January 20, 2013: Rivers and lakes freeze. Many birds take refuge in sewage treatment ponds in south Lund. Taking my bike and bike there to see what is available. There is some open water, but also ice. It is popular to roam around the ponds. Some are using binoculars or camera. Seeing a shoveler over there says one who seems to know. Too far away for my lens. On the ice, rest a host of other ducks. Teasel and cattails lining the ponds. A common goldeneye swim by. A lot coot. In the largest dam is a large amount of geese, mostly Canadian geese. More to come in for a landing. Many are on the ice, on the ice lies a lot of knots, probably feces. There is a terrible noise. The whole flock takes off. It takes one round, most of them returning to the pond, some settles on the fields south of Höjeå to find something to eat. See some barnacle geese.

Winter cold is struggling to freeze the ponds. Despite the cold do the sun warm. Those who stand in the bird tower seems to enjoy the sunshine. Wigeon resting on ice. They do not freeze, adapted to life as they are. The sun descends. Despite the multi-layer principle, I start to freeze and bikes home. Warms me to the city library café, Marta's cafe, with a lenten bun and a cup of coffee.

7/1 2011: Nature Conservation Society has in early January an annual bird walk at thesewage treatment ponds. This I forget and miss always, therefore I'm making my own. Buy some sourdough buns at Grandma's bakery on Botulfsplatsen to have as lunch. Get off the bus in Värpinge village, and continues the village street towards the ponds, and there on the road north of them. There are mixed ice and frozen areas at the dams. Swans glide around. Birds are sitting on the edge of the ice. Ducks, coots, teal, geese. My knowledge is poor on birds, I do not know all the different varieties. Walk up in the bird watching tower, with a sweeping view of the ponds. Studying the birds through binoculars. Interesting with all birds.

Change side, to the south side. Trying to avoid going in the ski trail. At the dam at the treatment plant is a young couple with binoculars. "Some birds?" I wonder. "There should be a gray wagtail inside the plant," they say. I move on to the railway where I turn. Meet the couple again, "Did you see it?", "Nah, it did not show up". Stands for a while with my binoculars, I see nothing either. Walk between the ponds and Höjeå. Tracks in the snow leads down to the creek. Over the river, it has recently been built a pedestrian bridge, so now you can also go south of the creek. Quietly flows the half frozen river under the bridge. A snowed covered stair going up to the crest of the slope just across the bridge. From the crest on the other side I overlook the ponds. Eat my sourdough buns and go back to the ponds. My untrained bird watching eye say it is a Cormorant sitting and preening itself on the ice edge.

Still hungry. Take the bus into town. On Fellini on Bangatan I eat a lasagna, with a glass of red.

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