I went to the zoo...

 ... and one of the first things I photographed was this:

So it may seem strange to pay for entry to a zoo and then photograph a bird that i could photograph almost anywhere else however when an opportunity arises it is important to take it.

I actually really like Jackdaws, I think they are a very handsome bird, they are alert and curious too. Their striking blue eyes really stand out against their glossy plumage.

It was nice towards the end of my visit to also see the pair of birds on a branch, I think the male was definitely trying to impress his mate, but she was playing it very cool.

Feathered Friends

 

Here are three different birds, the first is a Western Jackdaw, the second is a duckling (possibly mallard or possibly Rouen Duck) and the third is a Scania Goose.

All three were photographed in Gothenburg in the summer of 2018, more precisely in the Slottskogen which is a public park opened in 1874 with a free zoo. It is a really extensive park with so much to see and do (frisbee golf, beach volleyball, the zoo, a theatre and lots of walks) in the heart if the city.

I think the Jackdaw is quite a handsome specimen while the duckling is very very cute. The goose is a rare domestic breed native to southern Sweden apparently in 2011 there were only 172 registered birds of this variety so that does make them quite a rarity. 

Always Watching...

Tamron 150 - 600mm

ISO 2500  600 mm   F/6.3   1/320 sec

ISO 800   350 mm   F/5.6   1/320 sec

These pictures were shot in Gothenburg in Slottsskogen a fabulous park near the city centre.  There are lots of paths and wooded areas, there's even a small zoo with native animals so plenty to see and we spent several hours wandering round and there were lots of photo opportunities.

Here we have a Fieldfare and a Western Jackdaw.

At first I thought the bird in the first picture was a Song Thrush but I wasn't convinced so did a bit of research and found that it was a Fieldfare although I think it may be a juvenile because it was smaller than Fieldfares I have seen before and the head is less obviously grey.

The second bird was seated on a fence and was staring intently at me. I was somewhat surprised that it allowed me to get quite close before flying away.