Swedish tick - third time lucky!

After a leisurely start to the day Team B headed north off-patch to nearby Påarp, our third attempt in as many years to twitch a nearby black scoter. This attempt differed though in that we actually saw the bird, albeit at long range! Nice bird and with just 20 common scoters. It should come round BK on it's way south... Strong supporting cast this morning at Påarp with a staggering 950 oystercatcher and 75 whimbrel. Seventy-five! Other wildfowl included gadwall (pair), pintail (16) and shoveler (6). Superb.

Some observers counted 1700 oystercatcher at the site in the morning. I could not get the roosting flock present during my time at the site over 950 though and photos back this up.

The huge flock of 75 whimbrel at Påarp was rather fluid with birds heading east on migration and others dropping in. The volume of calls was wonderful. Great birds.

After Påarp there was time to check the dunes at Tönnersa strand. I yomped up and down recording a few notable birds; red-necked grebe (10), crane (9 north), black woodpecker (heard) but no interesting migrants.

We had to stop at Klarningen briefly as we were passing, water levels still declining and wood sandpiper numbers may also have peaked, just 20 today. Other waders of note; little ringed plover (1), ruff (4) and greenshank (2). Also a 2K lesser black-backed gull and two yellow wagtails here. Driving home over the top we had a pair of cranes at Atteköp and a soaring goshawk over Sinarpsdalen. Great Sunday birding.