Favourite birds and other handsome fellows - Huhtikuuta

Turdus merula

Hello all! Above is my best (ever) photo of a (Eurasian) blackbird. In this post, there are several photos that are best-ever, first-ever or first-this-year. Some photos aren't very good, like the one of the (European) Robin below, but since it's a bird I never saw when I was a child, I'm thrilled every time I see one.

Erithacus rubecula

Jippii! Aurinko paistaa ja lumet sulavat melkein silmissä. Etelä-Suomessa taitavat ensimmäiset sipulikasvit jo kukkia. Meidän pihassa ei vielä piippoja näy... koska parhaat paikat on varattu lupiineille. Uskolliset ystävämme ovat heti valmiina kasvamaan, kun maa paljastuu lumen alta. Tämän lupiinipenkin lunta onkin sulatettu ripottelemalla hiekkaa lumen pinnalle.

Viime kesänä maahan pudonneet siemenet itävät urheasti. :)

Lupinus x regalis :)

Cygnus cygnus

Pyrrhula pyrrhula, ♂ and ♀

♥♥♥

The (Eurasian) jay is not my favourite bird (it for example raids the bird feeders, if possible)... but it is fascinating too.  "Its usual call is the alarm call which is a harsh, rasping screech and is used upon sighting various predatory animals, but the jay is well known for its mimicry, often sounding so like a different species that it is virtually impossible to distinguish its true identity unless the jay is seen." (Wikipedia)

Garrulus glandarius

Emberiza citrinella

Kerrankin sattui olemaan kamera kädessä oikealla hetkellä. Aivan ensimmäiset kärppäkuvani:

Mustela erminea in winter fur

All the animals and birds (except the swans) have been photographed through a window. By sheer fluke, I happened to have a camera in my hands when I saw this stoat moving rapidly (checking for food perhaps). Behind our house, the snow (fallen from the roof) hasn't been moved away. So below you see the animal on a snowbank just outside a window. You can also see some ash and sand we use to help the snow melt quicker.

Jouluruusut paljastuvat lumen alta.

Helleborus orientalis

An aircraft flying over us. I think there's written "Pakistan" on the belly. Trying to study the routes, I now believe it was the flight from Toronto to Karachi, which operates on Sundays. Hello, Canada! Hello, Pakistan! :) How small is the world...

A thuja has overwintered indoors. Its green leaves make me happy throughout the year.

One of the sour cherries also winters indoors...

Prunus 'Amarena Florina'

Ainakin osa viileässä talvehtineista kasveista voi hyvin. Tässä on kultasade. Aika pieni vielä. :)

Laburnum alpinum

Whooper swans are amongst the heaviest flying birds.

Coming from the supermarket, I noticed the car parked next to mine... and I just had to take a photo with my phone.

Komea savolainen autoilija

Mukavaa alkanutta viikkoa!

Have a great week ahead!