering his next move. Were we rivals or not? So, suddenly another owl came and sat in the tree next to our, his female! And then.. they mated! We could not believe our eyes, mating Pygme Owls?! And then they flew away, observing us from 50 meters away. What a day! Can birding get better? 3 lifers, and a experience of a lifetime.
