…again! A summer warmth wrapped itself around Käringsboda Nature Reserve today. With the sun at its peak, Baxter and I went along a favorite road and feasted on the visual delights along the way. I’d like to believe that we were totally alone for the few hours we were there because we saw no others.

I can’t explain why I enjoy this place so much. Perhaps the lushness of the hardwood trees that reminds me of Ohio or the remoteness in contradiction to the nearness of a large city? Or, perhaps for the fact of being allowed to be outside in a forest without being continually attacked by mosquitoes, though Baxter contends with the ticks. Perhaps just laziness with exploring newer places?

The small houses are occupied but reminds one of how life could appear to be in remote areas along the Swedish coast added with the typical red paint and surrounded by simplicity and quietude.

Here’s a small gallery of what was showing today…

…are certainly uncommon in cyberspace, as the majority of cameras are concentrated on large cities, weather or special places and happenings throughout the world. So it has been with delightful interest to have discovered and followed the happenings of one Puffin hole, or nest, that Shetland’s RSPB group placed near their offices at Sumburgh Lighthouse.

Admittedly, these last several weeks have been a bit boring to watch the streaming camera. The empty hole, both shown from the outside and inside (camera 1&2), has been quite dull and no real activity of Puffins could be watched. I almost gave up until last weekend when I noticed a light-colored stone that had appeared near the base of the interior view. What was this, I asked, and expectations rose that it possibly could be an egg.

Sure enough, two days ago I saw the faint outline of a Puffin lying down on the floor of this nest and this morning I could finally see the Puffin in activity. It sometimes came in the nest to squat down and warm the egg and sometimes it would appear outside the nest; probably to get some fresh air, stretch its legs and checkout what was happening on the cliff below the lighthouse buildings. How exciting!

Now, Puffins are really beautiful and amazing birds and it’s easy to secretly adopt this mother Puffin. One good suggestion in promoting awareness for the species and concern for Puffin survival, could be a small sub-group, or club, of people promoting Puffin adoption of previously ringed birds. Why not start with the little one that is on its way? As you link-up to this Puffin webcam, I would like to ask readers a couple of questions:

What name should the mother Puffin be given?
Any guesses as to when (date) the egg will hatch?
What should we name the baby Puffin when it does hatch?

With these questions, I would also like readers to support this wonderful webcam project, learn more about Puffins and the Shetland RSPB’s work and take an opportunity to explore more Shetland webcams on their new information site at www.shetland.org.

Happy Puffin watching…

…were the major themes of thought rolling in my head today, as I took a doggie stroll around Örens Nature Reserve. The reserve is found on a finger of land a ways south of Nynäshamn and I was looking forward to enjoy the sun, see another coastal nature reserve and give Baxter a new area to sniff down. In spite of the faint fragrance of salt in the air and the great weather, I unfortunately only found contempt and disappointment with the place.

It may have been my own experiences with the Shetland coastline or just my mood for the day that soured the visit. With plans of a long stroll along a stony beach, I was met with an attitude after only 200 meters. A “Private Property” sign, thus limiting access to the remaining shore, blocked off the shoreline. I looked beyond this and saw how the shore was divided up into several sections of fencing and more boundaries of private ownership blocking the shore. It was only to turn back, having this spoil my expectations.

So, I walked along the road and again discovered the locked gates to several summerhouses with values in several millions of Swedish kronor. One in particular caught my attention. A small timber framed house with its own tennis court behind it? Geeez!

Photo: Most of the center Örens Nature Reserve is protected, but many larger areas of privately owned areas can be found along the coastline

I didn’t like this private ownership of shoreline nor that these summerhouses are valued several million kronor because of the location. The place reeked with ego, attitude, money, power and felt very unwelcoming. I can’t recommend a visit to Örens other than to witness the wealth and stupidity of the place. Better with Käringsboda N.R.

On a lighter note-
I can say that I visited Sjöbodarna in Torö and had an ice cream and thought this was a very nice place. They just opened and, from the looks of the place, I would like to recommend having dinner here. That is, when you get tired of soaking up the attitude and money spectacle of what’s supposed to be Örens Nature Reserve.

Or…Why not visit Shetland and freely roam the unfenced beaches.