Birding - 06/10/09

Kicked off this morning pre-dawn at Torekov, hoping to pick up yesterday's Sabine's gull. Nothing doing, the wind had dropped away overnight and it had flown. Birds on the rev included nine redshank and a single 1K Arctic tern. The woods behind had a few common crossbill (at least 6) and a larger number of calling but unseen parrot crossbills.

Back at home, had both parrot (5) and common (14) crossbill over whilst I unloaded the car. Parrot crossbill was a garden tick! After breakfast I took Mrs B and 'Granny Shingles' out for a walk at Älemossen. Big movement of finches underway (mostly chaffinch as usual) and a few thrushes and skylarks on the go too. Also had a single goshawk and a light passage of sparrowhawk and buzzard was evident.

In the late afternoon had an hour and a half at Klarningen. The highlight here was the presence of three hen harriers, including one superb male. Also here snipe (3), lapwing (128), stock dove (23!), collared dove (4) and kingfisher (1). The latter have been hard to find on the patch this year.