Milkyway from Hytte 45, Fidgeland

Aurora in Hundvag 08th Sep 2015

This almost 5 day aurora event took place during the middle of the week when I had some mobility issues (the old right leg again) and only managed to capture the events in and arond the house. These were pictures taken at a spot by the coast 5 mins away from home. The leg was well wrapped up, I limped over in the cover of darkness.

Hytte 48 our weekend home in Fidjeland and Milkyway

Superb Milkyway Season so far ...

My first high altitude aurora on Lysesheia at 940m elevation

As far as Norwegian mountain standards are concerned, 940m elevation isnt exactly stupendous in height but considered high enough around Rogaland. In these parts 1400+m is probably considered high altitude.

Nevertheless, it's the closest high elevation location with a parking lot less tha 10m from our chosen shooting location. Pretty high enough ... no trekking uphill is involved in any sense of the word.

The aurora came around just after 1am rather unexpectedly as we were excitedly photography Milkway as it made it's appearance in and out of the passing clouds. Our main objective was to capture Milkyway in it's glorious autumn finery. And we captured Aurora to boot ... what more can you asked for?

We were so stoked with the occurence that we went out again the following night ... big ear to ear grin!

Lauwersmeer with the kids 29th Jun-6th July

Third trip to Holland ... this time with the children. We stayed at Landal Esonstad  just across the bay from Suyderoogh. This time a 4 bedroom bungalow facing the little lake with it's own resident waterbirds.

It's nice when you have the kids around in a big house, it just doesnt feel so empty. Suyderoogh cabin had 3 rooms and it's feels so empty when you are the only person in the house. Both has it's plusses and drawbacks ...

It's still birdwatching as the main agenda, but in addition we planned to also just hangout and visit nearby interesting places. Amsterdam was on the cards but it didn't pan out too well on account of some demonstrations the same week on account of a police brutality incident earlier in the week in the city.

Aisya and Ali were equipped with a camera each, Ali on the EOS100D and Aisya on the Nikon P310 compact. I brought the 24, 300 and 600. And I hardly use the 300 except for the Aquazoo trip, almost always dragging out the 600 instead. The scope stayed home this time.

Stormy nite at Esonstad from our porch.

My first downy chicks Common Coot.

Ruff, almost out of season mane.

Godwit

My 1st juvvy Great Crested Grebe.

Cute baby lemur and an even cuter auburn haired sweaty 6 footer female keeper.

Our first Binturong ever ... unfortunately in a zoo in Holland.

Ali spotted this leucistic Mallard at Aquazoo, Leeuwarden.

Quite a commotion (by the  3 of us and 15 zoo staff) when this fella fell into the water. Nobody knew whether it knows how to swim!

Ali's shot

Aisya's shot with EOS100D+400mm

Ali's shot

Ali's shot

Ali's shot

Ali's shot

It was still Ramadhan the week we visited, since our schedule wasn't too heavy we fasted as per normal fasting month. Morning sahure before 3 am and iftar around 9pm. Every few days we'd go grocesry shopping for our daily needs. We ventured out to downtown Leuwarden one balmy day and with the impromptu help of two generous Muslim brothers (one from Saudi and another from Egypt) we met on a street corner, we were driven to the door of the one and only halal butcher shop (Turkish) perhaps in the whole of Friesland!

We also celebrated Aisya's 13th birthday while on this trip. We celebrated with a birthday cake, chips, cookies, candies and soft drinks after iftar. Took us a couple of days to finish the cake between the three of us. Mommy joined the celebration via Skype.

It was a pleasant, happy slow week to end the school term. Would've been much more fun if Mommy had been able to tag along. Maybe next trip.

Words by Nazeri Abghani (c) 2015
Images by Nazeri Abghani, Ali MdNazeri and Aisya MdNazeri
July 2015