Keeping an eye out

Even if this hobby did not seem to mind human company it still wanted to keep an eye on the surroundings

Hobby

A young eurasian hobby enjoying its fresh food

Osprey

The osprey often came up empty-handed after the dives. It was perhaps as good as it could be gone for several hours after each time it got a fish. Each missed dives meant a new opportunity to get a great image

Onwards!

Mid-october and the weather just right for migrating southwards. This rough-legged buzzard did not hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity.

Foggy

Early october, the morning fog has not eased despite it being after lunch. A hen harrier realize that the weather is suitable for migration and turns around at the southern tip of Öland.

Goshawk

A young goshawk enjoying a brent goose

Rough-legged buzzard in fall

A young rough-legged buzzard taking a break on a stone wall on Öland during the autumn migration

Keeping an eye out

Even if this hobby did not seem to mind human company it still wanted to keep an eye on the surroundings

Looking at me?

A young sparrowhawk that just received a ring at the Ottenby bird observatory. Looking into its eyes I think it expresses equal amounts of anger and curiosity over its first close encounter with humans.

Dinner talk

Two black kite in a conversation about the food.

Black kite

A black kite showing his friends that this piece of meat is taken...

Eye contact

A black kite taking a look at the surroundings.

Portrait of a vulture

When the vultures appeared at the scene they were constantly moving and interacting. They were thinking about posing for the photographers so when an opportunity to get a portrait shot of one of the griffon vultures appeared you hade to be quick. Just a second later it was back in the crowd fighting for the food.

Close-up of a black kite

A black kite taking a short pause from the feast in front of the photo hide.

Looking stern

The griffon vulture looks up from the food for a moment before the head disappears again. The vultures lacks table manners, looking away for too long and you risk being left without food.

Cinereous vulture

Most of the vultures outside the photo hide were griffon vultures. The few cinereous vultures were more cautious and tried to stay in the background.

Griffon vulture

Griffon vulture with smooth background

Black kite

A black kite on a look-out position.

Its mine!

A black kite makes sure that no one else get close to his part of the prey.

Resting in the shade

In the heat of the middle of the day it is nice for the black kite to take a break in the shade of a tree.

Landing kite

A black kite about to land.

Black kite

With many kites coming dowm to eat there were also many photo opportunities. But the large number of birds also meant that it was rare to find one with a clean background.

Hear me!

Black kite showing the inside of its beak.

Hooligans

When the griffon vultures advances it looks like a bunch of hooligans preparing to meet their opposition.

Waiting vulture

A griffon vulture that is a little less eager than the rest waits for its turn

Griffon vulture taking off

Size and weight doesn't seem to matter when the griffon vulture takes off from a tree covered slope. It is an impressive sight as it takes to the air.

Hard time getting airborne

The vultures need to get up to speed before they can get off the ground. Once they get air under the wings, they maneuver skillfully between the trees before they take height. This griffon vulture is just begining its take-off. It is missing its right foot, making the take-off procedure even harder.

In the middle of the ctowd.

When the vultures started to eat the scene went wild and it was not easy to isolate motifs. Here is a cinereous vulture seen in a gap between all the griffon vultures.

Griffon vulture coming in for landing

A landing griffon vulture.

Incomming

Griffon vulture about to land.

Portrait of a griffon vulture

With a 600mm lens and a 1.4x extender the griffon vultures head filled the frame.

Cinereous vulture

On of at least five cinereous vultures eating in front of the hide together with the griffon vultures.

Dinner interruption

Griffon vulture in the middle of its meal.

Time to go!

vultures are good at travelling huge distances with minimum effort in the search for carcasses. They are not as elegant when taking off as demonstrated by this cinereous vulture.

Airborne!

Cinereous vulture taking off.

Griffon vulture

Griffon vulture about to land.

Airborne!

Cinereous vulture taking off.

Airborne!

Cinereous vulture taking off.

Sparrowhawk

In mid-september, large numbers of birds of prey pass by Öland on their way south. Some days it feels like sparrow hawks are found everywhere.

Sparrowhawk

In mid-september, large numbers of birds of prey pass by Öland on their way south. Some days it feels like sparrow hawks are found everywhere.

Sparrowhawk

In mid-september, large numbers of birds of prey pass by Öland on their way south. Some days it feels like sparrow hawks are found everywhere.

Sparrowhawk

In mid-september, large numbers of birds of prey pass by Öland on their way south. Some days it feels like sparrow hawks are found everywhere.

Sparrowhawk

In mid-september, large numbers of birds of prey pass by Öland on their way south. Some days it feels like sparrow hawks are found everywhere.

Sparrowhawk

In mid-september, large numbers of birds of prey pass by Öland on their way south. Some days it feels like sparrow hawks are found everywhere.

Hobby

During the migration south, the hobbys often take the opportunity to feed above Södra Lundsjön.

Hobby

During the migration south, the hobbys often take the opportunity to feed above Södra Lundsjön.