Friday the Thirteenth

Did a bit of birding at Ranarpsstrand this morning before dropping the car off for routine maintenance at the doctor's. Nothing much doing at Ranarpsstrand this morning; goosander (3), golden plover (47), snipe (4), spotted redshank (1), green sandpiper (1), wood sandpiper (6) and 80 Sandwich terns.

Walking back through the village later had my first patch lesser spotted woodpecker of the year (calling), as well as common crossbill (5) and grey wagtail (1). Autumn is upon us.

Another day out with the kids...

Four days in a row! Birding kicked off in the garden this morning over breakfast. The garden has been very quiet in the last fortnight, but this morning we woke to find at least four redstarts, a pied flycatcher and a couple of robins hopping about. Migrants or just our breeders returning to fatten up from the woods nearby?

The kids have been great this week and did not grumble at all when they got themselves ready for another day in the field. We did not get far before we pulled over to look at a migrating honey buzzard. Before going off-patch we dropped in on Ranarpsstrand quickly. A 20 minute survey revealed that the garganey was still present and a loud trilling revealed that I had over-looked a Temminck's stint that was now noisily making its getaway. Other notable birds here; golden plover (13), dunlin (2), spotted redshank (3) and wood sandpiper (4). At least five yellow wagtails flew south whilst we sat.

Our next stop was Hasslarps dammar. Not been here for a while and it was full of birds that are hard to find in Bjäre as usual. Notables here included; shoveler (5), pochard (1), tufted duck (25), little grebe (3), Temminck's stint (3), curlew sandpiper (1), ruff (47), spotted redshank (10), greenshank (13) and wood sandpiper (12). A few dragonflies on the wing too in the sultry weather; I checked carefully through the small numbers of Aeshna mixta that were flying hoping for an affinis (Sweden's first records have come this summer, part of a widespread invasion of northern climes this year). Also here Aeshna cyanea, Aeshna grandis, Sympetrum vulgatum and Enallagma cyathigerum.

On our way back from Helsingborg we dropped in on Sandön but failed to make any serious contribution. Highlights were; wigeon (2), pintail (1), goosander (7), knot (13), ruff (6) and bar-tailed godwit (14).

Got home to find that Olofsson had seen a 2K female Montagu's harrier in BK this morning!! Had I hastily mis-identified my ringtail hen harrier of yesterday? I had forgotten that Monties had an identifiable 2K plumage in females, what a dude! I am checking my photos and trying to get the gen from Olofsson. I have an uneasy feeling, just off to read Forsman now...

Grey day

Took the kids to Klarningen this morning for a walk round. The highlight was an early hen harrier (1K), Also here; teal (17), ruff (4), snipe (4), curlew (3), wood sandpiper (2) but no sign of yesterday's bar-tailed godwit (nice one Jens!). A quick feeding of the ducks at Båstad produced three goosander, the sea surprisingly bare of birds.

A dull evening walk from Öllövsstrand to Glimminge in showers and a strong southerly produced a 1K red-backed shrike, a couple of goosander and a smattering of waders. Hope this weather changes soon, it is starting to feel really autumnal.

Another great day out with the kids

Osprey at Sandön, we had a superb adult white-tailed eagle over at Farhult today but I was too busy enjoying it to get a photo...

Headed off-patch with the kids this morning, picking up a female grey wagtail at Lindab in the village. Our first port of call was Sandön, water levels were high after the recent westerly winds but dropping already under the calm and sunny weather we enjoyed today. The forecast looked grim on Sunday, a full week of rain but we somehow got lucky. Predicting the weather in this neck of the woods seems to be fraught with difficulties.

Sandön was great. Viewing from the flagpole produced a good number of waders, including; grey plover (4), knot (11), bar-tailed godwit (17) and spotted redshank (5). Far out at sea I watched a beautiful 1K little gull messing about with the terns and it slowly made it's way to the island and dropped out of sight. We headed that way over the bridge and were treated to great views of this mint little bird, and nearby rested an equally enjoyable 1K black tern (this was one of the targets for the day, there having been up to 9 here recently - we just scraped this one in!). A single pintail was most welcome too. Bearded tits called in the reeds as we walked back to the car and Number 1 fell into the sea...

Rönnen was great too. Wildfowl included a big flock of 400 barnacle geese, as well as single shoveler and wigeon. The sandflats to the west of the island were crowded with geese and with a little patience produced some good waders. The highlight here was the brace of broad-billed sandpipers, but a little stint made me smile too. All three fed at great distance, ignoring the presence of the 50-odd dunlin feeding right beside the path... Also here; avocet (3), ringed plover (75), Temminck's stint (3), ruff (15), spotted redshank (3) and wood sandpiper (5).

Last stop was Farhult, which hosted a large crowd of barnacle geese (250), as well as plenty of sun-bathing people. We waded off down to the river-mouth end of the beach and looked around. It was hard to get close to the birds without causing disturbance but this soon became unimportant when a white-tailed eagle cruised past and put very single bird up! Great bird and nice to see in the summer. Other highlights here included a single (2K?) black-throated diver, avocet (8), grey plover (7), knot (12), ruff (1), bar-tailed godwit (11) and spotted redshank (4).

On the way home we stopped quickly at Sandön again to check for new arrivals and found a single ruff and two golden plover in residence.

Sea-watching with kids

With a reasonable 6 metres per second westerly forecast it was time to get out and see if anything was moving this morning. Dragged the kids out late (0830) to Yttre Kattvik in the rain and settled them in the back of the car with the seats down, in a big nest filled with books and toys. It worked quite well...

No proper seabirds noted but the first hour of the three was not bad for passage waders and also had a total of 31 common scoter, one velvet and two smart summer-plumaged black-throated divers. Waders past included a superb flock of fifteen grey plovers, six dunlin, a whimbrel and two redshank. A single razorbill was a notable, they have become scarce since the local birds fledged young.

Later after tea I nipped out quickly to check Stora Hult and Ranarpsstrand. Stora Hult had many of the same waders as the other day with the adult curlew sandpiper still present, along with seven snipe, three wood sandpipers, over 20 dunlin and a Temminck's stint on nearby Vejbystrand. Three bar-tailed godwit were also present. A very quick look at Ranarpsstrand revealed an absence of Caspian or black terns (my next most likely patch-ticks now that garganey has fallen) but did produce at least 25 teal, three snipe, one 1K spotted redshank, two greenshank and nine wood sandpipers.

Rain at Klarningen

Mrs B and I packed the kids off to the grand-parents and grabbed an hour and a half at Klarningen this afternoon. Lately we have made a real effort to find time to talk, whilst at the same time checking out a few birds! We sat in the new tower hide to get out of the persistent rain. The view from the tower is not bad, but water levels are low and there was surprisingly little on show. Birds gave themselves up slowly as they were flushed by raptors or deer and we saw the following; teal (20), golden plover (2), snipe (1), ruff (1), spotted redshank (1), redshank (2), greenshank (2) and wood sandpiper (1).

21 species of wader and a patch tick!

Worked the patch hard today for a total of 21 species of wader, nothing unusual amongst the haul but it was a good day. This barwit was almost eating out of my hand...

Nipped out early for a go at Torekov and Gröthögarna in the hope of a few waders and had a nice little session. En route a sparrowhawk crossed the road at Dagshög, one of three seen today. As I approached Påarps Mal a bank of fog rushed to meet me and I spent the first fifteen minutes listening to waders. Spotted redshank (1, 1K) and greenshank (3) were very vocal. Slowly the fog parted and I could look around, and discover that there was not actually that much about. The best bird was the 1K spotted redshank but also found; ringed plover (7), golden plover (11), snipe (4), green sandpiper (3) and common sandpiper (4). As I turned to leave a grey plover called and I managed to pick it up as it flew past south (patch year-tick at last).

Påarps Mal may be good for roosting shags and golden plover but I always think that the rev is more of a magnet for waders and so it proved this morning, with the following spotted; ringed plover (40), grey plover (1), dunlin (18), ruff (3), bar-tailed godwit (5, another patch year-tick), whimbrel (1), curlew (1), spotted redshank (1, 1K), redshank (8), greenshank (2) and common sandpiper (24). A trawl of the woods produced very little, just two marsh tits of note.

Last stop before heading home to pick up the team was a quick look at Norra Ängalag.On arrival two peregrines were dog-fighting offshore, an exhilarating display of their prowess in the air. Also here two marsh harriers drifting north (?), another grey plover and bar-tailed godwit and a little tern (which may prove to be my last of the year).

The team were raring to go, picnic at the ready and so off we went. We lunched at Ranarpsstrand and this proved to be a great move. Within ten minutes I was watching my first patch garganey, a female (high on the most-wanted list and a great moment). Also here as we tuckd in to our lunch were; goosander (3), golden plover (1), dunlin (1), snipe (1), redshank (1), greenshank (2), green sandpiper (1), wood sandpiper (8) and common sandpiper (4). Moving on to the beach at Stora Hultstrand, I checked out the seaweed pool briefly. It has been looking good and the birds obviously like it; more waders here with little ringed plover (1), curlew sandpiper (adult) and four Temminck's stints being new for the day and taking the total of waders spotted to 21. Nice one!

Kingfisher!

Pheosia gnoma or lesser swallow prominent, found in the house today. I like the Princess Leia hair-do.

After a day working on the house (chopping out an oil-tank...I may never hear goldcrests again), I nipped out for more saw-blades and a look at Klarningen. Not much water and the whole site has been mown, flocks of crows and at least two red kites were picking through the short sward for dead things. The tower is nearly finished though, I wonder who will cut the ribbon?

A few birds about, although most of the resident waders have moved on, hopefully the fledglings got off safely last month. A big flock of 150 lapwing was present and smaller numbers of other migrants; snipe (2), greenshank (3) and wood sandpiper (2).

Halfway round I was stunned to hear a kingfisher travelling up the river. Ever since the long, hard second winter period I have been hoping for one and this was amazingly my first of the year. They must have been hit awfully hard by all that ice, maybe I will get a dipper too this year after all.

Over on Eskilstorpsdammar a single osprey drifted past, there were also a small number of buzzard that may have been migrating in a rather languid fashion. The final highlight came in the form of a female red-backed shrike, sitting next to a bush with some rather noisy (and rather late) nest-bound youngsters. Nice one!

Picnic at Påarps Mal

Took the team for lunch at Påarps Mal today. The first shag of the autumn was predictable enough (oo err missus!). A few waders also with ringed plover (10), golden plover (95), lapwing (50), snipe (2), redshank (1), greenshank (3), green sandpiper (2), common sandpiper (3). Plenty of gulls about too, they are on the move. The black-headed gull with the unreadable white darvic ring was taunting me again, I think it is a very old ring, it looks like crazy-paving rather than digits or letters. A quick look at a busy rev produced big numbers of Sandwich tern (70), common tern (3) and dunlin (6).

A swim at a deserted Ripagården on the way home produced just one common sandpiper.

Back on patch

After driving from Holland yesterday, there was just enough energy available to walk from Vejbystrand to Ranarpsstrand this afternoon. The patch has been quiet in my absence, the hot weather continued for a while and then broke down. A good blow at the end of July produced a few good seabirds and someone reported a serin at Torekov too. Waders have also been more in evidence with a good spread of species, many of which would be patch year-ticks. With this in mind I headed out.

Starting my walk at Vejbystrand was always going to be risky, it is just outside the patch, but it is a good stretch so it would be churlish to avoid it. I BK-tick using UK county rules (ie the bird has to be in or over the patch to count), Vejbystrand has made me curse in the past and it did not disappoint today. Not one but three would-be patch year-ticks (bar-tailed godwit, two grey plover and two knot) sat on rocks just yards from the BK border...

Walking on into the patch I hoped to claw them back but a single knot at Ranarpstrand was my only reward. Big numbers (55) of common sandpiper present along the coast today. Also small numbers of wood sandpiper and ringed plover, as well as green sandpiper (1), golden plover (2), whimbrel (2) and greenshank (3). Two adult Arctic terns at Ranarpsstrand were my first of the autumn. Good to be back.

Postcard from the Île de Ré

Spent an enjoyable five days on the Île de Ré, near La Rochelle recently. Great to have big tides and a big sea for a change. The island offers good birding. I enjoyed the Category C sacred ibises (!), Mediterranean gulls, Scops owls, bluethroats and fan-tailed warblers.

More Île de Ré birding info at Nick Ransdale's website.

Black-winged stilts, it was great to be out in tidal saltmarsh habitat again. The absence of any meaningful tides in our part of Sweden meant the kids got to go rock-pooling for the first time ever too!

White-spotted bluethroat (1K male) - I have not seen enough white-spots in my life. The marshes of the Île de Ré support a healthy population of these birds.

Postcard from the Elbe

Stopped off in the middle Elbe in Germany on our recent foray into France. The idea was to chase a few dragonflies, but other stuff kept getting in the way. This section of the Elbe was one of the few remaining strongholds of the European beaver before their successful re-introduction to parts of their former range. It was surprising though to be watching a huge adult down to less than 2 metres (with the kids perched on our shoulders) within half an hour of arrival... (my camera was in the car!)

Distant white-tailed eagle, one of a pair harrassing wildfowl along the river.

One of the obvious differences in the bird fauna compared to southern Sweden was that black kites were numerous.

Somatochlora metallica

A good population of white storks is found along this stretch of the Elbe.

Of the 16 species of dragonfly encountered the most pleasing for me was a small population of Erythromma viridulum. Not seen these guys since I left the UK. Our target species Ophiogomphus cecilia eluded us...