Spawning fish at Vaulen (could it be Salmon)

Salmon (pronounced samon or laks) is a big thing for those not living in Norway. Locally it's just another part of the wildlife especially for those not involved in the salmon farming industry, government players marketing the salmon to the world or a fishing kaki.

I prefer mackerel myself and have not ventured to fish salmon out of it's natural habitat, so far I have not even been tempted. It's a big regal fish that I think should be left to do it's thing without hindrance.

The other day while out birdwatching and filming shrimps at the fjord near the house I heard some loud splashing in the shallows. Turned around and saw what looked like tails. Is it salmon? It's the right season for a salmon run ... but in the fjord? They normally run up pristine rivers for spawning and those are plentiful slightly further south and north of here.

Maybe I should bring my rods over and try a few casts ... maybe not.

Grey Heron at Vaulen

Grey Heron ... when I first saw them after moving here I said, "Are you here too?".  Back in Miri you see them occasionally at Kua;a Baram Wetlands but not in great numbers.  I saw my first big colony at Kuala Selangor Nature Park.

It's also very common here. Always a nice thing to see it hunt by the shore, ever so patient and deliberate in it's stalking style. I think I have a video recording of it stalking prey in Egersund, that was a big yawn inducer if you are not a birder.

Lately I've been made aware of it's more sinister side which I never expected. There've been several well recorded cases of Grey Heron preying on ducklings and baby waders. Some have been posted on Youtube.

Initially it seemed out of character for a bird of such grace and calculated stalking style but then you realise that this is nature, if you can swallow it, it's food.

Early morning calls

Birdcalls at dawn around 4am this morning

Night Vigil in Hundvag

The night is not as quiet as this video suggests, seagulls were up, flying and making a lot of noise.

Late Spring almost Summer at the Arboret

I wish I could convey the excited happy sounds from the woods on these pages together with each of the photographs posted here. I picked a picnic table and just sat quietly to listen to sounds of the forest early Spring morning. It's a cacophony of tumultous chirping, loud singing from top of the tall pines, beating of the wings and swoosh of busy little dashing flights all around me however all of them were happy sounds. Spring is here, summer will soon be upon us and everybody is busy making nests gathering all sorts of nesting material in anticipation of another year of life. It feels great to be in the midst of it as a witness present, absorbing all of it.

 

 

First recording with the Zoom 4HN .. need to learn to sit still.

Flying high on Maudal 530m

This time I took the steeper more or less trail (more like sheep footpath) up to the plateau. It's steeper than the other approach but it's an easy climb with beautiful view looking back into the valley where the Candle Factory and Farm is located. Every now and again I looked back and took in the vista.

It took probably a total of 30-45mins to reach the plateau at 530m. From here you can see clearly Maudal and Byrkjedal valley below. Most of the higher peaks are around 700m + beyond the plateau. A 10 hour trail makes a loop  back to the parking lot (at 400m) peaking at 850m +. It's mostly rocky trails at this height with trees only thriving aound 500m and below.

The sky roundabouts 1500hrs with temperatures peaking  at14deg C with a constant gentle breeze.

This site could be a nice spot for an overnight Milkyway session come August. I shot Milkyway here before several summers ago but that was just around the parking lot below. An overniter might be worth it except for the steep climb (considering 2 tripods, star tracker, sleeping bag and camera gear).

Dry Snorkelling at Vaulen

After an almost near miss with a leaky o-ring, I thought I'd give the waters at Vaulen a shot after switching camera and casing. This time instead of using the constantly bobbing float (not suitable with waves) I decided to attached the Gopro Session 4 to the 2,5m telescoping selfie stick. It's very light and easy to maneuver. Camera movements and angles are also much more easily controlled compared to the bobbing float. The float is ideal for random camera action in deadcalm waters.

First location, open fjord ad more prone to wave motion due to boat traffic.

Second location, slighty sheltered location and more calm.