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...