Orchid sunrise

Perfect morning with Heath-spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza maculate/Gevlekte Orchis). Although the flowering grass announces hard times for me as a hay fever patient!

* Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200mm @ 200mm/f2.8; ISO-400, f5, 1/800s.
* Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200mm @ 100mm/f2.8; ISO-400, f16, 1/200s.

Marguerite heron

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea/Blauwe Reiger) surrounded by Ox-eye Daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare/Margrieten) with a touch of backlight.

* Canon EOS 7D, 500mm/f4; ISO-400, f5, 1/500s; bean bag.

Eye candy

A peaceful May morning, just before sunrise. Noisy frogs, a singing Stonechat (Saxicola rubetra/Roodborsttapuit) in a nearby bush, and a calling Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius/Zwarte Specht) in the background go along with this photo!

* Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200mm @ 70mm/f2.8; ISO-200, f16, 1/6s; +0.3 stop; tripod.

Cottongrass sunset

For the 3rd year in a row I photographed the Cottongrass at the border of a local fen close to my home. It keeps inspiring me!

* Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200mm @ 145mm/f2.8; ISO-200, f5, 1/320s; tripod.

Return of the winter

Last night we slept in an open forest area hoping to see and photograph Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus/Auerhaan). Very difficult and unpredictable bird to photograph. Conny heard a male around 3 o’clock, but I slept through :-(. Afterwards, no sounds, no sight, no nothing. That’s all in the game.
Moreover, I was not feeling well today, having a cold and because of the lack of sleep I guess. The photo of today (converted to black-and-white) was taken during a midday walk when it started to snow. So on the 1st of May some compensation of the missed winter. Temperatures in Kalvträsk varied between -5 and +5°C.
I really enjoyed the true wilderness of Scandinavia. It was great there up North! Conny thanks for your hospitality and all the good stories about wildlife, and Catarina thanks for your wonderful cooking!

* Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200mm @ 200mm/f2.8; ISO-400, f16, 1/250s.