Uncle Henry´s Universe.

523B on a carrion. Photo: Sture Orrhult.

Got a Christmas message from the eagle we ringed as a juvenile
this past summer, it savored a Christmas dinner in the form of a roe-deer on
Sture Orrhults feeding place in Dalsland. (Approximately 238 km south from the
nest where it was born)

The first eagle we ringed in our county (in 2010), has
also been observed on carrion during December, but then instead in Leksand,
Dalarna. (About 125 km to the east from the birthplace.)

Of the seven eagles which we previously ringed is one
rediscovered dead and four observed on carrion, so it’s only 2 that we have not
yet received feedback on. A very good result I think.

For those who want to see more pictures or learn more
about Eagle, please follow the attached link to Sture’s site.

http://www.orrhult.eu/ovrigt/index%20ovrigt.htm

532B as a juvenile in the nest 2013. Photo: Börje Dahlén.

They did
their best but it did not help. Last week we had to take down the sign for the
Dune Tiger Beetle. It is probably now gone from our landscape. Sadly, it’s been
a nice acquaintance.

Every
spring, the last few years, has signage and rope protected their premises in
Ginbergsängens Nature Reserve. The hope has been that the tourists on the river
should not destroy their habitat. Instead, has the high water probably been the
death knell for the small population.

Friday, a
work week is coming to its end. Up 5:00, securely with porridge for breakfast,
then one and a half hour’s drive to the current nature reserve.

30 kg larch
timber must first be worn about 2 km in steep and rugged terrain, and then it
will be operating a chain saw rest of the day. Wonderful, never bored at work!

Was joined
for a while by a hunting dog, it’s elk hunt going on, but it seemed more
interested in our backpacks (where lunch sandwiches loomed) than moose!

Fought on
trying to finish a sanctuary boundary before the weekend, and managed even
though it was late. 17:30 was 27 kg packing ready to go home with a few more km
crappy terrain, and one and a half hour’s drive, predominantly along poor dirt
roads. I did not have trouble falling asleep last night.

Some
moments I feel like I’m too old for this shit … But it is often forgotten the
very next morning. 😉

Sorry, long
time since I last wrote, but it’s summer, you know! Work, always that work!

Today it
was time to start with a new sanctuary, Björnhultet. Clean out the hut, fell
around the buildings and chopping wood for the winter. It’s always nice to work
where it can be seen a result afterwards.

Before …

And after!
Difference, right?

At the
beginning of last century, as many as twenty loggers stay here during the week.
The stables held three horses. The cabin is open and firewood available. You
are welcome to visit at any time during the year.

It is a fabulously
good year for cloudberries; eat lots of sun-warmed berries for lunch every day!
Yummy!

We had
seven active golden eagle territory and a great spring, but got only a little
one this year. If you want to be positive about it, that is at least one more
than last year. There also seems to be the same tendency in the neighbouring
counties, few kids was born. Maybe it’s because poor prey availability.

On Friday
it was time for ringing, I hope to return with information on the eagle’s
continuing adventures in the coming winter. The eagles we previously ringed
usually show up on carrion in the neighbouring counties, where dedicated
ornithologists studying them.

One does
not like to shake hands with a golden eagle, not even with a small one, for the
sharpness and power of the claws are impressive.

Working
with animals and nature can sometimes be challenging. I have struggled with
both roe deer and wolves, been hit, chewed on, chased and yelled at but never
so dishonest treated as from an Ural owl!

Although I
immediately heeded the warning, the loud snapping beak, and quickly removed
myself from the settlement I was beaten! I did not have to take many steps
before the battering ram hit me. The cap flew about five feet while I fell
forward with several stinging bloody streaks across the scalp. If it had been a
tourist, or a curious senior citizen … But me! At work, on official business!

When I
finally caught sight of the evildoer, I was pissed. It looked completely
unaware and protested it’s innocence. Who, me? I’m just a sweet little owl …

It’s right
now they have kids and can be extra grumpy. Be careful out there!

Vimyren Nature Reserve 2005-05-28

Stays to
rest in the work to mark the boundary of the nature reserve Stormyren when a
robin suddenly leaves the stump next to my feet. I bend down and admire the
beautiful and skilfully crafted nest with five shiny eggs. Quick photo with the
phone and then passed on to not interfere.

Then
passing several times during the day without stopping, chatting with the female
that confidently remains on the eggs. Trust?

Or perhaps
she just wondered, why that big stupid not discovered her …

Right now swarms the beetle
Apalus bimaculatus on open sandy areas that gravel pits and ditches. It has
overwintered in the ground as imago and is now ready to mate. The adult beetle
is only seen above ground during a few weeks just after the snow melts in
spring, normally from the end of March to the beginning of April. Today I went
to the best venue I know, there was full speed, I stopped counting after two
hundred!

The larva of Apalus
bimaculatus live in the nest of the solitary bee species Colletes cunicularius,
who primarily collects pollen on Salix caprea. When it finds a nest it will eat
the food stored for the bee larva and supposedly eventually the bee egg or
larva itself. It seems to stay as a triangulin larva at least a week and after
that it goes to the next larva stage. The pupa will then hatch during autumn
and the imago will stay the winter in the bee nest to emerge early next spring
to mate.

The species is considered endangered, NT on the Red List.

I have made
some tentative attempts to start up this year’s conservation work, but it’s
hard. Spring is very late, probably at least 14 days later than last year. Was
today to Gultbergets nature reserve and where carpets of blue anemones spread
out April 18, 2012, there were now only a few. Golden Saxifrage not flowers at
all. At several places along the trail was snow and ice still retains so it was
a real challenge to get through. Melt water on top of ice makes it terribly
slippery; if it is inclined it may go fast between the trees 🙂

Birdlife
impressed today. I got 28 species, of which 8 were first observation of this
year. An osprey circled over the mountain with ten ravens and two buzzards.
Dunnock, Chiffchaff, marsh tit and a variety of other voices did birdsong into
a wall of sound. It’s a great time right now.

1 Minute: a
Vimeo Project.

I devote
myself sometimes to small humble video project on Vimeo, among others one
minute sequences. It is sometimes amazing how long a minute is, or how much
that could be accommodated within it.

Blake
Whitman on Vimeo writes;” With the chaos of everyday life consuming our senses,
it is nice to sit back and enjoy moments and experiences that are often
overlooked. This project aims to study the forgotten moments and times in life
that we often pass by without acknowledging”.

Transportation
of timber footbridge to a nature reserve is best done in late winter by
snowmobile. It’s good to remember a stuffy hot summer day. Horsstomyren, Varmland,
Sweden.