Between 25th to 30th June 2014 I visited Vastmanland near Vasteras which is not far from Stockholm. Visiting a variety of habitats, with butterflies I really wanted to see and a number of interesting birds. Unfortunately Sweden being Sweden, the weather changed to very cloudy and showery after a couple of days from the warm temperatures on arrival, so birding was then the order of the day. This was the time to see Great Grey Owl, Thrush Nightingale and listen to River Warbler.
My personal highlights were Poplar Admiral, freshly emerged, Scarce Fritillary and Scarce Heath.
A very interesting trip.
Mike Gibbons
A Trip to Sweden
- False Apollo
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A Trip to Sweden
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Last edited by False Apollo on Sun Sep 14, 2014 9:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: A Trip to Sweden
Great images, FA.
Nice to see a handful of very rarely photographed European species.
Nice to see a handful of very rarely photographed European species.
- Padfield
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Re: A Trip to Sweden
Absolutely - brilliant species.
I don't believe for a minute that's silvery argus, though!
Do you have any more info on it, or an underside? My instinct says that's the Swedish version of Amanda's blue, but I can't back that up with any reasoning and you would have noticed it was very large if it was that.
Fantastic poplar admiral - absolutely pristine.
Guy
I don't believe for a minute that's silvery argus, though!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Fantastic poplar admiral - absolutely pristine.
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
- False Apollo
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Re: A Trip to Sweden
Well spotted Guy, it is Amanda's, a mistake on uploading the picture. I have now found the correct one and uploaded that.
Regards
Mike
Regards
Mike
Re: A Trip to Sweden
Hi Mike,
Thanks for sharing. I would love to see the great grey owl, what an impressive bird! Some nice species of butterflies too. The dragonfly is Leucorrhinia Dubia (small white faced darter), an immature male.
Sylvie
Thanks for sharing. I would love to see the great grey owl, what an impressive bird! Some nice species of butterflies too. The dragonfly is Leucorrhinia Dubia (small white faced darter), an immature male.
Sylvie
- Charles Nicol
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Re: A Trip to Sweden
Beautiful pics Mike !
I especially liked the Poplar Admiral & the big Owl
Charles
I especially liked the Poplar Admiral & the big Owl
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Charles
- False Apollo
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Re: A Trip to Sweden
Thank you everyone for your comments and thanks Sylvie for helping with the dragonfly ID. I did not mention the amount of Cranes that were about, they were all over the place, pairs and family groups. I did miss out on Baltic Grayling only because there was total cloud cover ( this is a Baltic Grayling year, as they are more in evidence on a 2 year cycle) and I missed Bog Fritillary. Scarce Heath was almost impossible to find and we had to have a guide to take us deep into an obscure woodland clearing. I did see Large Heath in the boggy area we visited though. The Great Grey Owl was truly phenomenal, it was a massive female and quite breath-taking in flight.
I also saw Wild Boar in fading light. It is a very atmospheric and still place, watching a small group of summer plumaged Black Throated Divers on a large lake one minute, then a Wryneck in nearby trees next. The weather when it is behaving is not too hot either, ideal for approaching butterflies.
Regards
Mike
I also saw Wild Boar in fading light. It is a very atmospheric and still place, watching a small group of summer plumaged Black Throated Divers on a large lake one minute, then a Wryneck in nearby trees next. The weather when it is behaving is not too hot either, ideal for approaching butterflies.
Regards
Mike
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Re: A Trip to Sweden
Great pictures of some really interesting butterflies.
Re: A Trip to Sweden
Thank you everyone for your comments and thanks Sylvie for helping with the dragonfly ID.
No problem Mike, you're welcome!
Impressive wildlife in Sweden.... You were very lucky to see the Great Grey Owl as they are rare and local even in this part of the world.
If you wish to see the bog fritillary, you will need to plan a trip to the Pyrenees....
Sylvie
No problem Mike, you're welcome!
Impressive wildlife in Sweden.... You were very lucky to see the Great Grey Owl as they are rare and local even in this part of the world.
If you wish to see the bog fritillary, you will need to plan a trip to the Pyrenees....
Sylvie
Re: A Trip to Sweden
Fantastic shots Mike, a real treat to see such little beauties...and a gurt big one too!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Have a goodun
Wurzel