Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) finding something to eat under the snow. Guess they stay in the sun to get some warmth in the cold weather. This little deer weighs around 20 to 30 kilos. Cute, but their large numbers creates lots of damage in gardens and for farmers. They are also involved in a large number of traffic accidents.
Please be a dear and watch where you steer, ha de Gött!
Frozen mushroom, ha de Gött!
Less than a month to Christmas so I took a tour to Santa’s stable. Rudolf was busy preparing the Christmas eve tour with the Alf’s so he had no time for photos.
The Skogsren (Rangifer tarandus fennicus), Finnish forest reindeer is a rare subspecies to the reindeer. Native to Finland and north-western Russia. It is larger than the semi-domesticated common reindeer. Between 180 and 220 centimetres long. Adult male weighing up to 250 kilos while the female weighs about 100 kilos. Rarely seen by humans as it thrives in the dense Taiga, or Boreal, forests. This beautiful animals that stood model for Disney are near extinction.
Be a dear to someone for Christmas, ha de Gött!
More from Nordens Ark. This is the little Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens). Also known as the lesser panda. Native in southwestern China and eastern Himalayas bamboo forests. Bamboo shoots and leaves are the favourite food. Quite small between 50 and 60 centimetres, weighing 3 to 6 kilos. The Red Panda is considered to be an endangered species. Even if the name suggests so, they are not related to the larger Giant Panda.
Even the small counts, ha de Gött!
Saturday we took a trip to the zoo Nordens Ark, the Ark of the North. The zoo is dedicated to preserve endangered species both wild and domesticated. At the shores of Åbyfjorden they hold a variety of wild animals large and small. Most famous for the large tigers and snow leopard. The zoo holds large areas for the animals so you’re not guaranteed to see them.
At my visit the tigers and leopards decided to sleep hidden from us, but the smaller Pallas Cat gladly posed for us. The Pallas Cat (Otocolobus manul) normally lives in Central Asia in cold areas with little snow. They weigh between 2,5 up to 4,5 kilos and become 45 to 65 centimetres long. The tail is between 20 to 30 centimetres. With its thick fur and short legs, large amount of snow will hinder it when hunting.
More cool animals will come so be sure to check in during the week. Want to find out more about Nordens Ark and their excellent work? Go to https://en.nordensark.se/ there is an English version. Ha de Gött!
Karljohansvamp (Boletus edulis) or in English cep, penny bun, porcino or porcini. Introduced to the Swedish cuisine by the, from France, imported king, Karl XIV Johan. From then on it has been called Karljohansvamp.
Karl XIV Johan was born 1736 as Jean Bernadotte in Pau, France. He became king of Sweden and Norway in 1818. On the throne until 1844 when he passed away at Stockholm Castle.
Eat like a king, have some mushroom. Ha de Gött!
What is not to love
with autumn
a crescendo of color
from warm to cold
green grass covered in frost
from lull to storm
birds in formation
navigator set to south
nature smells
of settling down
Life is a cycle, ride on. Ha de Gött!
Colorful leaf resting on its way to the ground. Ha de Gött!
A bright red rose hip hiding behind a cluster of blackthorn.
Ha de Gött!
An acorn for your Sunday. This little Oak seed will most likely be winter food for birds or small rodents. The Eurasian jay often brings it into open fields and bury it in the ground for the winter. If not found it will germinate and, if surviving grazing animals, grow up to become a mighty Oak tree.
From small to mighty, ha de Gött!
UlleHaddock 