Showing posts with label staket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label staket. Show all posts

2016-04-04

Japan 160201 Lake Kussharo to the fishing village Rausu

Japan 160122-160204
Bird Photography trip

click photo to view with Lightbox

© NF Photos 160201, Hokkaido, Japan



Early morning as usual. Departure at 6.40, before breakfast,  for a morning session at the Whooper Svans at Lake Kussharo. The setting sun last night was in front of us. Now we had the rising sun behind us. And it looked completely different. We visited both places this time too and got a close encounter of the Falcated duck (praktand) as well.



At 8.30 we were back at the hotel for breakfast and to pack our belongings. We were now heading north. Well, after being waved off by the staff before we started.


The first stop was only 3 blocks away. We visited the  Kawayu eco center foot Onsen. Our guide told us it was an Onsen for footbath. Only your feet could be cleaned in that place. I had seen it from the buss when we drove back to the hotel and was now pleased to stop there. There was the cleaning area for the feet and a little further there was two "wigams", the kind of tents the native indian´s used. But I don´t know the purpose of them. The place was almost too beautiful in the strong morning sun and the water vapor from the hot spring.



Our next stop:
and I was not prepared for it! Just because I did not expect it. Silly me! I just love Sulphur hot springs. It is so wild and speaks to me in many ways.











Now we continued to the fishing village Rausu and we stopped at the harbor for a while before going to the hotel for an early dinner. One peculiar thing in the area was the fences of the side of the mountains. Probably built to avoid snow avalanche to the buildings. And now we started to see the largest eagle in the world. But more or them tomorrow.

A Stellar´s Eagle sitting on a branch in the tree next to the fences.





And a part of the harbor. We saw a lot of icy boats and some water fowl.





The hotel was a mix of both cultures. Some of us got rooms with floor bedding, others, like me got a room with normal beds. I even had two beds. And my own toilet while others had shared ones. But for showers we all used the Onsen in the basement.


And a little reflection in the bus window.



Blakiston´s fish owl
After the early dinner we took of for the last event for the day. We were to look for the Blakiston's fish owl. According to wikipedia this is the largest living species of owl in the world. The place we were going to was Washi-no-Yado who had a family of owls in the area. They usually come to fish in the evening.  The family who ran the place told us that the owls did never notice the fact that they were fed. Higher up in the stream they let live fish out and the owl catches them in a tiny pool that was lit up so visitors can see them. The present family was the male and two young ones. The female has died last summer so now they really wanted the male to find another female. 

Well, we heard the owl for almost two hours before it finally showed up. And everyone started to shoot. But the male did not last very long. After served himself with two fishes he left and no other owl appeared.  We were standing in an old shed and it was quite cold. After 2.5 hours we went back to the hotel. 

A shower in the Onsen and uploading today´s shots. And then to bed. A very soft bed with a very thick and heavy blanket.

Tomorrow we will see the large eagle up close. 

Whooper Svans at Lake Kussharo.

Linking up with:  Our World Tuesday    Travel Photo Thursday   Wild Bird Wednesday  GOOD FENCES

Japan on NF Photo  NF Birds around the world   

Labels:    , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  , , , , , , , , , , , , ,   ****************************************************************
1/2:   Morgonen vid Lake Kussharo. Sedan transport norrut till Rausu. Washi-no-Yado på kvällen (uven). Natt i Rausu.
Vi inleder med mera sångsvansfotografering i Lake Kussharo innan frukost, i ett härligt morgonljus. Även praktand och östlig fläcknäbbsand fanns på plats. Efter frukost på hotellet besökte vi Io-zan Sulphur Springs, där svavlet bubblade och rök ur berget. Mäktigt att se och snyggt på bild!

Färden fortsatte sedan norrut, tills vi slutligen nådde upp till Shiretoko Peninsula och fiskebyn 
Rausu, där vi ska bo kommande två nätter. Vi inledde med ett besök i hamnen, där det fanns gott om fågel att fotografera. Över 20 örnar (havs- och jättehavsörn), strömänder, vittrutar, skiffertrutar och annat kul. Efter en tidig middag begav vi oss till Washi-no-Yado för att fotografera Blakistons fiskuv
, världens största uggla. Det blev en spännande väntan, då vi hela tiden hörde hannen ropa i närheten. Men till slut kom den mäktiga ugglan och landade i den upplysta bäcken framför oss. En fantastiskt häftig avslutning på ännu en fin dag! 

2015-08-31

Hjälmaren Canal and lock

Hjälmare Kanal och sluss vid Hällby
 Hjälmaren Canal and locks at Hällby

Lake Hjälmaren and Lake Mälaren are two of the largest lakes in Sweden. This is a 13 kilometres long canal that connects Lake Hjälmaren with Lake Mälaren in Sweden. 9 canal locks lower the boats 22 metres down to Lake Mälaren. Lake Hjälmaren is located about 30 km north of where I live. When I was a kid we had a summer cottage there.

click photo to view with Lightbox



Bridge at Sundbacken, Värhulta



Hällby Mill where the canal passes a small lake
I was so taken by the beauty of the growth on the poles I forgot to take photos of the old mill.


Hällby Lock with my friend on top in a red jacket.

Hjälmare Docka, close to Arboga town, where the boats are stored in winter.
© NF Photos 150604

And, of course, I had some fun :)


Hjälmaren Canal on wiki   Hjälmare Kanal on wiki


Linking up with: Our World Tuesday    GOOD FENCES   Sky Watch Friday

2015-07-16

Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred 150714

Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred. 150714
© NF Photos 150714

Two days ago we took the car and went to Gripsholms Castle. It is located in Mariefred at the lake Mälaren. It takes about an hour and a half to go there by car. It is an old royal castle. The first parts was built in 1370:s.

click photo to view with Lightbox
The first view of Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred when we arrived.


A little bridge leading to the  greenhouse with a nice fence and sky reflections in the water.

 One side of the castle and a part of the park surrounding it.

The same area as above looking from the castle. You find another, smaller one, on the other shore. It is named Gripsnäs. It is a private mansion.

One of the rooms in the castle. Seem to be one of the bedrooms.

On the third floor the Castle have a theater. On a rare occasion's they still use it. I would love to go behind it and see how it works. 

 Three mirrors between decor pillars reflects the opposite side of the wall above the spectator grand stand


And outside the Castle area is another interesting thing. You can go with a steam engine train on a narrow track. It is a working museum. :)  Steam train

The trip back home was not all that fun. Started to rain as soon as we left Mariefred. And sometimes really hard showers. I had to stop twice as I did not see the road.  :(

Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred Sweden
© NF Photos 150714

This is just a brief note of what there are to see. The castle host a large collection of paintings of royalties from all over Europe. So the walls are all covered with more then 4000 paintings. All portraits of kings and queens and other noble people.


Linking up with:    Good Fences     Sky Watch Friday   Weekend reflections
  

2015-06-18

Tåkern 150510 third and last day

Tåkern 150508-10

click photo to view with Lightbox

© NF Photos 150510

Today we started with breakfast t 6.00h.  We also took some with us as the morning would be long. No break before lunch at 12.00h. Even I took an egg, fruit and coffee. 


Then we were picked up at 7 for the first nature walk at Svälinge. Here we were divided in two groups. One went straight to the tower and the other one followed a longer path along a ditch to the tower. There was some obstacles, in form of fences,  to overcome during the walk. 








The water filled ditch functions as a water regulator to Tåkern.  It regulate the water level in the Tåkern and empties in Lake Vättern.  It was a nice walk along the water with reed on the other side and with forest and wetland on the side we walked. Lots to see and hear. Some migrating birds already here singing in trees and reed. But rarely seen.






Sedge warbler, (Sävsångare) singing in the reed





Finally we arrived at the birding tower. The highest one around Tåkern. It seemed rather old too. 

From the highest deck it was a really great view. And those who came here first did not seem to want to leave :) And, of course,  a group photo was taken. 
Western marsh harrier ( brun kärrhök) with prey to the right


Lots of reed here as well so the clear water was rather distant. 

At 10 we left for Naturrum Tåkern where we were for a while yesterday. Today we was lucky as it was some birding event and we were shown a banding session. 

One is Sedge warbler,(sävsångare) The other I´m not sure. Quite different in size. 



Then we got the tour in side the main building and also a movie from the area. One quite unique thing they have is a selection of small wood carved birds. One for every bird ever sighted in this area. And it is a woman creating them. The guide seemed very proud of them. So far 276 species has been seen here. A little more then a hundred breeds here. For Shadow shot!

Lunch at 12, the same place as yesterday. Now the sky started to darken and people choose to sit inside. 



At 13.00h we were picked up for the last tour. 

This time to the town Vadstena.  The same place I visited on my way down. We were to look for a rare gull, swallows and a Black redstart (svart rödstjärt) that seem to nest on the roof of the castle. And we found all of them. 

A Glaucous gull (vittrut) has been staying in the little harvor for a couple of weeks. 


A great day. Now back to the hostel for cleaning the room and get back on the road. Direction - home!



O, I almost forgot, our group was also interviewed of the local radio and TV station. I did see some of it on TV too. TV news  I´m actually seen in the first scene but only from behind, with a yellow backpack. If you are interested. this is my native language spoken.  :)  At Vadstena Castle.



The entry to Tåkern Naturrum

Sky Watch Friday
Image for Shadow Shot Sunday is the wall with 276 wooden birds :)

2014-11-20

140918 Queensland Cairns-Brisbane-Stanthorpe

Queensland, Australia 2014-09-05--09-25
140918 day 14 Thursday
© NF Photos 140918
click photo to view with Lightbox

We were picked up at 4.00 for transfer to the airport. The plane for Brisbane was due at 5.30 and landed in Brisbane at 7.30. I had a window seat on the right side overlooking the ocean.  And had the opportunity to enjoy a really gorgeous sunrise. See image at the bottom of  the post.
Our new local guide was waiting for us. The first thing to do was to get two new rented cars. When that was done we was finally on our way. We were now rather hungry. Even me as what was offered on the plane was not much. But we had to get out of Brisbane before we stopped for breakfast.

But,oops, what was in that juice on the plane?  Is it supposed to look like that?
OK, it is now obvious that we are in a much more civilized area. Did not see anything like this in the north.


We are now heading south to Stanthorpe where we will be for two days. That is where our new guide/s are living. A distance of about 200km.
We made a few stops for breakfast, lunch and birding. We found a lot of ducks in the pond to the left but I think there was even more fences. They were all over the place.


This is not a cloud, it is smoke from a fire. It turned out to be a common sight in this area of Queensland.  
After settled in HighStreet Motor Inn, Stanthorpe, and making it quick, we headed out to pick up Glenn. He was the one who should have been our guide for the entire tour but he got sick so it changed the plans. But as this was his home territory he wanted to share it with us. He had made huge plans for us but as we were late it became stressful. Still we were out in different locations until it darkened. We drove Glenn home and went to the Motell for dinner and todays bird list.

 It´s been another long day and it was nice to close the door to be on my own.  Took a shower and uploaded the images as usual. Then bedtime.



Sunrise between Cairns and Brisbane


Linking to Our World Tuesday   Good Fences   Sky Watch Friday  WATW 
Australia on NF Photo  NF Australian birds   NF Memes  NF World

2014-11-13

140916 Queensland Lotus bird Lodge to Cairns

Queensland, Australia 2014-09-05--09-25
140916 day 12 Tuesday
© NF Photos 140916
click photo to view with Lightbox

We had an early cup of coffee at 6.00h.  Then we had a walk the path around the Lagoon while the sun was rising. A very nice walk indeed. Wandering Whistling-Duck in the Lagoon, to the right.

After breakfast, at 8.00, we started our trip back to Cairns. A, roughly, 450 km trip. What was significant today was all roadworks and dust. When we went up north it was weekend and no roadwork. So, a huge difference. Our first stop was in Musgrave to fuel the cars.
And, what is it about litter and rubbish bins???? Really!
 
We continued south and made a few stops to streach our legs.

This fence and gate makes me wonder how often this gate is used. The tree is growing right throw it.


Seem to be popular to be out walking

This image kind of have it all for todays trip. Roadwork , dust, sunshine . And take a look at the tractors front wheels. I´m not sure I would trust it much. We actually past this place almost driving in the forest to the left. (See explanation in Micks comment below in the comment forms. )

It is hard work today. Lunch in the van is needed. Provided of our hostess in Lotus Bird Lodge.


Later in the afternoon we took a break at a bar. Roadside bar? Was easier to get a drink then having a cup of coffee. And no icecream :(
And, well, can´t help but wonder what happened to this guy.

 Back in Cairns I took a quick walk on the Esplanade before dinner and bed.
Night in Acacia Court Hotel, Cairns.


 Lotus Bird Lodge Lagoon in morning backlight

Joining GOOD FENCES   Sky Watch Friday    Wild Bird Wednesday
Australia on NF Photo  NF Australian birds   NF Memes  NF World