Birthday - part 2

Kåseberga bunker - a fantastic migration watch-point and the home of Sven Splittorff!

After a fitful night's sleep in the tent we eventually dragged ourselves out and off to the bunker. Here we found the great Splittorff in residence and he did not disappoint. This guy must be the most dedicated patch-worker in Europe, let alone Sweden. Anyone know any different? He sits at the bunker from dawn for six hours every day making meticulous counts of everything moving. We spent a pleasant but rather chilly hour at the site and watched a few things go by at close range and in excellent light. Highlights were the 8 black-throated divers (adults and 2K birds) and the two hobbies that came in-off. Topped up with local gen we headed off and quickly added corn bunting and serin to our Swedish lists - thanks guys!

My first Swedish serin - a fantastic moment, I love these birds

Krankesjön

On the way home we stopped off at Furuhus Mosse, hoping for a garganey. We failed in this endeavour, but enjoyed this little site with its three black-necked grebes and large group of gadwall (22). Stopped in again at Vombs ängar and this time found 11 cranes and at least one white stork. No sign of any ruff today though, instead a single wood sandpiper. The flooded grassland looked epic for garganey but no joy here either. Nearby Krankesjön was much the same as the day before, although a singing grasshopper warbler near the car park was new for us.

Last stop of the day and close to home was Sandön. Here we had good numbers of waders, including greenshank (60), avocet (24), common sandpiper (1), spotted redshank (1) and little ringed plover (3). The best bird here though was the first singing cuckoo of the year. Excellent mini-break.