Sweden
26 June - 11 July 2004
Observers: F. Simpson & Lezah Ketchen
Fraser's Birding Website · fssbirding.org.uk
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Sweden |
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26 June - 11 July 2004 |
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Observers: F. Simpson & Lezah Ketchen |
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INTRODUCTION Following a fantastic trip to Finland last year I decided to return and explore another area of the Fenno-Scandia region. Due to the great latitudinal span of the country, Sweden has an impressive range of habitats from the alpine and boreal ecosystems in the north to the temperate broadleaved woodlands of the south. Sweden therefore offers the chance of seeing both the northern specialities as well as experiencing the bird communities more typical of Continental Europe. That said, the distances are vast and I wouldn't really recommend trying to cover the length of the country in two weeks! We found the northern forests quiet at this time of year with owls and woodpeckers eluding us for the most part and we missed out completely on two of my favourites from last year - Siberian Jay and Siberian Tit. The southern half of the country provided the bulk of our final list of 174, both in terms of species and numbers. Weather-wise, we were extremely unfortunate with rain and cloud for the most part. Nonetheless, we concluded that Sweden is a great country for wildlife and landscapes and definitely worth birding there.
Montagu's Harrier · Icterine Warbler · Thrush Nightingale · Red-breasted Goose · White-winged Black Tern · Spotted Redshank · Collared Flycatcher · Red-breasted Flycatcher · Red-backed Shrike · Caspian Tern · Brent Goose · Common Crane · Black-throated Diver · Osprey · Red Kite · Black Tern · White Stork · Honey Buzzard · Little Gull · Velvet Scoter · Hazel Hen · Rustic Bunting · Waxwing · Pine Grosbeak · Brambling · Peregrine · Smew · Wryneck · Rough-legged Buzzard · Red-throated Diver · Whooper Swan · Bluethroat · Ring Ouzel · Snow Bunting · Willow Grouse · Little Bunting · Capercaillie · Merlin · Long-tailed Skua · Lapland Bunting · Scaup · Long-tailed Duck · Broad-billed Sandpiper · Red-necked Phalarope · Whimbrel · Long-eared Owl · White-tailed Eagle · Hobby · Temminck's Stint · Garganey · Common Rosefinch · Marsh Tit · Grey-headed Woodpecker.
Return flight from London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda with British Airways (~ £125). Car hire with Avis (~ £450) (Scandinavia is probably the most expensive area in the world for car hire) www.avis.com . Stayed at campsites, all of which were excellent quality, and slept in the car when birding in more remote areas. Could not obtain the Camping Gaz brand anywhere which rendered my stove useless (Primus brand is everywhere) so we ate in restaurants and cafes, most of which offer salad included in the price. Despite what some people say, the supermarkets are more expensive than the UK with a loaf of bread averaging £1.50. Most roads have slightly more traffic than Finland but the driving experience is generally much more pleasant than in the UK. I won't mention just how many miles we covered.
TRIP REPORTS, LITERATURE & MAPS 1. Aulén, G. 1996. Where to Watch Birds in Scandinavia. Hamlyn. 2. Wirdheim, A. et al. Birding Southern Sweden. Swedish Ornithology Society. 3. Bain, C. & Cornwallis, G. 2003. Sweden. Lonely Planet. 4. Motormännens Sverige Vägatlas (Sweden Road Atlas). Kartcentrum. 5. Svensson, L. et al. 1999. Bird Guide. HarperCollins. 6. Tolman, T. & Lewington, R. 1997. Butterflies of Britain & Europe. Collins. 7. Askew, R.R. 2004. The Dragonflies of Europe. Harley Books.
ITINERARY Day 01
26/06/04
London Heathrow > Stockholm Arlanda Airport > Stockholm > Norrköping > Öland.
THE DIARY Saturday 26 June 2004 London Heathrow > Stockholm Arlanda > Öland Overcast, max 15°C. Highlights: Montagu's Harrier, Icterine Warbler, Fieldfare, Thrush Nightingale and Great Reed Warbler. Arrived at Arlanda Airport at 1130h. Took a short shuttle bus connection from the terminal to the car hire pickup office. Two tame Jackdaws feeding on scraps around the bins at the main door of the airport building. A flock of around 50 Starlings noted. Skylark heard singing. Greenfinches singing from sycamores and horse chestnuts around the car hire building. House Sparrows calling. House Martin (2) feeding along a large drainage dyke. Great Tit singing. Willow Warbler calling. Magpie calling. White Wagtail. Goldfinch singing. Fieldfare calling. ARLANDA, UPPLAND > STOCKHOLM > NORRKÖPING > ÖLAND (Roads E4 & E22) ERIKSÖRE CAMPING, FÄRJESTADEN, ÖLAND 56º 37' 00N 16º 37' 00E
Sunday 27 June 2004 Färjestaden > Beijershamn > Möckelmossee, Öland Cloudy, max 16°C. Highlights: Red-breasted Goose, White-winged Black Tern, Marsh Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Icterine Warbler, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Nuthatch and Wood Warbler. ERIKSÖRE CAMPING, FÄRJESTADEN, ÖLAND
ERIKSÖRE CAMPING
Monday 28 June 2004 Färjestaden > Gettlinge > Ottenby, Oland > Lake Åsnen, Småland Cloudy, clearing to sun and blue sky, max 20°C. Highlights: Montagu's Harrier, Collared Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Avocet, Caspian Tern, Little Tern, Brent Goose, and Icterine Warbler. ERIKSORE CAMPING > OTTENBY, ÖLAND (Road 136) Species noted on the drive to the south end of the island: Montagu’s Harrier (1), Wheatear (3), Lapwing, White Wagtail, Fieldfare, Blackbird, Starling, Hooded Crow, Grey Heron, and Cormorant.
GETTLINGE, ÖLAND 56º 23’ 11N 16º 25’ 50E 15.6°C. An ancient burial ground with some nice rabbit-grazed, flower-rich grassland. Only butterfly seen (due to the cool, cloudy weather) was a female Idas Blue (Plebejus idas). Skylarks displaying and Yellowhammers singing.
OTTENBY NATURE RESERVE, ÖLAND 56º 14’ 02N 16º 24’ 55E Stopped at the first car park at the entrance to the reserve area at the south tip of the island. Birds attracted to a small, unassuming puddle: Tree Sparrow (2), Linnet (4), Goldfinch (1), House Martin (6), Willow Warbler (1), Starling (juv), White Wagtail (1), Chaffinch (m) and House Sparrow (f). Oystercatcher and Lapwing nesting in the adjacent field. Two Grey Partridges observed crossing the single track road here.
Mature oak, birch and aspen woodland with many sunlit glades. Icterine Warbler, Garden Warbler and Chaffinch heard singing on the approach to the wood. Red-backed Shrike (pr) found in a birch glade with rotting stumps used as perches. Both birds carrying for nestlings. Yellowhammer and Wood Pigeon singing. Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) concealed in the long grass here. Brood of Blue Tits. Swifts and Greylag Geese overhead. Whitethroat singing from the scrub around the pools on the edge of the woodland. Several hundred Shelduck on this area of the east coast. Curlew and Skylark displaying over the grazed coastal grassland. Hooded Crows common. Chiffchaff singing. Coot (ad + b/3) on one of the freshwater pools. Great Tit noted. Pair of Garden Warblers with food for young. Came across a tower hide on the edge of the wood, overlooking the coastal grassland at Schaferiangarna - birds on the shore fairly distant here but picked out with the ‘scope.
SCHÄFERIÄNGARNA, ÖLAND 56º 12’ 58N 16º 24’ 47E 19.9°C at noon. Tower about 1km away the coast. Most of the shorebirds and wildfowl were feeding in a large sheltered strip of water protected from the sea by a long sand bar. Avocet (300+) scattered over the shallow sheltered coast and at one time a flock totalling about 200 birds got up but quickly settled. Many Greylags, Shoveler, Mallard and Shelduck present. Snipe ‘yickering’. Herring Gulls overhead. Caspian Tern (2) perched at the water’s edge. Around 200 non-breeding Mute Swans. Swift, Swallow and House Martin flocks hawking insects over the area. Nice views of a female Montagu’s Harrier hunting above the grazing sheep and geese. Numerous Cormorants on the rocks. Many displaying Skylarks and Meadow Pipits in the sky. Small numbers of Wigeon and Teal. Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Redshank nesting in the behind the foreshore. Blue Tit in an oak below the tower. White Wagtail passing. Curlew displaying. Raven croaking in the distance. Starlings fairly common, particularly roving gangs of noisy juveniles in the shorter turf areas in the pasture. Three broods of Coots in the ponds on the edge of the wood. Two Fallow Deer (Dama dama) appeared from behind a dry stone wall on the edge of the woodland. A flock of 21 Black-tailed Godwits flew south. Icterine Warbler singing from the wood. Dragonflies noted at the pond: Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum), Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa), Scarce Emerald Damselfly (Lestes dryas) and Ruddy Sympetrum (Sympetrum sanguineum).
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) noted but the fairly strong coastal breeze did not offer ideal conditions for butterflies. Another Icterine Warbler at the woodland edge. Great Tit family. More Fallow Deer and several Brown Hares. Whitethroats in coastal scrub. Wheatear (2) along the edge of the single track road to the lighthouse. The southwestern tip of the island here is not accessible during the breeding season. Three Brent Geese flew past in a hurry without stopping. Many geese, waders and gulls along the flat, rocky coastline with islets. A single, perhaps recently arrived, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) trying its best to extract some nectar from rock-rose in the strong wind – quite exposed here. A few Silver-Y (Autographa gamma) moths noted. Many Skylarks displaying. Swift and House Martin overhead. Oystercatcher and Lapwing nesting on the flower rich foreshore. Sandwich and Arctic Terns perched on the numerous rocks in the shallow sea. A female Red-breasted Merganser flew past. Eider (several broods/crèches noted). Mallard. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Great Black-backed Gull. Common Gull. Black-headed Gull. Some Arctic Terns nesting very close to the road. Wheatears abundant.
OTTENBY BIRD OBSERVATORY & LIGHTHOUSE, ÖLAND 56º 11’ 57N 16º 23’ 46E There is a charge to park around the lighthouse if you drive right to the end. Apart from the highest lighthouse in Scandinavia, there is the ringing station with heligoland traps and small hides overlooking coastal pools and the sea, a small restaurant (Fågel Blå) and an excellent nature centre (Ottenby Naturum). Climbed the stairwell to the top where there is plenty of room to set up a tripod and take in the superb view. This is, of course, really a place to visit during the migration periods but there was plenty of summer wildlife to see. Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) (27) lying on rocks on the east side of the peninsula. A few hundred Eider and Cormorants in the area and 157 non-breeding Mute Swans. Also Shelduck and Red-breasted Merganser present. Wood Sandpiper (4) on a swampy pool below the lighthouse and a male Ruff surrounded by mud-collecting House Martins which were breeding in the few buildings here. Whitethroat singing from scrub. A few Rock Pipits ‘scoped and a close look along the east coast revealed plenty of resting/feeding Dunlin, Ruff and Wood Sandpipers. Starlings abundant here. Hooded Crow. House Sparrow. Swallow. Swift. Oystercatcher. A group of 12 Little Terns resting on one of the larger grassy islets. Sandwich Terns (4-5) fishing along the shoreline. A single Turnstone flew by. Headed back to the woodland for a more thorough search.
OTTENBY LUND, ÖLAND Good numbers of passerines but perhaps taking a bit of work at this point in the breeding season. Nuthatch (3). Treecreeper (4). Spotted Flycatchers fairly common. Many Blackcaps and Icterines singing. Lesser Whitethroat (m) observed rattling away from a hawthorn in a more open area of the wood. Chaffinches feeding young. Cuckoo, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackbird singing. Two Collared Flycatchers heard giving their slow, whistling song. Fieldfare. Raven calling. Starlings nesting in natural holes on the oaks. Fallow Deer (8-9). Two Ravens perched on a dead area of the canopy on the edge of the wood. Several Great Tits broods. Tree Pipits singing/displaying. Garden Warbler singing. Wood Warbler singing. Song Thrush. A Red-breasted Flycatcher flitting about actively in the sub-canopy – difficult to keep track of. Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) (3) and more Fallows observed. Greenfinch. At least six White Wagtails were feeding along one of the tracks inside the wood – never seen this behaviour from Pied Wags in the British Isles. When we approached they would fly on a few metres ahead and occasionally up into some limbs in the sub-canopy. Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata), Common Blue and another Red Admiral noted on the edge of the wood. Hooded Crow. Wood Pigeon.
DROVE BACK TO THE MAINLAND AND ON TOWARDS LAKE ÅSNEN
Tuesday 29 June 2004 Husesbymaden > Bjurkärr, Lake Åsnen > Silvåkra, Lake Krankasjön > Hörby, Skåne Mix of sunshine and showers, cloudy and windy later, max 17°C. Highlights: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Icterine Warbler, Common Crane, Black-throated Diver, Osprey, Red Kite, Black Tern, Caspian Tern and White Stork. TORNE CAMPSITE LAKE ÅSNEN 56º 41’ 51N 14º 35’ 48E Great Spotted Woodpecker calling. Chaffinch singing. Willow Warblers singing. Jackdaws in the tall beeches surrounding the campsite Green Woodpecker calling.
0930-1125h. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker heard calling from oaks around the car park for the site. Soon found in the same tree as a Nuthatch. Icterine Warbler and Yellowhammer singing. Snipe heard drumming and yickering. Tree Pipit. Short walk to an observation tower overlooking the area. Another Nuthatch feeding on a birch stump, chipping away under the bracket fungi. Yellowhammer fledgling in a nearby tree. A female Red-breasted Flycatcher flitting around the edge of the oak/birch woodland behind the tower. Great Spotted Woodpecker calling. Tree Pipit feeding young in the canopy. Jackdaw and Hooded Crow overhead. Plenty of wader and wildfowl activity out on the marsh. Common Crane (pr). Whooper Swan (1). Chaffinch pair copulating. Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting singing. Lapwing with a brood of two – small chicks hiding in damp grass in front of the tower. Adult Lapwings abundant. Willow Warbler flitting about the fence line. Swallow, White Wagtail, Great Tit, Pied Flycatcher (pr) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (juv) noted. Black-headed Gulls nesting around the marsh. Also a few Common Gulls in attendance. Cormorant overhead. Greylag Goose (c200). Canada Goose (17). Oystercatcher alarm-calling. Yellowhammer singing. Teal. Mallard. Chaffinch singing. Ringlet (2) flying low over grassland during drizzle. Coots with young. Common Buzzard calling. Wood Sandpiper (4+). Several male and female Ruff present. Common Tern (pr) on a raft. Yellow-winged Darter (Sympetrum flaveolum) fluttering low over damp grassland, regularly settling. Chimney Sweeper moth. Just as we were leaving a White Wagtail landed on the front of the car and picking the dead insects from the window and windscreen wipers.
ROAD NORTH OF BJURKÄRR 56º 41’ 32N 14º 39’ 01E 1207h> Two Common Cranes nesting in a field here. Magpie and Dunnock noted. Chaffinch singing. Common Buzzard calling. Another two Cranes less than 1 km further on in a field viewed from 56º 41’ 13N 14º 39’ 10E. Pine Martin (Martes martes) observed emerging from vegetation at the roadside in the forest c250 metres further on. Good views from the car again as it later bounded across the road and leapt over a ditch. A Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) ran over the road about 5 km further on.
BJURKÄRR 56º 41’ 32N 14º 39’ 01E 1200-1445h. Old deciduous woodland with views over Lake Åsnen. Mostly old beech trees, some up to 300 years old. Nuthatches fairly common. Jay (ad + 3 juvs). Wood Warblers singing. Singing Chaffinches common. Blue Tit and Great Tit broods abundant. Black-throated Diver (ad + chick) on the lake with an Osprey carrying a fish overhead. Several distant Arctic or Common Terns fishing and perching on a large boulder emerging above the water surface. Several Grey Herons. Cormorant (ad). Common Buzzard flying through the beech woodland. Blackbird, Fieldfare and Song Thrush noted. Raven croaking. Several Great Spotted Woodpeckers calling and two juveniles observed. Black-headed and Common Gulls around the lake. Ina grassy, sunlit clearing with many flowering plants and a few rocky mounds, many dragonflies were basking and feeding: Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) (4+), Black-tailed Skimmer (20+) and many Northern Damselflies (Coenagrion caerulescens).
DRIVE SOUTH Marsh Harrier at the roadside near Libly. Red Kite at Holmby. Grey Partridge noted at the edge of a field in a large flat agricultural plain near Kristianstad.
LAKE KRANKASJÖN AT SILVÅKRA 54º 41’ 28N 13º 29’ 32E 1810h-1930h. Red Kite hunting over the large grassland used by a military training group marching, oblivious to the spectacle above. Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats singing. Observation from the bird tower during overcast, cool and windy conditions: Black Tern (4+). Marsh Harrier (m) perched in a tree close to the tower. An impressive 1000+ Swifts hawking over the lake. Hundreds of Coots with juveniles. Numerous pairs of Great Crested Grebes with young. Mute Swan (86 ads). Caspian Tern (2) picked out among the more numerous Common Terns. Gadwall (14) dabbling close to the observation point. Cormorants appear to have bred here with a few juvenile birds sitting on mounds in the reeds. A busy Black-headed Gull colony with a brood of three fledged and swimming. Mallards fairly common. White Wagtail noted. Remains of a Barn Swallow nest inside the hide. Common Gull. Yellowhammer and Chaffinch singing. Greylag Geese grazing in nearby fields. A few pheasants in the area.
FLYINGE Two White Storks in a field on the outskirts of the village was a surprise.
RINGSJÖSTRANDS CAMPSITE Camped at Ringsjöstrands Campsite near Hörby for the night. Large numbers of Rooks (inc. juvs) in mature trees around the site.
Wednesday 30 June 2004 Hörby > Askersund > Laxjön > Åråshult, Lake Vänern, Västergötland Blue sky, max 21°C. Highlights: Honey Buzzard, Red Kite, Black-throated Diver, Little Gull and Willow Tit. RINGSJÖSTRANDS CAMPSITE Reed Warblers singing on the lake shore of the camping ground.
DRIVE NORTH Honey Buzzard (3), Red Kite (5), Common Buzzard (2), Goosander, Rook, Fieldfare, Black-headed Gull, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Raven, Blackbird, White Wagtail, Hooded Crow, Coot, Oystercatcher, Common Gull, Cuckoo, Swallow, House Martin, and a Small White (Pieris rapae).
1745h. Blue sky, few clouds. Areas of dense and open scots pine, cleared areas and area mixed with deciduous trees. Tree Pipits, Willow Warblers and Chaffinches singing. Crested Tits calling with many birds flitting around the canopy. Hooded Crow (pr). Swifts overhead. Cuckoo advertising in the distance. Great Tits with fledged juveniles. Blackbird, Fieldfare. Wood Pigeon. Blue Tits calling. Goldcrest juvenile found amongst the calling adults. A noisy Willow Tit family found, calling continuously. Several Black-tailed Skimmers. A male Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) observed in a ride through young pines – regularly flying off then settling again on low and high positions along the track. This northern race/subspecies differed slight from individuals in the British Isles which initially led to some confusion: the dark wings were clear of pigmentation around the apex (extreme outer region) of each wing.
LAXJON 58º 54’ 27N 14º 40’ 59E 1905h. Black-throated Divers (5 ads) together on the lake here. Little Gull (c20). Mallard (3). Yellowhammer singing.
CAMPING ÅRÅSHULT, CLOSE TO LAKE VÄNERN 58º 58’ 49N 14º 00’ 56E Found this charming campsite, 5 km southwest of Gullspång, where we saw signs for a place called Skottlanda. Small and friendly campsite set around a small lake with a small museum, shop (with an honesty tin!) and many eccentric features and trimmings. Stay here! Curlew calling overhead. Woodcock roding. Swallows feeding over the pools. Yellowhammers singing. Siskins flying overhead. Greenfinch singing. Pied Flycatcher (f). Great Tit nesting in a birch tree stump. Drove around the area at dusk looking and listening for Nightjars, Quail and owls without success. Found a Heath Fritillary (Mellicta athalia), form lachares, roosting on an ox-eye daisy near our tent.
Thursday 1 July 2004 Åråshult > Kilsuken, Lake Vänern > Kuggörana > Hölick, Hornslandet, Hälsingland Blue sky, max 24°C. Highlights: Nuthatch, Icterine Warbler, Marsh Harrier, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Ruff, and Velvet Scoter.
0620-0625h. Singing oscines: Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Siskin, Robin, Wren, Icterine Warbler and Fieldfare. Also Wood Pigeon, Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow and a calling Nuthatch observed. Roe Deer (2) skulking through the campsite – it’s that sort of place.
KILSUKEN 59º 06’ 58N 14º 05’ 00E 0700h. Tower overlooking a large bay at the north-eastern end of Lake Vänern. Spotted Redshank (2) and Ruff (3 mm) in breeding plumage. Marsh Harrier (f) hunting over a large area of reedbed, marsh and pasture. Snipe displaying. Greylags numerous, a few with broods of well grown young. Lapwing flock (35). Skylark singing. Common Terns nesting. A harrier disturbed a hidden Green Sandpiper from the marsh. Coal Tits in the adjacent Scots Pine wood. Reed, Sedge and Willow Warblers singing. Another Green Sandpiper feeding along a muddy shoreline. Black-headed Gull. Hooded Crow. Swift. Teal fairly common. Grey Heron (ad + 3 imms). A group of cows disturbed several Snipe from an area of wet grassland. Reed Bunting singing. Snipe observed calling from a fence post. A male Marsh Harrier passed by at 0810h. Hare (2).
DRIVE NORTH ON THE E4 Osprey, Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Fieldfare, Magpie, Hooded Crow, White Wagtail, Jay, Blackbird, Common Gull, Swallow, Common Tern, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Starling, Black-throated Diver, (pr + b/1), Mallard and Mistle Thrush. Stopped for seafood pizza and then drove to ?? 60º 38’ 57N 15º 33’ 48E. 1410h. Best weather of the trip here. 24°C. Greenfinch singing from birch/spruce area. White Wagtail (1).
KUGGÖRANA, HORNSLANDET 61º 42’ 03N 17º 30’ 51E 1830h. Rocky, pine-covered coastline. Velvet Scoter (immature male) in the bay. Wheatear observed in Scots Pine Woodland – fairly open, trees not too densely packed, but still unexpected. Arctic Terns fishing. Eider. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Common Gull. Herring Gull. White Wagtail. Canada Geese with broods. Willow Warblers singing from pure pine areas.
HÖLICK CAMPSITE 1930h. Siskins numerous. Goldcrests calling. Woodcock displaying overhead.
Friday 2 July 2004 Hölick, Hornslandet > Skulskogen National Park, Ångermanland > Töre, Norrbotten Overcast, rained most of the day, cool. Highlights: Hazel Hen, Icterine Warbler, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Arctic Tern, Redwing and Fieldfare. HÖLICK CAMPSITE, HORNSLANDET Icterine Warbler, Yellowhammer, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch singing. Siskins abundant. Tree Pipit, Blackbird, Redwing (juv), Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Willow Warbler, Common Gull, Pied Flycatcher (b/3). Wheatear (ad + 2 juvs) in an open area in Scots Pine woodland. Willow Warbler observed chasing a Pied Flycatcher fledgling, then later a female Siskin pursuing and attacking a Wood Warbler. Yellowhammer singing from small conifers in heathland in the low dune system between the campsite and the foreshore. Several Arctic Terns feeding along the coast. Lesser Black-backed, Herring, Common and Black-headed Gulls also present.
SKULSKOGEN NATIONAL PARK 63º 04’ 59N 18º 27’ 45E 1500-1845h. Very old, swampy Spruce forest – dark and dank with much moss and beard lichens. Also areas of Scots Pine woodland and forestry and Birch, Alder and Aspen. Walked the Näskebodarna trail with views over the Gulf of Bothnia. Whinchat in a clear fell area – also a Yellowhammer singing here. Great Spotted Woodpecker calling. Redstart, Wood Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Willow Warbler and Wren singing. Spotted Flycatcher. Great Tit. Blue Tit. Siskins fairly common. Bullfinch (m). Common Sandpiper and Arctic Tern along the shoreline. In a fairly dense spruce forest with a rich and rotting ground cover of fallen stumps and mosses I picked up a tailless, thrush-sized bird sitting in a fallen trunk. Through the bins I realised it was a Hazel Hen chick and just then the adult female flew up onto the log uttering a strange low, dull, liquid sounding call. A closer look revealed a whole brood – at least five chicks, possibly more. Very high-pitched Goldcrest-like calls were produced by the young birds, one of which showed for much longer than rest and remained perched at eye-level just a few metres away. It eventually flew down on to the forest floor, its wings creating a distinctive burring of whirring sound, before it vanished with its siblings into a dense tangle fallen branches, twigs and ground vegetation. Great Spotted Woodpecker (3 ads). Redwing singing. Several Fieldfares. Wood Warblers calling around the birches around the car park. Tree Pipit (ad + juv). Left the reserve in dark, overcast conditions as a downpour started.
DRIVE NORTH ON THE E4 TOWARDS TÖRE Eider and Common Gull along the coast near Käxed. Also a Fieldfare carrying food for young here. Common Buzzard, Swallow, Feral Pigeon, Hooded Crow, ‘Commic’ Tern, Jackdaw, Fieldfare, Magpie, House Martin, Wood Pigeon, Woodcock (roding birds noted from 1930h), Pine Martin, Elk (Alces alces) (6), Curlew, White Wagtail and Goldeneye.
Saturday 3 July 2004 Töre > Skrovån Naturrasplats > Vittangi > Nedre Soppero, Lappland Partly cloudy, dry, cool. Highlights: Rustic Bunting, Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, Common Crossbill, Brambling, Peregrine, Smew, Wryneck, and Rough-legged Buzzard. Woke up at 0945h and drove across the Arctic Circle into Lapland and the Kiruna area. Yellowhammer singing.
SKROVÅN NATURRASTPLATS, ROAD E10, GALLIVARE 66º 48’ 05N 21º 48’ 38E Brambling (2-3 singing mm) in open pine, birch and spruce woodland by the river. Also many singing Chaffinches and Willow Warblers. Two different male Pied Flycatcher bringing food to young in a nest box by the coffee kiosk. Common Sandpiper calling. Siskins common. Fieldfare. Spotted Flycatcher. White Wagtail.
STOP BY ROAD E10, 67º 02’ 34N 21º 12’ 59E Fast flowing burn on the north side, lake and mire on the south side. Goldeneye (f + b/4) and Common Sandpiper (pr) on the river. Goldeneye (3) and Tufted Duck (pr) on the lake. Brambling and Willow Warbler singing. Hooded Crow. The sandpipers on the river appeared to be nesting on a cleared area of waste gravel next to the parking lay-by which was separated from the river by a thin belt of trees.
VITTANGI 67º 41’ 31N 21º 37’ 34E Lakes around the village: Rustic Bunting (2 singing mm), Yellow Wagtail (3), Whinchat (m), Wigeon (f +b/8, 3 mm), Goldeneye (10+), Goosander (f + b/10), Tufted Duck (39), Arctic Tern, Sand Martin, Snipe calling, Swallow, House Martin, Magpie and Black-headed Gull.
VITTANGI > ÖVRE-SOPPERO ROAD (45) Species noted on the drive between the following sites: Rough-legged Buzzard, Arctic Tern, Redwing, Fieldfare, Cuckoo, Lapwing, Hooded Crow, Black-headed Gull, Magpie and White Wagtail. Many Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus).
LARGE LAKE BESIDE ROAD 45, c15 KM NORTH OF VITTANGI AT 67º 48’ 20N 21º 37’ 26E Waxwing (min 6) flycatching from spruces and birches along the lakeshore in a spectacular fashion, quite different from their docile berry-chomping behaviour during the winter in the British Isles. Bramblings (the first area we birded where this species was the exclusive Fringilla), Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing. Tree Pipits in open spruce forest, White Wagtail along the shoreline. Flock of 11 Common Crossbills flew overhead. Common Sandpipers calling. Sand Martin (2) and Arctic Tern (4) over the lake. Another four Waxwings picked out through the ‘scope on the far side of the lake. Pine Grosbeak (3) feeding in the canopy of an old, tall spruce tree. Waxwing observed chasing off a male Brambling. Redwing singing.
BOG AT 67º 57’ 53N 21º 36’ 21E Golden Plover (1), Wood Sandpiper (1), Teal (f + b/7) and Tufted Duck (pr) were the only birds visible. Willow Warbler singing. Flock of eight and 10 Crossbills overhead.
LAKE AT 67º 58’ 42N 21º 37’ 33E Goldeneye (4), Tufted Duck (pr), Brambling singing and Cuckoo (2). Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail carrying food for young.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS MAST 68º 01’ 48N 21º 45’ 15E Peregrine (juv) perched on the top. Redpolls and Tree Pipits calling. Willow Warblers singing.
NEDRE SOPPERO 68º 02’ 30N 21º 45’ 44E Smew (1m/4ff) on Vuoksujärvi, the males beginning to moult into eclipse plumage. Female Goldeneye with three ducklings and another group of around 40 adults. Tufted Duck (27). Wigeon (26). Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler singing. Common Sandpiper calling. Hooded Crow (2).
BACK AT FIRST LAKE, c15 KM NORTH OF VITTANGI AT 67º 48’ 20N 21º 37’ 26E The sun finally decided to put in an appearance so we stopped to watch the Waxwings again but were soon distracted by a Wryneck. It perched in a roadside pine for c10 minutes, mainly stretching and preening. Cuckoo singing. Female Brambling collecting food for young.
VITTANGI CAMPSITE Goldeneye (f + b/6). Redwing (2 singing mm). Arctic Tern (29) perched on a wire or rope over the lake just in front of our tent. Common Sandpiper. White Wagtail. Swallow.
Sunday 4 July 2004 Vittangi > Ainiasjärvi > Kiruna > Torneträsk > Abisko National Park, Lappland Cloudy and cool. Highlights: Red-throated Diver, Whooper Swan, Waxwing, Bluethroat, Rough-legged Buzzard, Ring Ouzel, Snow Bunting, Willow Grouse, Brambling and Spotted Redshank. VITTANGI CAMPSITE 1200h. Redpoll, Yellowhammer, Willow Warbler and Chaffinch singing. Arctic Terns and Common Sandpiper calling.
SVAPPAVAARI > KIRUNA ROAD, AINASJÄRVI AREA 67º 40’ 22N 20º 56’ 35E 1300-1325h. Mire with running water and lake with reeds and emergent bushes. Waxwing (4) feeding on aerial plankton, flying out over the lake in big loops before returning to the same bush. Whooper Swan (1). Wood Sandpiper (3-4). Yellow Wagtail carrying food for young. Brambling and Willow Warbler singing. Pied Flycatcher (m). Reed Bunting (2 singing mm). Siskin (m) perched close by and more passing overhead. White Wagtail. Common Crossbill overhead. Redwing. Another four single Waxwings noted on the drive towards Kiruna.
ALTTAJÄRVI 67º 49’ 14N 20º 33’ 35E 1345-1400h. Red-throated Diver and Goldeneye showing well on the lake. Brambling and Willow Warbler singing. Fieldfare, Siskin, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, and Magpie also noted.
AREA BETWEEN BERGFORS AND TORNETRÄSK 68º 10’ 14N 19º 47’ 48E 1505-1535h. Lake and mire surrounded by stunted birch cover and a rich herb layer. Rough-legged Buzzard low overhead. Bluethroat (2 singing mm). Brambling (4 singing mm). Whinchat singing. Reed Bunting (2 singing mm). Yellow Wagtail (3+). Arctic Tern (2). Redpolls passing. Goldeneye (3). Common Gull. Redwing. Fieldfare. Meadow Pipit. Spotted Redshank and Wheatear observed slightly further along the road in another boggy area.
ABISKO NATIONAL PARK: NATURUM/CHAIRLIFT AREA 68º 21’ 31N 18º 46’ 38E Bramblings abundant in the area – singing males and also a flock of 10+ in birch scrub around the bridge over the rapids. Willow Warbler singing. Raven overhead. Woodcock roding at 1850h.
ABISKO NATIONAL PARK: NJULLA (1169m) 1830-0045h. Hill walk, first through some boggy birch scrub then some sodden alpine grassland and finally on to bare scree, rock, snow and ice. Wheatears fairly common. Many Bramblings singing in the birch zone of the lower slopes. Willow Warbler nest found in the ground in a dry tussock surrounded by boggy terrain. Male bird observed taking food to the incubating female. Raven (3-4) overhead most of the way up. Nasty mosquitoes were particularly troublesome here. Cuckoo singing. Willow Warblers singing. Tree Pipits. Several displaying Woodcock including two birds together at one point. Meadow Pipits song-flight on the hillside above the tree line. A stunning male Snow Bunting singing at the edge of the first major patch of melting snow. Ring Ouzel (m) disturbed from a crag – flew lower down revealing its distinctive silvery-plumaged wings. At least six Golden Plovers in the area around the peak. Good close views of another male Snow Bunting at the top – hopping around a few metres away. Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus) also here. Redshank in a marshy melt water around the lochan between Njulla and Slåltatjåkka. On the walk down after midnight a female Willow Grouse was observed feeding in sprouting shoots in an area recently exposed by the thaw just above the birch tree line. Later a male was heard calling/singing – sounding just like a Red Grouse. Many Fieldfares singing in the birch scrub lower down and what appeared to be a large, loose, communal group of singing Redwings. The thrushes were not singing when we started the ascent in the early evening but, in contrast, the Bramblings were much less vocal now. Redpolls common. Back down at the ski-lift centre there were many Fieldfares singing together in a colony around the car park.
Monday 5 July 2004 Abisko National Park > Torneträsk > Rautas > Dundret > Gällivare, Lappland Blue sky, little wind, cool. Highlights: Little Bunting, Bluethroat, Arctic Tern, Willow Grouse, and Golden Plover. ABISKO NATIONAL PARK: NATURUM/CHAIRLIFT AREA 68º 21’ 31N 18º 46’ 38E Woke up to hear Dunnock, Brambling, Willow Warbler and House Sparrows singing. A few Green-veined Whites (Artogeia napi adalwinda) active.
TORNETRÄSK 68º 19’ 02N 19º 10’ 52E 1100h. 16.1°C. Bluethroat, Brambling, Redpoll, Reed Bunting and Willow Warbler singing. The lack of sun and butterflies on this trip was partly relieved today with a Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow (Colias nastes) along the roadside. Resembles a Green-veined White more than the other Colias species. Several more further along the road. No sign of any Northern Clouded Yellows (C. hecla) with which it is believed to hybridise with. Arctic Tern, Redwing, Common and Black-headed Gulls also noted.
TORNETRÄSK 68º 15’ 36N 19º 28’ 58E 1135h. Another stop further east along this very long lake. Found a Bluethroat’s nest with at least three chicks (three heads) on the ground in the base/roots of a birch sapling. Both male and female adults observed bringing beakfulls of three to four green larvae back every couple of minutes. The green (a geometrid moth) caterpillars, probably Mottled Umber (Erannis defoliaria) were everywhere in plague-like proportions, stripping the birches of their leaves and crawling everywhere, even over the main road and up our legs! Another Bluethroat territory a short distance across the road where a male was singing away. Goldeneye (6ads, f + b/3). Willow Warblers and Redpolls common. Willow Grouse calling from birch scrub over the road. Common Gulls circling. Reed Buntings singing. Green-veined Whites.
RAUTAS 67º 59’ 42N 19º 52’ 49E 1245-1245h. Stopped to take a photograph of the river at the sign ‘Västra Rautäsalven: Alit Suorri’. Next to a parking area/rough ground there was a rather unassuming swampy area with dwarf willows and birches between the main road (E10) and the railway line. On stepping out of the car I heard a Little Bunting singing away from this area. Good views of the bird singing from the top of the tallest birch in the area. Appeared to be advertising two song types: both short, high-pitched, fairly tuneful notes mixed with some rough notes. Also heard giving a sharp, short, high-pitched “zip”. Pair of Bluethroats feeding young in the same patch. Fieldfare, Brambling and Willow Warbler singing. Common Crossbill (8) flew into some birches and began feasting on the profusion of moth larvae. ‘White-face’ type darter Leucorrhinia rubicunda.
DUNDRET, GÄLLIVARE 67º 05’ 33N 20º 34’ 15E 1930-2230h. Walked up Dundret hill under heavy cloud and drizzle. Redstarts (2 prs) found on the birch-covered slopes. Bluethroat, Brambling, Redwing, Fieldfare and Willow Warbler conspicuous. Meadow Pipits displaying above the tree line. Wheatear (3). Golden Plover (4) around the plateau. Walked for several kilometres around the upland area, finding nothing but a few Reindeer. Back down at the foot of the hill a Woodcock was displaying.
GÄLLIVARE CAMPSITE Woodcock roding. Hooded Crow nesting.
Tuesday 6 July 2004 Gällivare > Muddus National Park > Jokkmokk > Sorsele > Vojmån, Lappland Rained continually through the day, easing to showers at night. Highlights: Hazel Hen, Capercaillie, Waxwing, Parrot Crossbill, Willow Tit, Common Crane, Whooper Swan and Merlin. GÄLLIVARE CAMPSITE 1130h. At least six Willow Tits found around the site, but no Siberians! Pied Flycatcher (pr) and Fieldfare noted.
MUDDUS NATIONAL PARK: SKAITE 66º 46’ 20N 20º 06’ 27E 1515-1745h. About 1 km from the Skaite car park, a female Capercaillie and two chicks were wandering down the single track road. Allowed fairly close approach before they disappeared into the pine forest. Redstarts were the most vocal birds in the area. Walked about 2 km along the Màkoskårsa trail. Redstart (3 prs). Brambling and Willow Warbler singing. Waxwing (4+) in the large open scots pine area near the start of the trails – the birds mainly flycatching in the canopy. Several Parrot Crossbills observed with many Crossbill sp. flocks flying over. White Wagtail at the bridge over the river. Willow Tit (4+). Walked the first 500 metres of the Muddusàlven trail when I heard a brood of Hazel Hens (Hazel Grouse) calling, immediately followed by at least six chicks exploding off the ground and up into the lower branches of the pines and spruce. Tree Pipits calling. Weasel (Mustela nivalis) and Wood Pigeon along the single track road back to road 45.
ARCTIC CIRCLE AT JOKKMOKK 66º 33’ 08N 19º 45’ 34E Swallow and Common Sandpiper noted while stopping for obligatory tourist photographs.
SMALL LAKE ALONG ROAD 45 AT 65º 57’ 51N 19º 36’ 14E 2040h. Goldeneye (f + b/4). Raven on the ground. Hooded Crow and heavy rain.
LARGE BOG BY ROAD 45 AT 65º 39’ 47N 19º 13’ 13E Approximately 2 km north of Akkavare. Common Crane (pr) c75 metres from the road on the right-hand side (south bound).
NORTH OF SORSELE, ROAD 45 Whooper Swan (pr + b/2).
SANDSELE Woodcock roding. Another Woodcock near Storuman.
VOJMÅN 2305h. Merlin over the birch scrub c1 km north of 64º 47’ 34N 16º 47’ 20E Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) over the road here.
Wednesday 7 July 2004 Vojmån > Stromsund > Gadded > Stora Blåsjon > Stekkenjok, Jämtland > Vilhelmina > Dorotea, Lappland Cloudy, very cold, wet and windy around Stekkenjop. Highlights: Long-tailed Skua, Lapland Bunting, Rough-legged Buzzard, Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Black-throated Diver, Bluethroat, Waxwing, Little Gull and Brambling. STROMSUND > GADDED 0230-0400h. Fieldfares abundant.
GADDEDE > STORA BLÅSJON Fieldfares abundant along the roadside – more seen in this area than anywhere else in the country.
STORA BLÅSJON Black-throated Diver (pr) out on the lake, c30 metres from the roadside at Leipikvattnet 64º 56’ 10N 14º 12’ 54E. Also a Yellow Wagtail here. Meadow Pipits. Scaup (m) at 65º 01’ 40N 14º 19’ 54E. Redpoll. Willow Warbler singing from dwarf willow and birch scrub. Raven. Yellow Wagtail. Parked by the waterfalls/rapids at 65º 02’ 55N 14º 19’ 42E. Ringed Plover – territorial behaviour on a tundra-like area with sparse vegetation. Bluethroat (m). Wheatear (f). Meadow Pipit. Fieldfare.
STEKKENJOK 65º 05’ 57N 14º 27’ 07E 1400-1600h. Barren tundra-like plateau with marshy, rocky hollows containing pools. Two large lakes or old opencast mining pits. Biting cold wind. Snow on the ground. Walked over the bridge, turned right and explored the pools then walked to the start of the hill on the far side of the road. Meadow Pipits common. Found a female Lapland Bunting on a lichen-covered rock. Tried to whistle it in when the male flew in and landed just a few metres away from me on another rock. A further three pairs of Lapland Buntings found in the area. Several pairs of Ringed Plovers plus a flock of 12. Common Gull. Fieldfare. Wheatear. Redshank (pr). Ruff (1). Golden Plover (1). A Long-tailed Skua hunting over moorland slopes of the hill and over marshy areas around the pools. Spent most of the time hovering like a Kestrel. Two pairs of Common Sandpiper on the river. A male Long-tailed Duck in smart breeding plumage on a tiny pool surrounded by emerging sedges/rushes. 5 KM FURTHER NORTH FROM STEKKENJOK 65º 06’ 16N 14º 32’ 58E Rough-legged Buzzard soaring over an area of sparse birch woodland and a male Scaup on the lake here. No sign of the female – possibly sitting tight. Willow Warbler singing.
A FEW KM ON 65º 04’ 56N 14º 37’ 49E Goosander on the lake here. Brambling (m) and Hooded Crow. KULTSJÖÅN Stopped for coffee at the impressive river rapids here.
LAKE NEAR LÖVNÄS 64º 54’ 14N 15º 51’ 36E Black-throated Diver close to the shore. White Wagtail chasing insects.
DRIVE SOUTH Goldeneye, Arctic Tern, Brambling, Redwing, White Wagtail, Hooded Crow, Common Gull, Fieldfare, and Magpie noted.
MALGOVIK FÅGELTORN (bird tower) 64º 37’ 37N 16º 23’ 24E 1915-1940h. Marsh and open water encompassed by birch and pine. Black-throated Diver (pr). Wigeon (f + b/5). Mallard (f + b/1). Little Gull (1). Arctic Tern (4+), one pair with b/2 on a half-submerged trunk. Adult terns bringing fish and feeding/dropping them without even landing. Wood Sandpiper calling from the top of a birch. Curlew (pr). Dunnock and Willow Warbler singing. House Martins abundant. Swallow. Swift. Redpoll. Common Gull (4). Black-headed Gull (34). Fieldfare. Hooded Crow. Wood Pigeon. White Wagtails. Also a few Sand Martins.
ITVATTNET JUNCTION ON ROAD 45 64º 31’ 03N 16º 45’ 45E Waxwing perched on a roadside telegraph wire at the edge of a spruce wood.
DORO CAMP, NEAR DOROTEA Stayed the night here. The owner told us that it had rained nearly continuously here for the past two weeks! Brood of Willow Tits found. Chiffchaff singing. Several Fieldfares. White Wagtail. Redwing singing through the night.
Thursday 8 July 2004 Dorotea > Lake Ånnsjön > Östersund, Jämtland Overcast and cool. Highlights: Broad-billed Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Whimbrel, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter, and Velvet Scoter. DOROTREA > ÖSTERSUND ROAD E14 Species noted on the drive: Kestrel, Fieldfare, Magpie, Hooded Crow, Swift, Swallow, Black-headed Gull, White Wagtail and House Martin.
JARPEN 62º 20’ 33N 13º 26’ 35E Black-throated Diver (pr + chick) viewable from the large bridge over the river/lake here.
LAKE ÅNNSJÖN: ÅNN AREA 63º 19’ 24N 12º 32’ 14E Small pool with two hides: Teal (pr + b/6). Tufted Duck (5mm + 4ff). Water Rail calling. Willow Warbler singing. Goldeneye (f). Mallard (f). Pied Flycatcher (m). Hide overlooking a bay in Lake Ånnsjön: Common Scoter (2mm + 3ff). Goldeneye (5). Tufted Duck (5). Canada Goose (2). Wood Sandpiper (2 visible). Several Arctic Terns and Common Gulls. House Martin. Swallow. Willow Warbler singing.
LAKE ÅNNSJÖN: WALK TO NÄTAHOLMEN Adult Redwing with a recently fledged chick. Yellow Wagtail. Tree Pipit. Brambling. Willow Warbler. Meadow Pipit.
LAKE ÅNNSJÖN: NÄTAHOLMEN Tower overlooking a waterlogged sedge marsh and bog. Black-throated Diver (3 prs). Common Scoter (2mm). Goldeneye (f + b/6). Wigeon (b/4, b/2, b/3). Grey Heron (3). Arctic Tern (20+). Velvet Scoter (m + 2ff). Black-headed Gull. Common Gull. Red-breasted Merganser (f). Red-throated Diver (2 prs). Whimbrel (1). Yellow Wagtail. Scaup (f). Wood Sandpiper (2) mobbing a Fox carrying off a tern chick. Golden Plover (2 prs). Snipe displaying. Redshank calling. Ruff (1 visible). Cuckoo (m). Great Tit (2).
LAKE ÅNNSJÖN: DOLPARNA HIDE A great little area although most breeding waders remained hidden in the vegetation most of the time. Red-necked Phalarope (3mm + 1f) swimming manically around in not too dense broad-leaved weeds/open water – like clockwork toys. Red-throated Diver (pr). Another bird flew in later. Several pairs of Arctic Terns nesting. Two nests with two chicks and two nest with single chicks. Several Redshank and Lapwing. Black-headed Gull (c20). Hooded Crow overhead, chased off by the adult terns. Tufted Duck (2 prs). At least two Broad-billed Sandpipers in the area – birds appeared to be quite active, flying back and forth (nesting) nut rarely showing for long before disappearing into the vegetation. Golden Plover. Reed Bunting (m). Male Teal in eclipse plumage. Redwings singing. Tufted Duck (2 prs). Two Grey Herons overhead.
Friday 9 July 2004 Alebosjön, Söderhamn > Ledskär > Färnebojärden, Uppland Partly cloudy, sunshine, mild. Highlights: Long-eared Owl, Common Crane, Black-throated Diver, Lesser Whitethroat, Red-backed Shrike, White-tailed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Osprey, Temminck's Stint, Little Gull, Garganey, Common Rosefinch, and Marsh Tit. DRIVE SOUTH, THROUGH THE NIGHT: ANN > OSTERSUND > E4 Several Woodcock seen. Fox (5, inc. 3 cubs). Common Buzzard and a dead Badger. Stopped to photograph a lake at 0035h, not sure where… 62º 57’ 14N 15º 05’ 25E. A Long-eared Owl flew over the lake then right over my head before following the course of the main road through thick forestry.
ALEBOSJÖN, SÖDERHAMN 61º 24’ 59N 16º 59’ 00E 0430-0530h. Large lake beside a service area on road E4 southbound. Common Crane (1). Black-throated Diver (3). Goosander (1). Red-backed Shrike (f). Grey Heron (2 o/h). Reed Bunting singing. Tree Pipits displaying. Great Spotted Woodpecker ( 2 chicks). Lesser Whitethroat (pr). Jay (pr + b/5) raiding the refuge bins. Garden Warbler (pr). Common Gull. White Wagtail. Black-headed Gull. Great Tit. Common Sandpiper. Redwing singing. Blackbird. Siskin. Hooded Crow. Common Sandpiper. Chaffinch.
DRIVE SOUTH ON THE E4 CONTINUED Raven. Commic Tern (3 juvs) over the river near Soderala, Hooded Crow, Swift, Starling, House Martin, Wood Pigeon, Swallow, Blackbird, Fieldfare, White Wagtail, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Black-throated Diver (2), Yellowhammer, Whinchat, Jackdaw, Grey Heron, House Sparrow, Magpie, Marsh Harrier near Karlholmbruk, Wood Pigeon, Coot, Mallard and Skylark.
LEDSKÄR 60º 30’ 15N 17º 42’ 26E 0830-1100h. Scrub around the car park: Garden Warbler singing. Yellowhammer. Fieldfare. Greenfinch. Whinchat family. Pied Flycatcher (pr). Lesser Whitethroat. Starling. Swift. Hooded Crow. Whitethroat singing. Skylark song-flighting. Nuthatch calling. White Wagtail brood. A 300 metre walk through juniper scrub and grazed coastal meadows to the tower overlooking the bay. Cattle grazing in a wet meadow on the shore of a shallow bay in the Gulf of Bothnia and plenty of birds! A warm day with sunshine too. Caspian Tern (18+ inc, 5 juvs). Common Tern (many breeding pairs). White-tailed Eagle (2nd yr). Hobby (1). Spotted Redshank (2). Greenshank (5). Wood Sandpiper (4). Osprey (1). Little Gull (1). Common Rosefinch calling. Garganey (f). Black-throated Diver (1). Temminck’s Stint (2). Oystercatcher (pr). Dunlin (c12). Redshank (6+). Curlew (1). Pochard (m). Arctic Tern (a few). Mute Swan (2prs, b/2, b/1, 20 non-breeders). Greylag Goose (200+). Canada Goose (c30). Grey Heron (21). Goldeneye (20+). Tufted Duck (10+). Great Crested Grebe (3+ prs). Wigeon (6). Teal (c30). Mallard. Ruff (2). Fieldfare. Skylark. White Wagtail (flock of 10). Wood Pigeon. Meadow Pipit. Lapwing (30+). Hooded Crow. Jackdaw. Magpie. Great Tit. Tree Pipit. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Common Gull. Black-headed Gull. Starling. Willow Warbler. Swift. Swallow. Redwing. House Martin. Chaffinch. Reed Bunting. Greenfinch. Ringlets (Aphantopus hyperantus) common. Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania) (5+).
FÄRNEBOJÄRDEN, GYSINGE 60º 17’ 22N 16º 52’ 58E Tree Sparrows common around the village – appear to be filling or sharing the ‘commensal of man’ niche of domesticus. Around four or five coming to the picnic table where we were having lunch. In contrast only one pair of House Sparrows were seen with two juveniles. Observed a male House passing a piece of ham to a juvenile which was suddenly snatched from its mouth by an aggressive Tree. Whenever a Tree was nearby during future feeds, the adult House was not keen to let it go to its hungry progeny. At one point a tug-of-war style food-pass ensued. Raven overhead. Jackdaw (two broods). White Wagtail (many fledged young). Swift, Swallow and House Martin overhead. Whitethroat (pr) on the bonfire – feeding young in a nest. Small Tortoiseshell (3+). A snake’s skin found near the lake edge and soon after a dark-coloured Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) was observed sliding off some sun-warmed rocks.
GRANÖN NATURRESERVAT A small wooded island (c200 x 100 metres) linked by a short road bridge. Nuthatch (2 ads + juv). Pied Flycatcher (pr feeding juvs). Treecreeper (4 inc singing m + juvs). Tree Pipit (3). Spotted Flycatcher (1). Chaffinch (3). Fieldfare (1). Blue Tit (1). Willow Warblers singing. Blackbird (1). Goldeneye (18 ff). Common Gull (o/h). White Wagtail eating a darter dragonfly. Great Tit (brood). Swallow (1). Greenfinch (1). Common Sandpiper (1). Swift (o/h). Grey Heron (1). Common Tern (1). Garden Warbler singing. Banded Demoiselle (Calpoteryx splendens).
STORÖN, GYSINGE Marsh Tit (1). Nuthatch calling. Wood Warbler. Crested Tit calling. Robin singing. Treecreeper (2). Great Spotted Flycatcher (juv). Spotted Flycatcher. Blue Tit brood. Redwing. Blackbird. Chaffinch feeding juvs. Several Great Tit broods.
SKEKARSBO 60º 12’ 50N 16º 50’ 53E Black-throated Diver (pr + b/1). Redstart (pr). Arctic Tern (10+). Common Sandpiper (2+). Grey Heron. White Wagtail. Willow Warbler. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Common Gull. Swallow. Swift. Wood Pigeon. Robin carrying food for young.
CAMPSITE NEAR GYSINGE 60º 17’ 10N 16º 48’ 17E Mute Swan (pr). Common Tern, Fieldfare, Common Gull, Siskin and Common Sandpiper visible from the tent.
Saturday 10 July 2004 Färnebojärden > Lake Hjälstaviken > Uppsala, Uppland Overcast and heavy rain clearing to fine warm weather after 1400h. Highlights: Caspian Tern, White-tailed Eagle, Common Crane, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Hobby, Little Gull, Garganey, Little Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, and Ruff. CAMPSITE NEAR GYSINGE 60º 17’ 10N 16º 48’ 17E Woke up to heavy rain. Fieldfare, Siskin and White Wagtail noted as we packed the tent up.
LAKE HJÄLSTAVIKEN, HÅRBY 59º 49’ 31N 17º 21’ 44E Caspian Tern (13). Common Crane (11). Wood Sandpiper (100+). Greenshank (14). Spotted Redshank (7). Osprey (1). Garganey (4). White-tailed Eagle (3rd or 4th year). Little Ringed Plover (2). Redshank (4). Dunlin (6). Black-tailed Godwit (1). Ruff (2). Gadwall (1). Little Gull (1). Yellow Wagtail (1). Swift. Swallow. Greylag Goose. Canada Goose. Mallard. Lapwing (many breeding pairs with chicks). Herring Gull (juv/fledgeling). Black-headed Gull (large breeding colony). Starling. Hooded Crow. Tree Sparrow (pair using nest box at the car park). White Wagtail. Raven. Wigeon. Teal. Grey Heron. Great Crested Grebe (8). Coot. Goldeneye. Stock Dove (3). Fieldfare. Blue Tit. Jackdaw. Wheatear (1). Reed Warbler. Curlew. Skylark. Wood Pigeon, Tufted Duck. Shoveler (1). Reed Bunting. Meadow Pipit (3 displaying mm). Yellowhammer singing. Magpie. Ringlets common. Small Tortoiseshell (1). Vagrant Darter (Sympetrum vulgatum) and White-faced Darter (Leucorrhinia dubia) dragonflies along the trail.
DRIVE TO SUNNERSTA CAMPING, UPSALLA Hobby (1). Collared Dove (2). Common Buzzard (1). Magpie. Fieldfare. Hooded Crow.
Sunday 11 July 2004 Sunnersta Camping, Uppsala > Stockholm Arlanda Airport > London Heathrow Blue sky/few clouds, max temperature 24°C. Highlights: Grey-headed Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, Crested Tit and Redstart. SUNNERSTA CAMPING, UPSALLA Nuthatch (pr + b/4). Redstart (juv). Green Woodpecker calling. Tree Sparrow. Goldcrest. Great Tit brood. Treecreeper. Crested Tit. Jay (2) mobbed by Blackbirds. Great Spotted Woodpecker (pr + b/2). Greenfinch and Willow Warbler singing. Spotted Flycatcher. Chaffinch feeding juveniles. Blackcap. Fieldfare. Robin. Wood Pigeon. Magpie. Reed Warbler. Common Sandpiper. Common Tern. Blue Tit. White Wagtail. Hooded Crow. Mallard. Goldfinch. Black-headed Gull. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Yellowhammer.
WOODLAND ALONG GRANEBERGSV, UPSALLA Street close to the campsite. Goldcrest. Nuthatch (pr + b/3). Siskin. Willow Warbler. A distant Grey-headed Woodpecker was heard calling. Eventually tracked down but extremely difficult to obtain food views of it – not very approachable, regularly flying long distances at a time. Wood Pigeon. Blue Tit, Hooded Crow. Greenfinch. Magpie. Swift overhead. Jay (brood). Robin. Fieldfare. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Fox.
DRIVE TO ARLANDA AIRPORT, STOCKHOLM Rooks fairly common, Fieldfare, Redwing, Jackdaw, Common Tern, White Wagtail, Hooded Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Magpie, Wood Pigeon and Blackbird. Around 20 Fieldfares on grassy areas around the car hire depot and terminal two.
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Fraser's Birding Website · fssbirding.org.uk |
BEJERSHAMN, ÖLAND 56º 36' N 16º 24' E
MÖCKELMOSSEE, ÖLAND 56º 31' 46N 16º 31' 05E
OTTENBY 
WALK TO THE LIGHTHOUSE
HUSEBYMADEN 56º 45’ 51N
STOP AT PINE
FORESTRY NEAR ASKERSUND ON
ROAD 205 58º 53’ 13
CAMPING ÅRÅSHULT, CLOSE TO 
