Sun, shocks, sadness and success – plus a Brown Bear and Wolf attack!

It’s been a long time since my last blog. All of June was just so amazingly hot and sunny that my time was spent outdoors at the wonderful beaches along the Swedish coastline or enjoying the numerous outdoor swimming pools and water parks near us.

A welcome sight in June - ice cream sold here!
A welcome sight in June – ice cream sold here!

 

The wildlife also made the most of the glorious weather.

Pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) was our top bird box inhabitant occupying five of our bird boxes this year. Here's dad on our barn.
Pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) was our top bird box inhabitant occupying five of our bird boxes this year. Here’s dad on our barn.
The kids kept this dad busy! Sometimes you just click the camera at the perfect moment!
The kids kept this dad busy! Sometimes you just click the camera at the perfect moment!
The young Swallows fledged from our barn and instantly became an aerial acrobatic display team.
The young Swallows fledged from our barn and instantly became an aerial acrobatic display team.
This years first baby Red squirrel ventured out for the first time today.
This years first baby Red squirrel ventured out for the first time today from our barn, in which it was born.
The much sought after Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) we saw over winter remained with us to breed. I took this photo from my kitchen window a few days ago.
The much sought after Spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) we saw over winter remained with us to breed. I took this photo from my kitchen window a few days ago.

Meanwhile lakeside……

Our huge lakeside Goldeneye duck (Bucephala clangula) nest box was successful. I spotted an adult entering the box just once. They were so secretive! These three juveniles have remained close to the box.
Our huge lakeside Goldeneye duck (Bucephala clangula) nest box was successful. I spotted an adult entering the box just once. They were so secretive! These three juveniles have remained close to the box.

I have watched the gulls nesting lakeside being terrorised by Raven, Goshawk, Buzzard and Hen Harrier this summer. The repeated attacks led to many chicks fleeing their nests in fear. Some remained hiding in our fields while others perched precariously on rocks out in the lake. No quiet life for them, but a real wildlife spectacle to behold.

Gull chick seeking refuge in our tall grass.
Gull chick seeking refuge in our tall grass from raptors.
The Tern colony in 33 degrees centigrade while out on our boat made for a terrific scene. Catching two huge pike on this trip makes this my favourite photo out on the lake from 2020. Even the Tern were congratulating me on how big the fish were!
The Tern colony in 33 degrees centigrade while out on our boat made for a terrific scene. Catching two huge pike on this trip makes this my favourite photo out on the lake from 2020. Even the Tern were congratulating me on how big the fish were!

Sadly, for the second year running parenthood was not to be for the pair of cranes that return to us each year and breed in the same spot near our house. They cast a rather forlorn sight and it is as if you can hear sorrow in their calls. The same is true for the second pair that nest near our river and the third that nest on our neighbours land. What is going wrong?

No chick this year.
No chick this year.

What about the owls? 

A very warm winter and spring meant that the snow melted and refroze numerous times. This refreezing blocked the rodent tunnels under the snow that mice and rats use to move around and find food. The rodent numbers plummeted, thus reducing the food source of Great grey, Hawk and Ural owl. Initial studies have shown that areas surveyed that traditionally carried 300 to 400 rats were found to hold just a handful of rats this year.

I do have knowledge of a Great grey owl that was found starved to death and likewise have knowledge of successful Ural and Great grey Owl nesting sites this year.

But, due to the pressure these birds are under that is as much as I shall recount here online.

Indications are that these wonderful big owls of the North are vulnerable to rapid climate change. More and more people wish to see them; perhaps before it is too late. They need to be protected for future generations…..I am sure you understand.

What about the larger wildlife that live here? Well they have been busy as well.

As ever, Moose come and go. They get close, they walk across the road, they eat and they stare.

The Beaver remain super shy but with luck you get more than a loud splash as they flee. Our boat provides the best chance to see them.

BEAR ATTACK

Meanwhile, 45 minutes drive away near Lycksele a chap was out collecting berries in the forest when he stumbled upon a bear cub. Mother Brown bear was not pleased and promptly snarled, charged and mauled the chap! A nasty bite to the thigh caused worries about infection and difficulties walking, while a lesser head wound was inflicted. Scary stuff.

See the news link below for full details.

https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/mRX8Ll/bjornattack-i-lycksele-bet-mig-i-laret

WOLF ATTACK

Vindeln municipality (which we are part of) was the scene of a wolf attack last week.

Nine sheep were killed and saliva samples have been taken to use in finding where the wolf came from (Finland, Russia, Sweden or elsewhere?) and to garner details about the wolfs parentage.

One resident took photos and film of a wolf walking along the road in the middle of his village at 2am! It is believed that wolf is the culprit.

For full details see the news link below:

https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vasterbotten/varg-dodade-atta-far-i-vindeln-lansstyrelsen-ovanligt

SO…..visit with us. Stay safe and see the good stuff. That’s all for now folks.

Craig at sweden fishing and birding.

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