Scandinavia & Baltic States
View allAll Photos Tagged Scandinavia
www.flickr.com/groups/3467217@N22/discuss/72157719216317677/
Third place Winner:
Beautiful Capture of Vibrant Colours Contest
www.flickr.com/groups/beautifulcapture/discuss/7215771508...
November -- Contest #4 -- Winners 2020
1st place winner alice 240
www.flickr.com/groups/744944@N20/discuss/72157717116658693/
Contest #4 -- Architecture Reflections on Water
Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax Nivalis
Snow buntings are large buntings, with striking 'snowy' plumages. Males in summer have all white heads and underparts contrasting with a black mantle and wing tips. Females are a more mottled above. In autumn and winter birds develop a sandy/buff wash to their plumage and males have more mottled upperparts.
Globally, they breed around the arctic from Scandinavia to Alaska, Canada and Greenland and migrate south in winter. They are a scarce breeding species in the UK, in Scotland, making them an Amber List species. They are more widespread in winter in the north and east when residents are joined by continental birds.
They are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act.
The snow bunting lives in very high latitudes in the Arctic tundra. There is no apparent limit to its northern range, while the southern range is limited by the duration of daylight, which influences their reproductive activity. This species is found in the high Arctic tundra of North America, Ellesmere Island, Iceland, higher mountains of Scotland, Norway, Russia, North Greenland, Siberia, Novaya Zemlya, and Franz Josef Land. During the winter, this bird migrates to the circumglobal northern temperate zone including the south of Canada, north of the United States, north of Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and east to central Asia. During the last ice age, the snow bunting was widespread throughout continental Europe.
During the breeding period the snow bunting looks for rocky habitats in the Arctic Since the vegetation in the tundra is low growing, this bird and its nestlings are exposed to predators, and in order to ensure the survival of its offspring, the snow bunting nests in cavities in order to protect the nestlings from any threat. During this period, buntings also look for a habitat rich in vegetation such as wet sedge meadows and areas rich in dryas and lichens. In the winter, they look for open habitats such as farms and fields where they feed on seeds in the ground.
Population:
UK breeding:
60 pairs
UK wintering:
10,000-15,000 birds
Just back home after an amazing 10 day trip around Scandinavia. With a group of other great photo-togs and led by David Clapp and Antony Spencer. Will do a full blog write up later. Off to go pick up the pooch and go for a long walk. It has been a long couple of last days. Last night no sleep just shooting Aurora all night (temps from -25 to -37 C) then 3 flights yesterday and driven from Heathrow this morning. Bushed!
This one was taken in the fantastic Lofoten Islands Norway.
Cheers to all the guys who made this a top trip hope everyone gets home ok.
WWT Slimbridge - Estuary Tower.
The Wigeon is a medium-sized duck with a round head and small bill. The head and neck of the male are chestnut, with a yellow forehead, pink breast and grey body. In flight, Wigeons show white bellies, male Wigeons also have a large white wing patch. Wigeons breed in central and northern Scotland and also in northern England. Many birds visit the UK over winter from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia. With large numbers of wintering birds at a few UK sites, it is an Amber List species. (RSPB).
Easily panicked is the Wigeon. This is a large group of wigeon settling down again after who knows what set them off! They only moved about 20 feet! (Just over 6m). At one point they where walking on land in a vee formation, the bravest of them leading the way… then something would spook them and it was back to the water, quick as you like.
Close up of Wigeon here: www.flickr.com/photos/images_from_nature/53596095137/in/a...
My thanks to anyone who views, faves or comments on any of my photos. It is much appreciated.
Skillebekkparken (Olaf Bulls Place)
Olaf Bulls plass, park located in Oslo, Norway. The park's name until 2018: Skillebekkparken
Olaf Jacob Martin Luther Breda Bull (10 November 1883 – 29 June 1933) was a Norwegian poet. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature six times
Skillebekk is a neighbourhood of Oslo, Norway. It is located near Solli plass in the West End of Oslo. The name origins from Skillebekken is based on a brook between Bymarken and Frogner Hovedgård.
A roe buck looks in my direction through a misty field. I don't think he could see me, but he definitely heard my camera.