Birding - 29/08/09

After a couple of days during which a weird virus went through the family, we were ready to get out again. The only bird highlight during the illness phase was a tawny owl calling in the garden last night. We took it easy today and followed up reports of a garganey at Trönninge ängar - ie we went twitching. I somehow still needed garganey for the year, having dipped through the spring quite well.

On arrival we quickly noticed that the place was rammed with geese. Finding stuff in and around the 1200 greylag was quite a challenge and I suspect that we missed plenty. Found two garganey though in the end, as well as pintail (1), shoveler (4), wigeon (10), ruff (12), wood sandpiper (2), common sandpiper (1), redshank (1), dunlin (1) and snipe (4).

On the way home checked out Klarningen but water levels are static at the moment. Few birds noted in a short look but did get greenshank (1), common sandpiper (1), snipe (1), yellow wagtail (4) and an immature marsh harrier. The access track had whinchat (11) and wheatear (3). Dropped in at Malen finally and unleashed the kids, four goosander offshore.