This picture is taken on the last day of 2022. The fireworks of man in the evening, was nothing compared to this. It literally blew me off my feet, so the picture is taken lying down.
I huff and I puff to knock you off your feet, ha de Gött!
Low tide uncover a whole new world, ha de Gött!
Pondering at the pond let the thoughts purl by a creek story snow white synapses bouncing in my skull a line of sense meandering stream across the land mindful deliberation crackles from the ice while the sun struggles to get over the tree line
Keep calm and contemplate, ha de Gött!
Ha de Gött!
I’m not much of a bird photographer, too impatient, but this group of common eider (Somateria mollissima) was keen models. They swam back and forth as if they liked to be in the frame. The males are black and white with a colourful head while the female are dressed in all shades of brown. It’s a large bird with weight up to 3 kilos and up to 70 centimetres in length. This fast flyer, can fly up to 110km/h, live in large flocks and nest close to the sea. The nest is lined with eiderdown plucked from the female’s breast. In Swedish it’s called ‘Ejder’ and the pronunciation is almost same as in English. Also know as St. Cutbert’s duck or Cuddy’s duck.
Quack on, ha de Gött!
A Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina) taking a sunbath in the bleak Christmas eve sun. In Swedish it’s called ‘Knubbsäl’ that translates back to ‘chubby seal’. I hope I’m not offending them when I suggest it’s a quite fitting description. This one is probably a pup.
These seals, also known as Common Seal, can be found along temperate and artic coastlines in the northern hemisphere. It’s not endangered except for in the Baltic Ocean. Can get as tall as 1,8 meters and weigh up to 170 kilos. They achieve that BMI (Body Mass Index) by eating a solid fish diet. Clumsy on land but an excellent swimmer that can dive down to 200 meters of depth. They can stay under water for 30 minutes by slowing down the heart rate.
Seal on, ha de Gött!
The beautiful and special corkscrew shaped horns of the Tadjik Markhor (Capra falconeri) is the reason for its decline. The horns are popular among trophy hunters. I guess it’s the stupidity of mankind, the need to own what’s beautiful and unique.
This goat lives in mountain areas and is a fantastic climber. The females live in groups but the males are solitary and only meet to mate. Violent fight take place between the males and the winner then get to mate with several females.
Only shot worth taking, is with the camera, ha de Gött!
Sometimes you drive around trying to find a scenery for your photography. The kilometres just add up and you start to despair from the lack of objects. A rumbling sound in you stomach tells you it’s time to head home for dinner. Then, after a hill and a turn it appears. The old stone bridge, a little creek running underneath. Untouched snow all around. It’s like that Danish beer brand commercial. Worth waiting for.
Probably the best scene in the world, ha de Gött!
Alder tree’s around a frozen pond. Sometimes it pays getting off the main road and driving the winding backroads.
A pond is always a good place for pondering, ha de Gött!
flying off like an old seagull blazed in a storm wind the old year disapears leaves nothing but memories of our ups and downs our crashing in the time's ever forward moving windshield left knocked down on the road should we stay down or rise like a bird Phoenix dust off, spread dishevelled wings turn to the winds and soar soar in the bright lights of the oncoming future
Hope 2023 will be a good year but, to quote a Nobel Prize winner, the answer my friend is blowing in the wind. Ha de Gött!
UlleHaddock 