Spring has finally joined us

I spent most of this spring weekend in the countryside. I had a two-folded plan, except enjoying the warm spring weather and was to see if the Smew still was there and if any hens had appeared at the Black Grouse lek.

We travelled north from Gothenburg on Saturday to visit the Smew. I had reports that he still should be there chasing the Common Goldeneye female that he is so in love with. He surely was there, but he was alone and lonely. That made his behavior more wary and of course more difficult to photo as he was less approachable. Still I managed to get a couple of photos when he flew back to the smaller pond to search for food. Sadly we had overcast during the 30 minutes we stayed at the ponds and that is why the pictures are on the dark side. I do like the pictures, even if I would have liked the wonderful afternoon light that a clear spring day means.

The second part of my plan failed miserably for this spring weekend and that was due to a locked gate that made it impossible to reach the lek site. That meant I had to adjust my plan for Sunday morning and instead I headed to Lake Hornborga.

I got a wonderful spring morning with almost zero degrees and a more or less clear sky. The Common Cranes could be heard when I stood in the dark by the car eating my breakfast. The Cranes started to move as soon as light made its appearance giving me the typical and sought after Cranes silhouette against the rising sun. It was interesting to meet the morning like this and I think I got a couple of keepers. I took way too many photos for my taste and now I have to go through them and throw away at least 70 percent, time consuming to say the least.

I stayed in the southwestern part until the sun reached me as I also wanted to go and try my luck at the eastern side of Lake Hornborga. It was great to see that the Black-headed Gull colony seemed to have gathered for the breeding season. The usual suspects were there and most notable the Slavonian Grebe that had arrived at its breeding site.

It was all-in-all a lovely spring morning with rising temperatures and my mood was good when I left Lake Hornborga even if my sight were set on a Black grouse lek when I woke up.

Please enjoy the gallery.