OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can itbe? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)
noun[in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.
ORIGINlate 18th cent.: of unknown origin.
So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!
Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas
Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!
Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!
Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra
Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!
Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!
E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.
Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.
Wednesday 17thof April 2019and my alarm went off at 03:55 and they called from the reception at 04:00. I turned on the kettle and I prepared my “Oatmeal Surprise” ™ while waiting for my water to boil.
A shower and I was in the car at 05:30 and it was cold, very cold, 2°C BELOW zero. I turned on the seat heater but I didn´t want to warm up the car. I gave it a quick blast on full heating and full fan for a few seconds before I stopped the heating. If I get too cosy in the car it will be like walking in to a wall getting out of the car at Trandansen.
Weather in the spring
Visiting in the spring time and you really need to pack a huge bag. In the morning it is below zero so I have packed full winter equipment, parka jacket, warm hat and gloves. And of course warm socks. In the late morning you will have to change the winter clothing to “spring” clothing, a wind breaker.
If it is sunshine the temperature is easily reaching 20°C at lunch time and that can easily be almost 30°C. If you have a car it is no problem, just keep everything in the car and change as the day proceeds and you ae ready for any weather changes you will run in to.
2°C BELOW zero when I get in to the car
Leaving the Best Western Plus Jula Hotell & Konferens behind
Lake Hornborga /Hornborgasjön
Lake Hornborga (Swedish: Hornborgasjön) is a lake in Västergötland in Sweden, famous for its many birds, in particular the many cranes that stay here temporarily during their annual migrations.
History Lake Hornborga was created after the last ice age, approximately 10,000 years ago. The area has been settled since the Stone Age.
In order to relieve starvation, it was decided in 1802 to lower the water level in order to create pastures for cattle to graze. The water level was lowered a further four times after this. The surface area was reduced from 28 km² to less than 4 km², but rather than make way for pastures, reeds took over and turned the lake into a swamp.
Throughout these reductions, the lake remained a popular habitat for birds, but the last reductions in 1933 also reduced its attraction for birdlife. In 1965, a Government investigation suggested that the lake be restored, and between 1992 and 1995, the water level increased by an average of 0.9 metres.
During the restoration, 1,200 hectares of reed and 800 hectares of trees were removed, and animals were reintroduced to graze the shores of the lake.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Trandansen
2950 - Today´s Crane count
Reaching Trandansen and I park the car and walk to Trandansen Visitor Centre. Today´s Crane count: 2950. That is the amount of Common Cranes that was sleeping in the lake and it will be less tonight as Cranes leaves during the day.
The two first times I came here it was full of Cranes and it was not easy to get any good pictures. Today there was not so many of the cranes and I could get some pictures of lonely birds.
I left Trandansen and I drove towards Fågeludden to start work my way through the list of sites on theMAPSo I left Trandansen and I turned in to the highway and then the second exit to the left with a sign saying “Hornborgasjön” 12 km
I leave road #184 and I have not been driving long when I stop as I spotted a male Pheasant with four females. The birds were scared and all the pictures went to the garbage bin. I drive a few hundred meters when I spot another pheasant, a male in the forest.
I try to get a few pictures but the bird disappears. I continue towards Naturum and suddenly the pheasant come out in front of the car and I stop to try to get a few pictures.
The information centre known as Naturum Hornborgasjön stands on pillars in the lake ta Fågeludden, situated at the north east side. It was opened in 1986, but got a whole new shape in 2015 when the inside was fully rebuilt.
It is situated on the eastern side of the lake, where the Billingen table mountain rises out of the water and forms the backdrop. The surrounding countryside with its many old stone walls bears witness to its ancient traditions and, in mid-May, the cherry trees fill the hills with white blossom.
Naturum Hornborgasjön contains a visual exhibition about the history of the lake and its bird life, a viewing tower with a lift and a souvenir shop. There are knowledgeable guides more than happy to help you find new places or tell you everything you´ll want to know about the lake.
If you follow the foot-bridge out to Fågeludden, you pass two hide-outs. If you are quiet and have a little patience, you can watch birds at very close quarters.
Fågeludden is one of the very best places at the lake to watch birds. You can see grebe, ducks, coots, wading birds and Sweden's largest colony of Black-headed Gulls.
In 2017 a new building, Doppingen (the Grebe), with café and auditorium was built.
Naturum Hornborgarsjön, it is really no problem to find the place. There are signs so it is impossible to miss where to go. Including leaving road #184 after Trandansen you need to turn left 3 times, and as I mentioned, there are good signs.
Left turn to reach Naturum Hornborgasjön
Left turn to reach Naturum Hornborgasjön
Last left turn to reach Naturum Hornborgasjön
Walking towards the Visitor Centre - Naturum Hornborgasjön from the parking lot
Board walk to the look out - Vadargömslet (Wader Hide) on the left hand side
Board walk to first hide “Måsgömslet” (Gull Hide)
Park the car and you walk pass the cafe on the way down to the board walk and the Visitor Centre “Naturum”. Walk pass “Naturum” and there is a board walkout to the look out and you pass two hides. There is a third hide and to get there you have to leave the board walk 25 meters before reaching “Naturum”. It is about 500 meters to the hide
Leave the board walk to get on the path to the third hide
Visitor Centre at Naturum Hornborgasjön
Gull Hide, look out and Visitor Centre at Naturum Hornborgasjön
Wader Hide, Gull Hide, look out and Visitor Centre at Naturum Hornborgasjön
Walking towards the third hide
Board walk over some swamp area
Looking back at the Visitor Centre
Board walk to the hide
We can see the hide
Walking on the board walk and there is a Greylag Goose sitting on eggs at the Visitor Centre. The bird don´t mind the people and the bird just laid in the nest. Obviously, Naturum Hornborgasjön is a place for sea birds. Well, the whole Lake Hornborga / Hornborgasjön is mostly for sea birds.
And there is quite a lot of them, but for bird watchers only as most of the birds are too far away to take any pictures. But to come here with a binocular and thick of birds from a list, then it is excellent.
But even if the birds are far away it is a very nice place to be, especially during the spring. Bay making times, all the birds are busy building nests and the Gooses and Swans are very aggressive.
Greylag Goose sitting on eggs
A white Wagtail keeps the goose company at the nest
Mute Swan comes charging over the lake
Mute Swan comes charging over the lake
Mute Swan comes charging over the lake
Mute Swans fighting
Mute Swans fighting
Adult with building material
Adult with building material
Greylag Goose / Grågås
Greylag Goose / Grågås
Red-necked Grebe / Gråhakedopping
Bringing nest material
Bringing nest material
Leaving Naturum and it had been very interesting to watch the birds preparing their nests. Next stop will be Fäholmen, a few hundred meters further down the road. I had my picnic lunch in the car before I left Naturum behind.
It is just a few minutes’ drive from Naturum to Fäholmen, and well, a waste of time. Not much to see and you are only allowed on the walk path as the rest of the area is a bird protection area.
Anyway, after a few minutes there is a sign “Fäholmen” and you turn left in to a dust road.
You will see the sign wen to turn left
Dust road to the parking
Reaching the parking
Parking area
Fire place
We can see the bird tower beyond the fire place
On the walk path - Follow the orange sticks
We can see the bird tower
Almost at the bird tower
This is how exciting the “dead” forest gets
White Wagtail
It was a nice walk, but for birds, not much and I will not bother to come back again. The only picture I got out of it was of a White Wagtail. My eBird checklist forFäholmen, clickHERE
I left Fäholmen with no backward glances and next stop will be at Ytterberg on the way back to Trandansen. And I hope for more luck at Ytterberg than I had have at Fäholmen
Ytterberg
Way to Ytterberg
It is quite easy to find the place
It is quite easy to find the place
Driving between Trandansen and Naturum and there is actually two places where you can leave the road to reach Ytterberg. You turn in to the gravel road and there is signs for Ytterberg. At the last place to turn you are soon seeing a farm at the end of the gravel road and it looks to be a dead end.
But when reaching the farm you keep right and you drive very slowly as there are playing children. And you can see the parking after having passed the farm.
Looks to be a dead end
Directions to the parking
Pass the farm
The road continue after the farm
We can see the parking
From the parking you walk along the farm land and you reach a bird hide and look-out tower. Pretty pointless if you ask me. The birds are very far away, and this seems to be the situation all over Lake Hornborga / Hornborgasjön.
I never spent any time at the hide and I continued the circle around the farm land. The last hundred meters or so was a board walk over some marsh. There was birds in the reeds and this was the thing saving Ytterberg from being a total waste of time.
Leaving the parking following the orange coloured sticks to the hide
White Wagtail/ Sädesärla
We can see the bird hide
Reaching the main attraction
We can see the board walk over the marsh coming down from the hill
I drive back to Best Western Plus Jula Hotell & Konferens and I stop at Trandansen to have a look. But the Cranes are too far away. I also go to see if I can find Utloppet so I know the way to get there tomorrow. I see three Jay birds looking for Utloppet and this is a bird I really want to have on pictures. And clickHEREto find out if I see any Jay birds tomorrow.