Baby On Board

Just a little over two weeks ago, our newest family member arrived.

A midnight dash to the hospital, on Tuesday 19th of June, produced a crepuscular Hobby hunting en route (bright nights, of course, approaching the solstice) and this was the last species we saw (because birders note these things) before our daughter, Lyra, was born just 5 hours later, arriving at 5.00 a.m on the dot.

Lyra - fresh out of the oven

Two days later we got to take her home to meet Kuura, who took to her instantly, as we suspected she would. 

I took a little bit of parental leave as we adapted to Lyra's arrival and new "schedule". All in all she has been very manageable, sleeping well and feeding well. When awake, she's no bother, curious about everything around her and no crankiness. 

What should have been a hectic, frazzled chore instead became a near two week blissful combination of relaxing in the continued, record long stretch of hot weather. Taking long walks with Kuura, cool dips in the lake, saunas and beers, making the most of the garden crop of berries in deserts, and, of course, family trips birding (with obligatory cafe stops).

Kuura likes to cool off, but not necessarily swim...yet. I'll get her there. This shot may seem strange to the eye, but that tree actually grows like that over the lake, palm-esque.

We also took our first proper family birding trip, again, things going smoothly. Lyra picked up a wealth of lifers at Saltfjarden, including an obliging Moose.

We enjoyed a variety of waders on site, including adult Spotted Redshank, Wood sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and Temmincks stint, whilst Caspian tern floated around the channels "raysking".

Yellow wagtails and Whinchats were particularly showy.

Yellow Wagtail

Whinchat - There's something fantatic about Whinchats.

Around the garden, a delightful Redstart took up residence a few weeks ago, singing constantly, whilst a mobile Greenish Warbler moved through, calling, and a long overdue Honey Buzzard added itself to the garden list.

Redstart

Swallow - 2 pairs breed in the garden.

The odd midnight feeding allowed for some beautiful strawberry moon photos.

Birding locally produced lots of young birds now fledged. The garden has two broods of squabbling Great Spotted Woodpecker, juv Garden Warblers, and islands full of baba gulls and terns.

Lyra's first health check produced a day singing Corncrake, crexing away in the grass right outside the health center.

Just up the road from our house, a pair of Red Necked Grebe, originally having two chicks, tragically seemingly lost one by the time I got round to seeing them.

Red Necked Grebe - adult and young - easily my favorite Grebe. Easy to see why. I adore everything about these. The colours and patterns of the adults. The awful, awful sound of them. Even the chick is cute. Love em.

Red Breasted Mergansers are also present on the lakes in our vicinity, apparently boding well for the water quality.

Red Breasted Mergansers

Goosanders too, had young fledglings, which may very well be the cutest of the lot.

Tired of swimming? Hitch a ride on mama. 

Things will continue in this manner for the foreseeable I think, as we build up Lyra's list and enjoy the juveniles and returning migration of juvs and failed breeders as they head south.