Year's end

A quiet end to the year here. Lots of office work accomplished, a bit of DIY and a male bullfinch over the garden. Hoping to finish a review of my 2009 shortly and preparing for another team-up with Terry for the steppe eagle tomorrow. A new year means a new year list. A Happy New Year to everyone out there.

The ups and downs of 2009

I spent a lot of time birding in BK with the family in 2009, I think they enjoyed it as much as I did.

As the year draws to a close, I thought I would write a review of the year. In many ways 2009 was an odd one. The economic downturn meant fewer trips abroad for me and as a result more time at home. The patch list benefited accordingly and I scored a superb 220 species in BK - a total that will be hard for me to beat in future years. It has been a year of consolidation, after two and a half years I am now familiar with the geography of BK and seen most of the commonly occurring species. Now all I need to do is to work on improving my strategy and flight call/identification skills and find more birds!

Patch highlights

Cold weather in the early part of the first winter period saw sightings of over-wintering jack snipe, woodlark, water pipit (perhaps four) and black redstart on the patch. A bizarre encounter with a bittern at dusk as I was driving down Sinarpsdalen was the highlight of January.

My return from India in February was a shock weather-wise, but soon produced my best find to date on the patch - a superb hawk owl at Torekov. A successful shorelark twitch followed shortly afterwards. A night birding session on the Älemossen circuit produced a calling pygmy owl - my first on the patch. A great month.

My best find this year was this superb hawk owl on-patch at Torekov, one of three in Skåne last winter, this bird was the most elusive.

March delivered the goods too, with my first patch bean geese and a twitched king eider at Rammsjöstrand. Spring was a quiet affair for me but April produced self-found grasshopper warbler and most importantly my first ring ouzel - the latter a long-anticipated patch tick. May followed on quietly but included a great reed warbler singing from the reedbed at Ripagården.

Summer saw me spend an increasing amount of time around the Klarningen area, as this fantastic new wetland started to attract birds even before its completion. Quail, Egyptian goose and short-eared owl were added to the patch list in June as a result. A run of red-necked phalaropes was a feature of the late summer and early autumn and I managed to find one myself at Klarningen - one of the most satisfying finds of the year (I love phalaropes). A singing 2K male rosefinch at Öllövstrand in June was good value and highlighted the potential of this site.

Usually a very scarce BK bird, this autumn saw multiple sightings at a number of sites. I saw three and self-found this little beauty at Klarningen.

Sea-watching came good in the autumn and I managed to do OK this year. Slowly getting my act together on this discipline. A Cory's shearwater gave me the run around on a few occasions and remains a much-wanted addition to the patch list. New birds seen whilst sea-watching were Caspian gull and a superb brace of red phalaropes (on what for me was the most exciting sea-watching session of the year). October finished with a Lapland bunting (at last) and a Siberian chiffchaff before heading abroad again. The back end of the year is always quiet in terms of new birds, but just before the cold snap the Klarningen area came up trumps again with Bewick's swan, bean goose and white-fronted goose.

The patch - nowhere better! 16 new birds in 2009 and still plenty to play for in 2010.

Off-patch twitching highlights
The year kicked off with a 2K gyr falcon at Rönnen and the regular adult was spotted a few times in the first winter period also. The unbelievable news of a yellow-browed bunting (a much-wanted lifer) near Stockholm in early January had me arranging an impromptu and successful family holiday. On the way home my first Swedish hawk owl was one of the wildlife highlights of the year, pretty quickly followed by finding my own on-patch.

March was notable for another Swedish lifer, after hearing singing birds on a number of occasions in my life, I finally got the better of a male Tengmalm's owl in Småland. A highlight of the year.

My encounter with the hawk owl at Vist in January was a definite highlight of 2009.

Spring was in full flow on my return from Saint Lucia and first up was a successful twitch into Halland for a glorious male surf scoter. The black scoter just a bit south, may or may not have been present on the same day, we could not find it.

A trip down the south end in early May produced corn bunting and serin for the Swedish list. Nearer to home, Sandön produced a run of white-winged tern sightings, in what was a bumper year for this species. Nearby at Rönnen, a routine look-see, saw us jamming in on a nice marsh sandpiper. May unfortunately was more notable for it's dips (great egret, spoonbill and dotterel) but finished with an excellent singing male Blyth's reed warbler in Halland.

Spent most of the autumn on the patch where I should have been but could not resist the great grey owl nearby in Halland in early October. Just sneaked it in before it died. November saw successful twitches for a late red-footed falcon, the much-debated and contentious [citrine] wagtail, a definite barred warbler and a superb two-barred crossbill. The off-patch year ended as it began with a successful attempt to see the regular wintering gyr falcon, now in its fifth winter here.

Overseas highlights

Feb/March saw the first trip of the year, a successful tour of Gujarat and Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh (India). Highlights of this excellent itinerary included tiger, Asiatic lion, wild ass, Sykes' nightjar, the harrier roost at Velavadar, great birding at Kanha (including this lesser adjutant) and a handful of new dragonflies.

A surprise trip to St Lucia in March/April produced at least 30 lifers and some other great birds. Surprisingly pleasant to be this side of the Atlantic again and to be able to enjoy American shorebirds and migrants. The star bird though was the long-staying vagrant Eurasian spoonbill!

A difficult trip to Poland in September, delivered some stunning landforms, including this intact floodplain view at Biebzra.

Last trip of the year was Namibia, another great trip with Orlando Haraseb and a fantastic group of people to share it with. Stunning views of leopard and cheetah were the real take-home memories. But the country is just phenomenal and delivers fantastic wildlife every day.

2010?
Well a packed programme should see me abroad on a regular basis in 2010, so I may get a few new birds. On the patch 'Most Wanted' list includes: garganey, black grouse (possibly just one remaining from the former breeding population, seen twice this year but not by me), black tern, Caspian tern, bluethroat, firecrest, penduline tit, two-barred crossbill and ortolan bunting. No doubt there will be a surprise or two and a repeat Cory's shearwater would be nice.

The site to watch on-patch in 2010 will certainly be Klarningen, this wetland is sure to be very productive in its first couple of years and I look forward to spring eagerly.

15 minutes of fame - 30/12/09

The article on me in the local paper came out today and bizarrely I was recognised in the supermarket on a number of occasions as a result of it! Mrs B is struggling to come to terms with her WAG status. The basis of the article is that I have recorded more birds in BK this year than anyone else - which may or may not be true...

After shopping in the morning, took Numbers 1 & 2 out for a walk at Ripagården. They enjoyed the ice, skidding and sliding about and exploring the coast. We found a huge number of starling (35), a flyby mistle thrush (1) and the plantation had a splendid black woodpecker and my first bullfinch (a male) for the site. Bonus! Raptors were obvious with single kestrel, sparrowhawk and red kite during the session. On the way home drove back via Salomonhög, where we saw six grey partridge and, more exciting for the kids, a man walking a skittish llama on a lead.

The empty reedbed at Ripagården on a gorgeous sunny day (-5 degrees).

Birding - 29/12/09

Another dusting of snow overnight and then more in the morning. Klarningen remains a frozen waste land, good only for things with hooked bills. I'll keep going until I get a great grey shrike I reckon.

Rather improbably I had an interview with the local newspaper this afternoon. I arranged to meet the journalist and photographer at Båstad, allowing the kids a play on the swings and allowing me to check a site which I have cruelly neglected of late. This proved to be a good idea as the sea was crowded with birds and it was hard to concentrate on the interview. Afterwards got to work trying to count all the various sea-duck, the biggest headache was a large mixed raft of tufted duck (140), scaup (70) and coot (90). In recent winters you might have got two coot at this site if you were lucky... Other birds noted included great crested grebe (6), whooper swan (26), common scoter (270), velvet scoter (10), long-tailed duck (6) and starling (12). One of the big headaches of having such a long length of coastline in BK is never quite knowing where the concentrations of sea-duck are at any one time. I need a micro-lite!

On the way home we dropped into Klarningen and a quick scan revealed only raptors - hen harrier (1), buzzard (2) and kestrel (1).

Birding with Terry and Mikael

Terry and Mikael at Farhult, it is always a novelty for me to spend time in the field with people over five years old.

Terry came up again nice and early for a day out of Copenhagen. We met up at the train station at Ängelholm in the rain and headed for Rönnen, hoping for the gyr falcon. At first light we found a goshawk along the road in to the site. No joy with the big falcon sadly but we did meet Mikael Olofsson (bonus!). All three of us scanned about, finding a peregrine and three white-tailed eagles. Offshore three long-tailed ducks bobbed about.

Taking Mikael along with us, we next headed to Farhult. Plenty of birds offshore here. A big raft of tufted duck (170) and goldeneye (250), included a few scaup (6+) and pochard (5). At least seven Slavonian grebes here too and way offshore the male smew. As we watched another (or the same) goshawk (1K) flew in front of us, lightly mobbed by a hooded crow. It ended up down the far end, perched on a fence-post and as the rain had finally stopped, hung its wings down to dry. Also here another white-tailed eagle for the tally. The reedbed was alive with calls of water rail (2), bearded tit and reed bunting.

Dragging Mikael with us yet again we headed inland to look for golden eagles. Lönhult produced a rough-legged buzzard. But Mikael's knowledge of the back-roads here soon produced the goods when Terry spotted a fine sub-adult golden eagle flying along at Tursköp. Also here two more white-tailed eagles (easily my best ever day for these in NW Skåne) and another rough-legged buzzard.

White-tailed eagle high-jinks.

Love 'em! I have not got tired of seeing these guys yet.

After our successful inland mission we returned to the coast at Sandön - fairly quiet with Slavonian grebe (1), oystercatcher (11), and smew (redhead). Dropping Mikael off again at Rönnen we had time for another quick but unsuccessful scan for the gyr. It was not to be our day with this unreliable bird.

Our last few sites were on-patch. We headed to Torekov rev for purple sandpipers (9 - my first this month) and nearby had two shags on offshore rocks. A great end to the day [although when we got back we discovered that the gyr had been seen really well inland at Lönhult during the day, can't win 'em all!].

Dipping off-patch

Ed puts on a brave face for his third pine grosbeak dip, we arrived 20 minutes too late for the morning showing and the bird remained out of sight for the rest of the day.

Ed, Kirsty and I headed north to Vaggeryd (Småland) hoping to twitch a female pine grosbeak, but it was not to be. We left kind of late and it cost us the bird unfortunately. Arriving at 1050 we were greeted with the news that the bird had been missing for 20 minutes. We never re-located it. Plenty of fruiting rowans here though so we stuck it out until 1500. Some great birds in the neighbourhood though including redwing (10), long-tailed tit (10), brambling (10), redpoll (2) and bullfinch (15). Best of all though was my first waxwings of the season, with a flock of 8 briefly and then 25 flying over later.

Birding - 26/12/09

With Kirsty ill in bed, Ed and I spent most of the day birding in a couple of short sessions. First up was a trip with all the family to Vejbystrand; at home we had not realised that a vicious westerly was blowing but it was more than obvious on arrival. So whilst the kids played we sheltered behind a restaurant and did a little seawatch. Highlights included flyby peregrine (1), black-throated diver (1), guillemot (2) and way over towards Kullen we could see three foraging gannets. The beach had a single redshank and was still holding teal (10) and wigeon (50).

Packing the kids off home we headed next to Kattvik to pick up anything storm-blown. We got lucky with a superb little auk, just offshore. Also here we had Slavonian grebe (1), red-necked grebe (1), coot (1), common scoter (110 - loafing offshore), eider (45 - ditto), guillemot (3) and razorbill (1). Unusual to see sea-duck feeding here.

After lunch we headed out again to look for great grey shrikes and we found two eventually between Grevie and Älemossen. Also two mistle thrushes on the route. Our last stop of the day was a quick look at a frozen Klarningen. A load of crows went up in a panic and Ed picked up a hunting goshawk chasing down a jackdaw. Superb! Just as the jackdaw looked a goner, a gang of hooded crows attacked the goshawk and it broke off the chase. Honour amongst thieves? Great end to a surprisingly good day.

Dipper!

Took Ed and the family out for a short walk to work off some of the excesses of Christmas before lunch. We walked down the Axeltorpsravinen trail in the rain and slush. The kids made a lot of noise but despite this we eventually found a nice, obliging black-bellied dipper, sitting in the river. Also here elk (moose) and badger tracks in the snow and a single sparrowhawk. There could have been other birds but the kids made so much racket we could not hear ourselves think and went back for lunch and an afternoon under the duvets watching TV.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Gyr

Ed and I were up bright and early for an 0830 start at Rönnen this morning. It paid off and we muddled ourselves to good views of the over-wintering gyr falcon. A large falcon was located immediately on arrival sitting huddled up on the island in the distance, but we wrote it off as a peregrine! When a buzzard landed nearby though, it became apparent that the bird was in fact a gyr and when the bird flew into better light onto a dune top, it was bloody obvious. Why is learning, littered with these painful lessons?

We still cannot believe how dark the bird looked on first view, compared with a better-lit view later on at the same range. So we got there in the end and the flight views as the bird left the site at 0905 secured the lifer for Ed. It was probably the same falcon we saw yesterday evening at the same spot (which we erroneously identified as a peregrine) but there you go...

Other birds here included scaup (5 female-types), velvet scoter (male), Slavonian grebe (2), gannet (1), two superb adult white-tailed eagles, hen harrier (male) and two common crossbills. After so much excitement it was perhaps a little unfair to return to the car to find the starter motor had chosen Christmas Eve to depart this world and we were temporarily stranded. We did get home in time for our Christmas feed and pressies though. Happy Christmas and a Great 2010 to all reading this.

Journey's end today - the car at the doctor's again with electrical problems.

Sledging and birding - 23/12/09

Lots of snow overnight but warmer today. Plenty of redwings about in the garden this morning, with a flock of 20 overhead at one point. Took Ed and Kirsty and the kids out sledging at Salomonhög in the morning to get out of Mrs B's way whilst she cooked the Christmas ham. Mmmm...Christmas ham. A few redwing over here too. The thaw today did not help with the construction of our 'Ray Mears' snow shelter, the roof will have to wait for sub-zero temperatures.

In the afternoon Ed and I headed out to deliver a ham to the in-laws and took the opportunity to slide past Sandön and Rönnen. Amazingly we failed to turn up a white-tailed eagle! Sandön was icy and relatively bird-free, although we did hear a few bearded tits and a single frozen-looking dunlin was picking about. Rönnen was next and we hoped to find a gyr falcon coming into roost but it was not to be. We did get two Slavonian grebes though (really scarce at the moment). On the way home we had more redwing (20) and a goshawk (1) at Södra Utmarken.

Is the gyr falcon roosting at Rönnen? Tomorrow morning we hope to find out.

Kidding - 22/12/09

Whilst Mrs B, Ed and Kirsty took a day-trip to Denmark (on a Christmas booze- and cheese-run), I was left holding the babies. The garden had at least 30 brambling and 20 redwing were in the neighbourhood too.

We had to get out though and took a drive down to Torekov and had a walk at the rev for an hour. En route a goshawk slipped across the road at Flytermossen. Not so cold today but with occasional snow showers, so the kids lasted longer out on the ice. This allowed me time to enjoy the occasional passing flock of brambling (at least 200 past during the session). Birds of note included my first black guillemot of the month (always scarce in winter but even more so this winter for some reason), two male goosander, as well as the usual long-tailed duck (1), velvet scoter (4) and goldeneye (65) and redshank (1).

Driving home over the golf course we had a hunting hen harrier (ringtail), a starling and flushed a roadside snipe. At Västra Karup there was a good flock of 200+ brambling feeding under beeches just outside the village. Tough times in Bjäre and no end in sight to this harsh winter weather. The good news is the pine grosbeaks are on the move and may just get this far south this winter, they might even bring some waxwings with them. No doubt it will be when I am in Borneo in January...

Feeder watch - 21/12/09

Spent the day indoors, looking after the kids, baking biscuits and hoovering; meanwhile Mrs B whizzed about doing 101 Christmas things in the car. The feeders in the garden were packed out as usual. House and tree sparrows dominating, but with the occasional brambling, greenfinch, chaffinch and yellowhammer too. A great spotted woodpecker joined the fray briefly and a sparrowhawk whacked through the garden unsuccessfully. The rowan is looking rather depleted but is still attracting finches and thrushes, including at least 5 redwing.

Birding - 20/12/09

The garden had at least 15 brambling this morning and three redwing were feeding in the rowan. Dropped the family at the swimming pool in Laholm in the morning and went for an hour long walk at Påarp, well off-patch this and rather quiet today! A single redwing being the only bird of note. Back at Laholm, an excellent red kite flew over.

Drove back the long way through Mellbystrand and Skummeslövstrand. Stopped near some fruiting trees at the latter site and had at least 6 more redwing and a small flock of redpoll (7). Last stop of the day was Eskilstorpstrand where we slid about on the sea-ice. Just a few more redwing, a calling dunnock and five whooper swans south here. Back at home at least 20 redwing roosted near the garden at dusk. A quiet day.

Birding - 19/12/09

We all went out for a short walk along the beach at Hemmeslövstrand this morning. The kids enjoyed playing on the frozen edge of the sea but did not last long due to the intense cold. I just had time to score a few good birds including; scaup (15), goosander (5), redwing (7) and at least ten common crossbill. Back in the car we did a tour of Klarningen (just one rough-legged buzzard) and a few sites on the Hallandåsen (nothing of note except at least one redwing at Axeltorpsravinen).

Frosted reeds at Klarningen.

Back at home the feeders had pulled in this goldfinch, a feeder tick!

Mrs B kindly suggested I nip out for the last hour of light and this paid off handsomely. I headed for Glimminge plantering and after chatting with one of Glimminge's resident birders (Kent Sjöström), kicked about to great effect. Booted up a jack snipe and three snipe from the foreshore. The former flew a short distance, landed but realised straight away that it was in full view (just as I was thinking about a photograph) and immediately flew to an offshore islet. Rats! Other good birds during the session were sparrowhawk (my first this month), a superb male hen harrier, curlew (3) and redshank (1). Great end to the day.

Kullen from Glimminge plantering at dusk.

Birding - 18/12/09

Some bramblings joined the greedy tree sparrows at our feeders this morning. Other irregular visitors today included a couple of yellowhammers (which only come into the village in the snow). I used a Panasonic Lumix DMC-F27 with a dirty window filter to capture this image.

Woke up to another sub-zero day. The garden had a nice flock of ten brambling, some feeding in the rowan (which still has berries) and others using the feeder. Headed out to bird the Torekov area for a few hours. En route had the first of many redwing (45) at Västra Karup, twelve starling at Glimminge and three fantastic red kite at Slättaröd - the latter rather thin on the ground at the moment. Stopped in the shelter belt on the road that leads to Dagshög in the middle of a massive flock of thrushes feeding on berries. At least 550 fieldfare, 125 redwing and one mistle thrush. Also parrot crossbill and brambling heard here.

Finally got to Påarps Mal, and had a quick look for the water pipit. No sign of any pipits here, just 20 more redwing and a single adult shag. The nearby sewage works had more pipits (meadow and rock) but again no sign of a water. A goosander (female) and single teal floated about. The shoreline had a single starling poking about and the calls of several male pheasants spurred a grey partridge into 'song'.

It had to be the rev before lunch and there was a bit happening here. The highlight was a single redhead smew - a site tick - which eventually flew south with a purpose. Other duck offshore included velvet scoter (4), long-tailed duck (1), goldeneye (65) and eider (45). Working the shoreline produced at least five redshank and three dunlin, but no sign of any purple sandpipers. The woods produced a few fieldfare and another 26 redwing. The golf course had two majestic mistle thrushes bouncing about. Driving home had to stop again near some fruiting trees at Lugnet; eight starlings and 12 redwing. Still no waxwing; will they come?

Mmmm! Nice! I guess this is the work of a goshawk. Found down the lane where I have flushed one a couple of time this autumn/winter. Whatever did it, accessed the brain from the back, hacking straight through the skull. Brutal.

Birding - 17/12/09

Minus 7 and an evil NE wind, meant my eyes were watering most of the time. Winter at last, two hats, a balaclava and a face-mask!

Tried the stretch of coast between Lervik and Vistorps hamn this morning. Pretty quiet and no sign of the shorelark sadly. Quite a few greylag and Canada geese on the move and at least 20 whooper swans south in small groups too. Small gangs of meadow pipits looked vulnerable scraping about in the snow. Ranarpstrand produced the bulk of the good birds with goosander (male - always hardest to see on-patch in December for some reason), redshank (4), redwing (7), brambling (1), goldfinch (4) and siskin (81).

Driving slowly home the way I had come my route was blocked by drifting snow, luckily plenty of options so back-tracked and successfully tried another route. As I drove past the blocked road again five minutes later a plough was already sorting it out, the authorities are certainly on top of this snowy weather this year.

Back at home the area around the garden was hosting a flock of thrushes - 30 fieldfare and at least 9 redwing.

Ranarpstrand in the snow.

to the sledges!

Snow - this could stay a while with no above zero temperatures forecast for the next five days. Still no sign of any waxwings!

Snow always brightens up a winters day. We have lost nearly 11 hours of daylight since mid-summer!

More snow overnight, a white Christmas looks like a possibility... Managed a half hour walk around the village in the morning. Redwing and brambling calling overhead in the half-light of dawn, no doubt on their way south. On the walk had a cracking male green woodpecker and a single marsh tit.

Birding was abandoned in the afternoon in favour of sledging...

Ten minutes birding - 15/12/09

Busy decorating the house ahead of the Christmas visit by Norfolk royalty (Ed and Kirsty). It snowed all morning and looked fantastic, but by the time we got out in the afternoon, it was raining and blowing hard from the west.

Ten minutes at Torekov sewage works, produced the target grey wagtail (1), as well as 25 meadow pipits and a single teal.

The garden during the day had a couple of calling redwing, still plenty about and not a sniff of a waxwing this far south yet.

Not much birding - 14/12/09

Frozen and dusted with snow, Klarningen is going to be quiet for a while. To the sea...

No time for birding today. But did get five minutes at both Klarningen and Hasslarps dammar during a busy day with the kids. Klarningen was completely frozen over - winter is definitely here now! Only birds of note were two rough-legged buzzards and the usual ringtail hen harrier.

Hasslarps dammar was deathly, still some open water here in the deep pits but no wildfowl to speak of. Only birds noted were a brace of goldfinch and a calling dunnock.

Birding - 13/12/09

The over-wintering gyr falcon has finally started to settle in the Rönnen area at last, so we thought we would give it a go this morning. This bird was first seen in January 2005 and has returned every winter ever since. It seems to roost at Rönnen but can be absent or out of view for lengthy periods during the day. We arrived too late this morning and had to make do with great views of offshore Slavonian grebes (3), red-necked grebe (1) and black-throated diver (1).

Next we tried our luck at Sandön. A big flock of 70 dunlin and two oystercatcher were all we had time for. The phone went, it was a message from Martin Åkesson (thanks again) across the border, someone had reported some shorelark on the patch at Lervik. I never get these calls when I am actually on the patch... So off we went round the bay to Lervik, finding three of the shorelark pretty quickly (only my second patch record, be nice if they stick around). Nearby Grytskaren had just two curlew of note.

Dropping off the family I headed to Ripagården alone, this time chasing another bird, reported yesterday by Leif Dehlin - a black redstart. This also surrendered quickly, feeding on rocks below the harbour wall. Nice one - only my second patch record too and like shorelark still to be added to my self-found list. Also here an amazing total of 6 little grebes and a single redshank.

Birding - 12/12/09

Spent the morning scavenging for firewood with the family. This included a bit of time at Petersberg, where we heard single reed bunting and redwing.

In the afternoon I took Numbers 1 & 2 down to Stora Hultstrand. The rev here was full of waders with curlew (2), dunlin (34) and lapwing (52). A flock of 52 lapwing in December is just insane. This seems to be one of the few spots on the patch holding teal this winter, at least 30 present here this afternoon. As the sun dipped we headed for a final short look at Grytskaren. Another brace of curlew here (possibly the same) and a goshawk (another big female but too brief to age, same bird as yesterday?).

Patch winter magic - 11/12/09

After wrangling Numbers 1 & 2 to the UK and back alone this week, Mrs B decided that I deserved a day in the field, and what a great day it was. Kicked off at Klarningen. Wildfowl present in good numbers again. This time geese took centre stage with over 200 greylag and 160 Canada geese floating about. Duck numbers were much lower than last time with just mallard (9) and wigeon (7). Inevitably parking at the usual spot flushed everything off and as the geese flew I noticed a few smaller 'grey' geese in amongst the greylag. They did not go far, quickly dropping into a field on the other side of the E6 and just on patch. I gave chase and found myself looking at a large gathering of geese and at least 17 whooper swans. Working through the goose flock eventually revealed 6 rossicus bean geese and 7 white-fronted geese. Superb! Both these species are scarce on patch. At least 400 Canada geese and 300 greylag geese in this flock too.

Nice to see Eskilstorps pools full of water for a change, after the dry spring we had this year. This is a government-funded wetland creation scheme, shame about the powerlines but it looks fantastic for dragonflies. Did not get here this year in the summer, but hopefully next year the kids will all be up to the walk in, vehicular access not being possible sadly.

The star bird at Eskilstorp pools today was this excellent great grey shrike.

Management on the farm at Eskilstorp includes plenty of game cover crops, this one is supporting a large flock of tree sparrows and yellowhammers at the moment.

One of the exciting features of Eskilstorp pools is the neighbouring tall wet grassland. Multiple-ownership and a lack of drainage have meant that it has effectively been abandoned. The high water level seems to be naturally preventing scrubbing over, it has not been grazed for over ten years and is good for grasshopper warbler in spring. If corncrake ever turns up on patch it will be here.

Decided to walk in to Eskilstorp pools next and this proved to be a great idea. I was greeted by a variety of raptors; a hen harrier (ringtail) slipped away feinting at a perched rough-legged buzzard as it did so, a kestrel sat about and there may well have been a light passage of buzzards south. Best of all though was a superb great grey shrike scoped sitting up on a birch, later I watched it butchering a bird in an apple tree surrounded by hungry blackbirds! From the reeds the lone call of a reed bunting emanated, they really are staying late this year.

Next wetland in the chain is the pit at Petersberg, this little site often produces a surprise and today it was a great brace of redhead smew. Also here were 40+ tufted duck and 25 mallard.

Last stop of the day was for a few of the sites around Torekov. The rev was quiet with very few species; highlights included grey heron (15), mallard (243), wigeon (44), goldeneye (35), redshank (3) and snow bunting (8). No sign of any purple sandpipers again. Påarps Mal was the last stop of the day. Walking down past the house, I flushed a huge 1K female goshawk, which doubled back and showed well in flight. They really are monsters. Also here a black woodpecker calling away. Not surprisingly, considering the close proximity of a goshawk, there was nothing smaller than a mute swan down at the coast. A single pipit flushed south and may well have been a water pipit...

Norfolk impressions - 09/12/09

Just finished our two days in the UK. The long-staying brown shrike at Staines disappeared just before we arrived, which took the pressure off on the twitching front [sadly I got this wrong and the bird was actually still present, a big day would have netted Pacific diver too I suspect... too busy though really, c'est la vie]. Today I drove up to Salthouse to pick up some new field-guides for trips in 2010 and saw a few birds in passing but had no time for a proper session up the coast.

A big flock of brent geese were in the fields near Kelling. From Cley Visitor Centre I also just had time to notice several wintering ruff feeding out on the reserve. Heady stuff for a southern Sweden based birder. Otherwise I noticed the abundance of pied wagtails, dunnocks, starlings and song thrushes - all scarce for me at this stage of the winter back home. Overall though the overwhelming impression is of the lack of birds in the wider countryside in the UK compared to Sweden. Island Britain is in big trouble and no doubt points the way that mainland Europe will ultimately go too. More than a little depressing.

Birding - 07/12/09

Eskilstorpsstrand - the view south to Båstad.

Eskilstorpsstrand forms part of the shoreline of Laholmsbukten (a bay), which is shallow and full of bivalves. It supports good numbers of scoter, eider and scaup in the winter and spring.

Just me and the kids this morning. Hallandsåsen was fog-bound, so we headed north to the sun at the beach at Eskilstorpstrand. Plenty happening here this morning; the highlight being a flighty flock of 250 scaup (a good total for the site), presumably just arrived. The sea was mirror-calm and the number of scoter stretching off north was big, at least 200 velvets off Eskilstorpstrand alone, together with at least 50 commons. Other birds of note included 2 Slavonian grebes and a common crossbill south.

On the way home we dropped in on Klarningen. West of the access track and just south of Eskilstorps pools, I spotted three Bewick's swans flying in to join a 20-strong flock of foraging whooper swans. The Bewick's eventually walked into view for confirmation on the deck. A year-tick and only my second record on the patch! As we watched them a ringtail hen harrier flew past.

Klarningen was surprising, there were wildfowl! At least 130 mallards, three wigeon and best of all three pochard. The latter are scarce on the patch. Also here we had single lapwing and skylark. Driving home we had three brambling at Ehrenstorp and a starling at Atteköp. Great session.

Car trouble - 06/12/09

Had the car all packed this morning, three kids, Mrs B and a huge picnic for a day on the coast. Tried to start the car but nothing but smoke, before it caught fire we decided to switch off and get it towed to the garage. Hire car arrived before dark but by then I was knee-deep in DIY... Only birds of note a flock of 45 redwing over the house at midday.

Off to England tomorrow, hoping for the brown shrike near Heathrow. News from the Stockholm area is quite encouraging - isabelline wheatear! Definitely still worth working hard on the patch then when I get back...

Birding - 05/12/09

Had just an hour and a half to bird in the morning and headed for Farhult for a quick session. Plenty of birds here; from the reedbeds the calls of water rail, bearded tit and reed bunting were heard. Out in the bay a huge gathering of 150+ goldeneyes was impressive, and dragged in with them was one fantastic close-in male smew. I do not see enough of these little gems, one of the surprises of living here, I thought I would see more. Other notables out in the bay included at least six Slavonian grebes, single red-necked and great crested grebes, two shelducks and 14 whooper swans.

On the way home stopped very briefly at Sandön and Södra Utmarken. The former site had another reed bunting, seven barnacle geese and a single oystercatcher. The latter had an impressive gathering of thrushes, which I did not have time to get to grips with, but included mistle (12), redwing (40) and fieldfare (30), the true numbers could well have been higher.

Bits and bobs - 4/12/09

No time for birding today, even I have to spend a little time in the office sometimes! Did see a few things in passing though. The village scored with seven migrating whooper swans, a small flock of fifteen siskin (scarce in December here, although seemingly abundant this year) and a flock of 45 lapwing south.

Driving past the roadside pond at Karstorp, had a single moorhen at dusk, another often difficult bird to find in the winter on patch...

Birding - 03/12/09

Had a busy day today but managed to squeeze in two good little sessions. Kicked off at Klarningen for just over an hour in the morning on my own. The place was full of water, iced over and the fence partially completed, but no sign of the contractors. I meant to take a photo but...

Not unsurprisingly considering the mild, wet November we have just had the highlights at Klarningen were a bunch of birds that are normally scarce in December. These included; lapwing (3), skylark (6 - my first in December), starling (1), siskin (69), goldfinch (15) and reed bunting (2 - on neighbouring Eskilstorps pools). A flock of 100 fieldfare was good to see, the waxwing cannot be far behind.

Took Number 1 to the dentist in Båstad next and afterwards we had lunch by the harbour and went for a short walk. On arrival a red kite was circling out at sea, vaguely reminscent of a frigatebird... Sixteen barnacle geese flew past during lunch and whooper swans (7) were on the move too. Offshore we managed great crested grebe (4), long-tailed duck (4), goldeneye (35) and velvet scoter (1). But still no sign of any scaup.

Back at home 12 whoopers flew over the garden, as Sweden ices up we will have many more of these overhead in the next month.

Birding - 02/12/09

'Turneresque' stuff this evening.

Took Numbers 1 & 2 out for a freezing walk around Torekov in the afternoon. We kicked off at the rev, no sign here of the two purple sandpipers, but they could easily have been resting up somewhere out of sight. Offshore a big raft of 53 goldeneye was notable. A few wildfowl were on the move with whooper swan (5) and greylag goose (20) south during the hour we were here. Other birds of note were teal (1), redshank (7) and snow bunting (1).

Checked out the rocks by the harbour next and found one resting adult shag and 14 snoozing grey herons. We had two more shag offshore at our last stop, Påarps Mal, as well as Slavonian grebe (1), red-necked grebe (1), long-tailed duck (1) and lapwing (1). The bushes around the house here had goldcrest (2), chaffinch (5) and six mistle thrushes flew by south.

Birding - 01/12/09

Took the kids down to the beach at Glimminge in the afternoon. With the start of December the cold weather has arrived and things were surprisingly quiet. Highlights here were Slavonian grebe (4), redshank (1) and two snow buntings north. Checked Ranarpstrand on the way home but things were even quieter here - just one redshank of note.

Back at home eight redwing flew over south, my first December redwing in Sweden. Crazy weather this year, it looks like things are getting colder though and waxwings may appear!

Birding - 30/11/09

Went to Höganäs again with the family this morning. The barred warbler performed well, feeding on insects on the seaweed in the sewage outfall area. It's not going anywhere [although it narrowly survived a sparrowhawk attack today apparently] and will no doubt get numerous revisits if it makes it overnight and into December. Also here we had black redstart (1), coot (10), little grebe (6) and 110 migrating barnacle geese.

On the way home in the gloom at dusk had three grey partridges over the road near the airport at Barkåkra. Under ten records this year for me, so always nice to see.

Cold weather movement - 29/11/09

Nipped out early to listen for owls this morning and had a tawny at Axeltorpsravinen. Moved on to Älemossen and listened to a good passage of thrushes overhead in the last of the darkness. Mostly redwing, but with a few fieldfare, mistle thrush and brambling in the mix. The northern half of Sweden has got cold recently and birds are finally moving out. Also here I watched 29 ravens come out of roost and all head in the same direction.

When it got light I decided to head for Petersberg. A few redwings were still flying overhead and wildfowl on the move as well. Whooper swan (36) and small groups of Canada and greylag geese heading south. Walked by the reedbed and had a calling water rail, spurred into sound by a close pheasant flyby. A single stock dove whizzed past and the pit had 35 tufted ducks. Time for breakfast.

Black woodpeckers are great. I watched this one at close range at Vasaltheden, as it levered off huge bits of birch bark whilst foraging.

Black woodpecker feeding signs.

After breakfast took the gang out for a walk along the stretch of coast from Öllövstrand to Vasaltheden. A flock of 16 ravens were feeding together in the fields at the beginning (perhaps from the Älemossen roost?). At least three Slavonian grebes were noted during the walk but other migrants stole the show today. I was hoping for the chiffchaff reported yesterday by Mats Ljungren at Glimminge, but instead the easy highlight was a 1K barn swallow over Vasaltheden and heading north. We also recorded a single white wagtail (south), nine crossbills (south) and a single snow bunting (south). The shoreline had teal (3, scarce at the moment) and redshank (2). Overhead a red kite made an appearance and to top it all off at the end, in the birches up against Glimminge was a superb (and rather confiding) black woodpecker.

Birding - 28/11/09

This grey weather is not conducive to early rising and we staggered out for a late walk in the morning. Checked out Frestensfälla for an hour, getting some good birds. Eight long-tailed tits were most welcome and we heard a crested tit. Overhead a sparrowhawk appeared briefly and then we went home for lunch.

After lunch I headed out for an hour and half. First stop was Axelstorpsravinen were I found a dipper in just two minutes by the bridge. Result. Time saved was spent at Bösketorp, where a staggering 8,740 bramblings flew over to a roost somewhere nearby. We had a heavy beech mast crop this autumn but where are these birds feeding? Other birds included a good selection of thrushes, including 20 redwing and 5 mistle thrushes, as well as bullfinch and black woodpecker heard.

A little way inland there have been reports of up to 20,000 bramblings this winter! Good news too if you are thinking of coming this way soon, the adult gyr falcon was seen at Farhult today, it's back!

Birding - 27/11/09

Harbour porpoises are definitely out there, but I only see them very occasionally in NW Skåne. This one washed up at Torekov in February 08.

Took the kids for a walk between Hemmeslövstrand and Eskilstorpstrand in the morning. Highlights were at least two gannets offshore, a single little gull and a total of four Slavonian grebes bobbing about. Along the dunes bumped into a vocal dunnock, had three common crossbills south and heard a black woodpecker.

Stopped off at Klarningen briefly but the fencing contractors were doing their thing and the place looked very deserted (more then normal).

In the afternoon I headed out on my own for an hour and a half at Sandön and Rönnen. Sandön was quiet with just two gannets past. Rönnen was a bit more like it with two massive white-tailed eagles perched up, plus black-throated diver (1), Slavonian grebe (2), gannet (4 more) and snow bunting (4). From here I watched a big flock of 18 oystercatcher going to roost on Själrönnen. The real highlight though was a small pod of harbour porpoises out in the bay - I only see porpoises a few times a year here, so pretty exciting.

Thanksgiving - 26/11/09

One of the things to be thankful for is ring-reading (I love it) - I got close to a leg-flagged purple sandpiper on the 21st at Torekov, it was almost certainly ringed at Sørkappøya, Svalbard this autumn by Kjell Mork Soot. Get in touch with him if you manage to read the code on a flagged bird (kjellmorksoot@fugler.com). I failed to relocate the flagged bird today...

I suppose I should be thankful for the swine flu vaccination provided yesterday by a cautious and considerate Swedish government, but I feel rough as dogs today! With no meaningful DIY likely, I sat at Torekov rev for an hour and a half this morning and had a great session. Three shags were fishing in a tight gang just offshore. My first rev Slavonian grebe was bobbing about in the waves. A stiff southerly was blowing and flying into it, occasionally dipping into the water to feed, was a sublime adult winter little gull. Further out a few gannets (7) were fishing and a steady progression of kittiwakes headed south (at least 150 during the session). My main aim was to try and find the flock of purple sandpipers that had included a leg-flagged bird on the 21st, but I could only find two birds, both unmarked. At least 11 redshank kept them company. From the woods behind five parrot crossbills occasionally erupted, calling loudly. A brief foray inland failed to locate them sadly (very few cone-bearing pines on site).

On the way home, dropped in on Ripagården for an hour. Much quieter here, but did manage black guillemot (1) and reed bunting (1) - both scarce in November here.

Birding - 25/11/09

Busy day today, just got a short walk in around the village in the morning. Highlights were sparrowhawk (1), green woodpecker (1), redwing (12 over), brambling (12 over) and hawfinch (1). A few things still moving evidently.

Sea-watching - 24/11/09

White-chinned petrel - not off Yttre Kattvik today. Regular from boats in Walvis Bay (Namibia).

Headed out for the last hour of the day for a quick look at the sea. Winds light westerly and a few bits and pieces reported further north so worth a go. En route had a nice male hen harrier over the road at Hov. Spent an hour at Yttre Kattvik for red-throated diver (3), red-necked grebe (1), kittiwake (3) and guillemot (7). Pretty quiet really.

Birding with the kids - 23/11/09

Well the weather continues to be grey and drizzly, so rather than submit the kids to a long walk anywhere, I drove 40 minutes to Höganäs and coshed off the 1K barred warbler. The bird was easy to find but harder to keep track of. It appeared at our feet on arrival and then drifted off slowly. If you are twitching with kids though that is the way you want it! We spent just 20 minutes here, also seeing little grebe (1) and coot (10). A November red-footed falcon and now a barred warbler, what next? Perhaps we might just get some real winter weather instead.

Next stop was Farhult for a quick half hour scan whilst the kids played on the beach. Hardly any wader habitat here due to high water levels, so it was mostly offshore. Highlights included black-throated diver (2), Slavonian grebe (5), red-necked grebe (1) and shelduck (4). The latter are probably birds returning north due to the warm weather!

The bridge at Sandön has taken a battering in storms this autumn!

Last birding stop of the day was Sandön. Five oystercatcher were the highlight here, this species is sporadic here in winter, but Sandön is a good place to score. Two white-tailed eagles sat atop Rönnen and that was our lot.

Dreary, dreary me

Another grey, wet day. Nipped out for a couple of hours with the family. Spent 40 minutes looking out to sea from Yttre Kattvik from the car. Quiet busy considering the lack of favourable winds; red-throated diver (9), great crested grebe (7), red-necked grebe (1), guillemot (8) and razorbill (2).

Stopped off at Klarningen on the way home for a very quick look. Single rough-legged buzzard hunting the site as usual. A large flock of lapwing (140) included 25 golden plover and one starling.

Wagtail update

Terry (Birding Copenhagen) has just pointed out to me that Klaus Malling Olsen has posted this regarding the putative citrine wagtail at Lomma that I saw on the 14th. I wish I had trusted my doubts at the time... Oh well.

Birding - 21/11/09

Secretarybird - nice legs.

Game of two halves today, with a morning out with the kids at Torekov and then a last hour dash out to Öllövstrand with the entire family.

Torekov rev was busy this morning with at least eight purple sandpipers feeding avidly and hard to count (other observers with fewer children counted up to 12 during the day). One was orange leg-flagged, but I could not read the code, ringed this autumn in Sørkappøya, Svalbard! Also here dunlin (2) and redshank (10). The recent storm has replenished the weed on the beach and a big flock of pipits was making use of it when we arrived. Just had time to find a single water pipit, before a 1K sparrowhawk dived in and it all went to hell. We are in weird limbo at the moment, the weather is so mild that none of the normal wintering birds are here in any numbers, but the autumn stuff is long gone. This water pipit is only the second or third of the season on the patch. Offshore a few seaduck were noted; long-tailed duck (1), velvet scoter (1) and common scoter (2). The woods produced nine flighty crossbills.

Washed windows in the afternoon and was rewarded with four hawfinch over the garden.

The last gasp afternoon session at Öllövstrand was fairly quiet. A fantastic male hen harrier stole the show right at the start. The only other birds of note were three golden plover over north.

Coast to coast - twitching again

Under the thinly veiled disguise of visiting Mrs B's Aunt and Uncle in Kristianstad, we all went twitching again today. The location was a larch plantation on the east coast of Sweden, near Landön, close to Kristianstad. The target a 1K male two-barred crossbill that has been present for some time.

After crossing Sweden (105 minutes) we found ourselves at the site and spotted a few birders loafing about. It quickly became apparent that a large flock of common crossbills was feeding here, so we all tramped into the middle of the plantation. Pretty soon we were eyeball to eyeball with a gang of common's, in amongst them goldcrests, blue tits and red squirrels. A real feeding frenzy. Occasionally and rather excitingly, in amongst the racket made by the common's, you could hear the 'toy trumpet' call of a two-barred close by. It did not take long before it flew up into a nearby pine to deal with a larch cone and we all got great views. I will not torture you with another of my appalling photos, check this one out instead (whoopsie, that reads wrong, it's a good photo Magnus). Job done, time for grilled sausages by the sea and then the short drive to the see the relations.

As well as being a Swedish tick, I think this may have been only my second ever two-barred crossbill. Pretty exciting stuff.

Birding - 19/11/09

Another quiet day, mostly spent stacking wood. Took the kids out in the afternoon. Tried a windy walk at Eskilstorpsstrand for an hour but saw very little. Spent the last bit of light at Klarningen where at least we saw some birds. The hen harrier (ringtail) was hunting when we arrived. A large flock of 100 lapwing was nice but better was a huge flock of 53 goldfinch.

Raining - 18/11/09

Dry sand (makes me feel better just looking at it).

OMG it will not stop raining today and the wind has picked up during the evening. Got a half hour walk in, in the morning. Hoping for hawfinch around the village but had to make do with redwing (6). After lunch nipped out to Ranarpstrand for a while, but only lasted half an hour in the driving rain. Nothing doing there.

Odonata - Namibia

Managed to record 18 species of dragonflies on the recent trip to Namibia, including several new species for the trip. Best of the new stuff was Pseudagrion massaicum (common at von Bach Dam this year) and Zygonyx torridus (two at von Bach Dam). Who knows what I could have found at von Bach if I had not been attacked by wasps whilst trying to catch the latter species!

Orthetrum trinacria (Etosha) - a dragonfly specialist, chomping on a hapless Diplacodes lefebvrii at Namutoni.

Ceriagrion glabrum - Mokuti Lodge (Etosha).

Pseudagrion massaicum - a tick for me at von Bach Dam this year.

The widespread Urothemis edwardsii at von Bach Dam.

Rhyothemis semihyalina - seen at three locations this year.

Birding - 17/11/09

A peacock 'basking' in the garden at noon was a bit of a surprise, the weather continues grey, although a weak sun tried a few times to make an appearance today.

After a trip to Ängelholm in the afternoon, we all hit Rönnen for the last hour of the day. A scan of the sea resulted in Slavonian grebe (2), long-tailed duck (2) and velvet scoter (2). The island seemed pretty quiet, the gyr is overdue to arrive, but things seem loathe to come south this autumn. Very few waxwings recorded yet, for example. The distant rocks off Sandön (Själrönnen) hosted a resting white-tailed eagle and that was our lot.

Birding - 16/11/09

A confusion of bearded tits - how many were there today? No wonder I cannot find any on-patch, they are all at Sandön.

A day with the kids started at Klarningen for a quick check, a great egret moved south yesterday and nearly got to me last night. It vanished without trace today though. Klarningen had similar birds to yesterday; rough-legged buzzard (2), hen harrier (1), lapwing (7) and snow bunting (20).

Drove over to Sandön, stopping en route at the big goose flock outside Ängelholm. A short time scanning revealed the presence of about 25 white-fronted geese, in amongst the 1250 greylag, and lesser numbers of barnacle and Canada goose. Sandön was good but misty. The kids behaved well and let me have a good look around. Some great birds appeared during our hour here including white-tailed eagle (adult), goshawk (male), water rail (2 heard), dunlin (65), kingfisher (1), bearded tit (40+), snow bunting (3) and reed bunting (1). Nice morning.

Birding - 15/11/09

One of two rough-legged buzzards spotted at Klarningen this evening.

Spent the morning mucking out the garden at my kids daycare place. Highlights included a showy black woodpecker and a calling green woodpecker. In the late afternoon nipped down to Klarningen to get some more exercise in the last hour of light. The big flock of 50 snow buntings is still on site and a flock of 35+ goldfinch was notable. At least two rough-legged buzzard present too, with hen harrier (ringtail) also hunting the site. The highlight came at the end of the day, as dusk gathered around me I heard an unfamiliar and rather irate call. Peregrine! It had been robbed of a black-headed gull kill by a rough-legged buzzard and was very pissed off. Great views on the deck (sub-adult bird) and as it got really dark the bird started flying to an fro in front of me. My first for the site and a great encounter to boot.

Black-headed gull - whacked by a peregrine and eaten by a rough-legged buzzard. Life can be harsh.