Barn Swallows, Hirundo Rustica. They moved so fast, they were hard to get. I will try to get closer next time. Now I know where to find them.
Seven varieties of tomato ripening on the porch: black cherry, yellow submarine, matina, Norderås bush tomatoes, hellfrucht, zuckertraube and roma tomato. Norderås bush tomatoes are in the lead.
When I took some pictures of a moving flock of birds from a distance (20-Jul 2016), I believed it to be a flock of thrushes of the family turdidae. I got a closer look at the pictures at home and realized that I couldn’t recognize the birds. Several of the birds seemed to have lots of white spots on their chests, and this didn’t match the types of thrushes which are more common around here. I couldn’t make out the spots when I took the pictures, only when I could examine the pictures closer at home. After some research, I figure this might be a flock of common starlings. Although I wouldn’t mind getting even closer to the birds next time, this was close enough to learn some of the differences between thrushes and starlings. And this isn’t the first time I see a flock like this. I have to keep my camera close from now on.
The great crested grebe was easier to get today. Although the bird spent most of the time under water, it was closer than usual when it surfaced.
Tettigonia Viridissima
Now I know what baby swans are called. I had to check. Cygnets. The word is diminutive of Old French ‘cigne’ which means ‘swan’. It comes from Latin ‘cycnus’ and from Greek ‘kyknos’. Who knew that looking at birds could end up in an etymology lesson? And furthermore, how could anyone call a cygnet an ugly duckling? They’re are the cutest, softest looking things I have ever seen.
The great crested grebe and chick in the moats surrounding Fredrikstad’s old fortified town.
Jessica's lens 