Thirsty Waxwings

Waxwings are beautiful birds and a favorite among photographers. Just before Christmas I came across a flock that frequently flew down to some small puddles of water on the ground to drink. This was in a park in Horten in Vestfold county, and the birds was feeding on mistletoe. It seems like it made them very thirsty - they came down to the puddles in small flocks time after time.

The thirsty Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) came down to the puddles
to drink time after tim...
Sidensvans

A really tough one...

One of the roughest birds I know is the Purple Sandpiper - the only shorebird that winters in large numbers in the arctic winter north of the Polar Circle. While photographing a flock in the Lofoten Islands recently, I realized they can be pretty tough to each other as well…

Purple Sandpipers (Calidris maritime) can show a surprising degree
of aggression while feeding in the few hours of daylight.
Fjæreplytt

Autumn in Lofoten

Even if autumn is the time of year when nature falls to rest, it is a lot going on. This is a compilation of photos from the Lofoten Islands last fall.

Many birds migrate trough the islands during fall.
Wren (Tryglodytes tryglodytes).
Gjerdesmett

A Dunnock (Prunella modulars) fades into the surroundings.
Jernspurv

The Lesser Whitetroath (Sylvia curruca) is a
rather uncommon guest in the islands.
Møller

Shorebirds follow the outer coastline of the islands during fall migration.
Ruff (Philomacus pugnax) (left) and Grey Plowers (Pluvialis squatarola).
Brushane (venstre) og tundralo

A flock of Dunlins (Calidris alpina) and Ruffs (Philomacus pugnax).
Myrsniper og brushaner

Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) feeding on the mudflats.
Svarthalespover

The Scarce Umber (Agriopis aurantiaria) is the beauty
among the late autumn moths.
Gul frostmåler

A Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) posing for the photographers.
Gråmåke

Young Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo).
Storskarv

When the hunting season starts, the Elk (Alces laces) is hard to approach.
Elg

Northern Hawk Owls (Surnia ulula) was quite numerous this fall.
Haukugle

Creatures of the night...

One of my greatest interests the last years have been moths. These creatures that whirl around your outdoor lamp looks rather dull and grey at first eyesight, but that is before you get a chance to study them close up!
Two years ago I bought a light trap, and after that summer mornings has never been the same. The excitement when I go to check what have been trapped during the night, and the joy of photographing them, have become the new highlight of the day!
Here are some of the beauties from last summer.

Black Arches (Lymantria monacha), Askim, Østfold 26.07
Barskognonne

Portrait of Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi), Askim, Østfold 26.07
Ospesvermer

The rear Ground Lackey (Malacosoma castrenisis),
Hvasser, Vestfold 30.07
Båndringspinner

Early Thorn (Selenia Dentaria), Hvasser, Vestfold 30.07. Individuals this
lat in summer - of second generation - are rare i Norway.
Blek månemåler

 Chinese Character (Cilix glaucoma), Hvasser, Vestfold 30.07.
This beautiful, tiny moth is red-listed in Norway.
Slåpetornsigdvinge

Well camouflaged on birch: Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), Hvasser,
Vestfold 

Pebble prominent (Notodonta ziczac), Hvasser,
Vestfold, 01.08
Sikksakktannspinner

Bordered Beauty (Epione repandaria), Hvasser, Vestfold, 01.08
Seljebrannmåler

Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia), Hvasser, Vestfold, 01.08.
Rosa båndmåler

Pretty Pinion (Perizoma blandiata), Hvasser, Vestfold 01.08
Flekklundmåler

Archer's Dart (Agrotis vestigialis), Hvasser, Vestfold, 09.08
Fagerjordfly

Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria), Hvasser, Vestfold, 09.08
Bjørkesigdvinge

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow (Noctua janthe), Hvasser, Vestfold, 09.08
Fiolett båndfly

Many-plumed Moth (Alucita hexadactyla), Hvasser, Vestfold, 09.08
Kaprifolfingermøll

Iron prominent (Notodonta dromedarius), Hvasser, Vestfold, 09.08
Dromedartannspinner

Pale prominent (Pterostoma palpina), Hvasser, Vestfold, 09.08
- take the prize for most original camouflage!
Nebbspinner

Scarce Silver Y (Syngrapha interrogationis), Hvasser, Vestfold 09.08
Skogmetallfly

Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea), Hvasser, Vestfold, 09.08
Pyramidefly

Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata), Hvasser, Vestfold, 09.08
Geitramsdråpemåler

Butterflies 2013

Some of the butterflies I was lucky to have close encounters with this summer.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) Sleneset, Nordland 30.06
Tiriltungeblåvinge

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) Sleneset, Nordland 30.06
Ildgullvinge

Large Emerald (Geometra papilionaria), Elverum, Hedmark 24.07
Kjempebladmåler

Portrait of Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma),
Hvasser, Vestfold 29.07.
Kommasmyger

Despite the resemblance of wasps, the clearwings are actually moths.
Raspberry Clearwing (Pennisetia hylaeiformis), Hvasser, Vestfold 31.07.
Bringebærglassvinge

Silver Y (Autographa gamma), Hvasser , Vestfold 06.08.
Thousands of this moth was swarming in the first week of August.
Gammafly

Grayling (Hipparchia semele), Hvasser, Vestfold 06.08.
Kystringvinge

Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae), Hvasser, Vestfold 13.08.
This beauty is declining and red-listed in Norway.
Slåpetornstjertvinge

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Hvasser, Vestfold 13.08.  This large and
beautiful migratory butterfly showed up in good numbers in Norway
this summer.
Tistelsommerfugl

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), another migratory guest that showed up
in late summer. Henningsvær, Nordland 01.09
Admiral