GoldMember

I'm a botanist, curator of Herbarium UME in Umeå, Sweden. I was one of three nerds behind the first edition of the great flora Den Nordiska Floran, and during four years also editor of the journal Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift.

I grew up in Umeå, and was a star gazer during winter, and a birder and beetle collector during lighter periods (we can't see stars during summer up here). I also hated sports and did not recognize people from a distance. It turned out that I was nearsighted and needed spectales - no wonder telescopes and microscopes were my best friends!

For many years I was an active birder around Umeå. But when almost everyone became birders, and I realized that a zoological career meant plenty of killing, I plunged deep into botany. Nowadays, my only obligatory birdwatching is done at the amazing Winter Bird Race in january and during magical tours in the nightlong twilight in june. But I'm also a chronical world-twitcher who just realized that I'm running out of time since there are still more than 5000 untwitched species out there, so a year without tropical birding is a flop.

If I had three wishes, it would be: 1. that my flora mapping project Västerbottens läns flora (covering the vascular plants of a large part of northern Sweden) will eventually be finished; 2. that I'm still alive then; and 3. that a Plains-wanderer Pedionomus torquatus will appear in my lawn tomorrow.

Right now I'm busy with arrangements for a Cameroonian birder, Peter Nsonge from Nyasoso near Mt Kupé (check out his page at GlobalTwitcher, where he is seen holding a Guinea Turaco Tauraco persa). Peter is invited by me to visit Sweden for 7 weeks (june-july). He's the best guide you can have at Mt Kupé and in the surrounding highlands, and he know plants as well! Don't miss to contact him if you plan a trip to Cameroon.

Latest ticks
Ross's Gull
		2009-04-23 Luspholmen, Lycksele lappmark
Orange Weaver aurantius
		2008-12-28 Dizangué, Littoral Province
Forbes's Plover
		2008-12-28 Dizangué, Littoral Province
Pale-fronted Negrofinch luteifrons
		2008-12-28 Pouma, Littoral Province
Black-throated Malimbe
		2008-12-28 Pouma, Littoral Province
Yellow-crested Woodpecker
		2008-12-28 Pouma, Littoral Province
African Forest Flycatcher ocreata
		2008-12-28 Pouma, Littoral Province
African Skimmer
		2008-12-28 Dizangué, Littoral Province
Grey Pratincole
		2008-12-28 Dizangué, Littoral Province
Grey-rumped Swallow melbina
		2008-12-28 Pouma, Littoral Province
Egyptian Plover
		2008-12-27 Garoua, N Province
Long-legged Buzzard rufinus
		2008-12-26 Waza National Park, Extreme N Province
Red-footed Falcon
		2008-12-26 Waza National Park, Extreme N Province
Savile's Bustard
		2008-12-26 Waza National Park, Extreme N Province
Common Moorhen meridionalis
		2008-12-26 Waza National Park, Extreme N Province
Black-bellied Bustard melanogaster
		2008-12-26 Waza National Park, Extreme N Province