Weekly Photo Challenge: Between

Between...could be interpreted almost in a thousand ways, I guess…I have only got three of them here – the rest you will find in Between!

One Trip EVERY Month Challenge: Hornborgasjön

Marianne has begun a new challenge where you take one trip every month, near or far, and take photos or write all about it. Join her here http://eastofmalaga.net/2014/01/20/new-challenge-one-trip-every-month/

Here’s how:

  • Each month, visit somewhere and then write about your trip or describe it using photographs – whichever suits you best.
  • Don´t forget to title and tag your entry ’One Trip EVERY Month Challenge’, and link back to this page.
  • Display the Challenge logo on your post or in your sidebar.
  • HAVE FUN!

I had been dreaming of Hornborgasjön since I was a teenager – being an avid bird watcher for years. But somehow we never went. Spring is a busy time of the year and Hornborgasjön is situated in the middle of nowhere. Finally, I got to see it. Thanks to my son moving to and studying in Skövde, some kilometres from this famous lake.

Parking our car – we heard them clearly – the cranes.

Walking towards the lake was a dream. The sound of the cranes was not as dominating as I thought it would be. The graceful birds were thrown out in a string of pearls along the water pools.

 

And more cranes were flying in …

A breathtaking 19 800 cranes were there this sunny day. Together with…

 

ornithologists and photographers…

…and of course children! Playing quietly when bird watching got tiresome…

I never got tired of course. Fascinating birds in a beautiful environment on a delightful morning – what more could I ask for?

Five o’clock the next morning we were back to see the birds flying in, from their safe resting places out in the lake, to have breakfast with us.

 

For more of my pictures, a closer view and more information about the graceful cranes and Hornborgasjön, click here.

 

 

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Patterns

From Cee this week – patterns. Mine are rectangles from a church roof and rings from a bird in the lake. Very different but they give me a nice feeling both of them.

Varnhem, monastery and church

Coot – Hornborgasjön

 

http://ceenphotography.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/022414-feature-banner.jpg?w=175&h=259

Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Wings

Birds have wings; they’re free; they can fly where they want when they want. They have the kind of mobility many people envy.

Roger Tory Peterson

The soul has illusions as the bird has wings: It is supported by them.

Victor Hugo

More wings are to be found here.

Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Awakening

Life is a magnificent manifestation where if we honour Sacred Mother Earth, rivers of love will flow freely. New levels of spiritual awareness are upon us and by recognizing their beauty we can inspire every aspect of our lives. Let your soul be an oasis of transformation that takes your life to the next level and fulfills your dreams. Rejoice in your awakening, the future is now and love is in every breath you take.

Micheal Teal

For more of my visit to Lake Hornborga last weekend, and the 19 800 cranes, resting and dancing – visit my Warden Spirits blog!

For more lovely awakenings, visit Ese here.

 

Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Fragile

True delicacy is not a fragile thing.

James Broughton

For more fragile things, click here. Or why not join in the challenge yourself!

Weekly Travel theme: Birds

Birds are magnificent creatures – and who would not want to be able to fly? Birds are generally difficult to catch on a photo, but sometimes I’m lucky. Some of my best opportunities for photography was at Walsrode this summer, where I had a wonderful day together with my dear old friend, Anita, at the worlds’ biggest bird park in Germany.

So, Birds is the travel theme, and I will mix Walsrode with my own garden and Scarborough.

And I can assure you… Håkan sounds exactly like a duck…Totti loves him. When Totti was newly arrived 5 years ago he had a ”Håkan” in his mouth – a toy rabbit. Unfortunatley Mille got hold of Håkan several times and there wasn’t much left of him after some weeks. Finally Santa brought Totti a new Håkan this Christmas! What joy!

If you want to know more about the kite, see my entry:

https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/gladan-the-kite/

Travel theme: Winter

So far this year, there is no real winter here in Skane, Sweden – there is no snow. There is not even frost and it’s not remotely close to zero degrees C. Last year is another story…winter was upon us in early December and lasted for several months, in fact it was one of the ”worst ”winters ever when it comes to snow, cold and endurance…

I will have to use those lovely memories from last year, Ailsa, to really show Winter.

Varför vinner Pilfinken? – Eurasian Tree Sparrows – why are they the winners?

I min trädgård finns nästan inga gråsparvar längre. Inte på flera år har jag sett dem – men istället finns det gott om pilfinkar. Båda hör till samma släkte och är väl utbredda i Europa. Gråsparven dras till städer och människor, medan pilfinken vill ha mera ängar och öppen mark. Eller, så har det hetat i alla fall. När man åker söderut i Europa ser man många gråsparvar vid uteserveringar och andra ställen där människor vistas. Det skulle vara intressant att veta varför sparvarna har minskat här hos oss – för mina kollegor håller med mig. Gråsparvarna har mer eller mindre försvunnit och pilfinkarna har tagit över.

In my garden the House Sparrows are more or less gone – instead the Eurasian Tree Sparrow is increasing in numbers. These are both common birds in Europe, but I would like to see some research on why the House Sparrow is disappearing more and more up here in the Northern countries. If you travel south in Europe, they are still numerous. Strangely enough it is the House Sparrow that wants to live close to humans, so they are the ones who (with simple logic) should have been the winners.