Wild swans everywhere

Spent a sunny afternoon in the field today after being relieved of child-care duty by Mrs B. First stop was the swan flock at Öllöv, it now numbers 29 whoopers but nothing else spotted in the field today. One of the features of early spring 2011 here in southern sweden seems to be the number of whooper swans on the ground. We get lots passing through normally, but this year they are stopping off, presumably waiting for the rest of Sweden to defrost.

Driving through Slättaröd I stopped to admire a flock of 25 golden plover, my first of the year. Påarps mal did not produce any shags, they seem to have moved on somewhere. But I got another year-tick in the shape of a pair of gadwall. Moving north I checked out the sewage works and town, picking up an adult white-tailed eagle over Hallands Väderö. Torekov rev produced a flock of seven purple sandpipers and an impressive gathering of 13 goosander.

Spent the last hour of my time mooching about on Gröthögarna but without much impact, 17 teal at Norra Ängalag was a sign that migration continues on. I had hoped to get a flock of cranes over in the easterly winds but having seen the first crane in NW Skåne last year it seems I will now be the last birder to see one this spring. The session ended as it started with the checking of another flock of whooper swans (37), this time at Ängalag.

Wheel-barrow birding

Stuck at home looking after two poorly young-uns and the car was being serviced to add to our predicament. We did get out to the doctor's in the morning and I trundled them home wrapped up warm in a wheel-barrow and went home the back way looking for birds whilst we were out. This produced good views of the resident green woodpecker, at least four marsh tits, two bullfinches and best of all a flight of four goldfinches migrating overhead. BK year-tick!

Tundra and taiga!

Another day with an appalling morning, but a calm and pleasant afternoon. A rain-laden southerly wind greeted me at 0730 at Glimminge plantering. I walked north to Dagshög, counting the numerous shelduck, oystercatchers, lapwings and starlings. Wigeon numbers are still low but are starting to build at last with at least 50 on the walk. Ringed plovers were scattered along the shore - five in total. Highlights were few but I especially enjoyed the flock of 15 (probably fabalis) bean geese that headed east over my head at Rammsjöstrand. Meadow pipits have gone from being non-existent to holding territories in just two days. Nature is wonderful.

Walking back south it was apparent that a few reed buntings had dropped out along the coast and I found a rather subdued jay in the woods at Glimminge plantering, leftover from last autumns invasion no doubt. Driving home I stopped to check the whooper swan (22) flock at Öllöv and was pleased to find six taiga bean geese resting in the field as well.

In the afternoon we all went out and fed the ducks at Båstad, offshore in the calm conditions were scaup (30) and long-tailed duck (4). Three coot were in the mouth of the harbour and there were a scattering of oystercatcher and shelduck as you would expect. As we drove out the first migrating sparrowhawk of the year appear over town. News of two tundra swans yesterday at Klarningen, sent us off there next and we basked in the weak sun up the tower and scoped about. A big flock of 38 whooper swans did indeed contain the two tundras (thanks Jan!). I had the right idea yesterday, I just went at the wrong time of day. Also here four reed buntings.

On the way home checked out the whooper swan flock at Eskilstorp (35). Another productive day.

Kick off!

Klarningen may still by 97% iced up but recently arrived migrant birds are queuing up for territories. If the water levels stay up this year, we could be in for a storming spring at this new wetland site.

The changeable spring weather continued today with a fierce SW wind and plenty of rain in the morning and then a calm sunny afternoon. The southerlies dumped some early migrants on us, which were bizarre to see in the icy landscapes they found themselves in.

Spent two hours at Klarningen in the morning. Four snow buntings greeted me as I trundled up the access track, this inland site is a reliable one for this species. Arriving at the tower it was apparent that lapwing (7) and ringed plovers (5, BK year-tick) had taken up residence and were displaying. It was freezing here, wet and windy and hard work. I stuck it out though and was rewarded with various wildfowl flying by, including eight splendid white-fronted geese (another BK year-tick). My main target this morning was a tundra swan, but whilst many in the region scored this morning, I will have to wait a little longer. Lapwings and starlings slipped by on migration, often in mixed flocks.

On the way back home, I checked out the swan flock at Eskilstorp (just 19 whoopers) and spent 20 minutes at Eskilstorpsstrand notching up just a couple of shelduck and 7 oystercatchers.

Back in the village over an extended lunch break I finally heard a green woodpecker for the year before heading off for an hour at Ranarpsstrand. The weather had changed completely by mid-afternoon and we were greeted by calm sunny weather. The recent high water has seen off the bulk of the coastal ice and there were plenty of birds here for a change. A female smew was welcome, they are never as common as I would like, although we are seeing a few this spring. The seaweed banks were seething with invertebrate life and picking through the detritus were two ringed plovers, at least two white wagtails (year-tick), a rock pipit and the first meadow pipits (2) of the year. It was magic and emotional. On the way home we stopped to enjoy a flock of 47 waxwing that were taking a break in a roadside tree near Ranarp. A great day.

A flock of 47 fly-catching waxwing at Ranarp was a great way to end an exciting day in the field.

Snow, rain, hail, sun and repeat

A mixed day weather-wise, classic spring stuff. A strong SW wind throughout made the whole thing a bit unpleasant. But I did spend most of the day outside which was nice. In the morning I checked out Yttre Kattvik, winds were supposed to shift westerly but it never happened... A few things were moving though including red-throated diver (2), crested grebe (7) and guillemot (2).

Next stop was Ripagården were I was swiftly engulfed in snow and spent most of my time sheltering behind a bunker. Not much noted in these conditions unsurprisingly and I left with four coot and a collection of recent arrivals (shelduck, oystercatcher and starling).

In the afternoon, Mrs B and I headed out to look for geese around Lönhult, we found just one substantial flock of greylags (250+), but could only find two white-fronted geese. The light and distance were poor though and frustratingly a neck-collared bird evaded a protracted reading attempt. A check of Farhult for geese revealed that the sea had risen, driven by the gale force southerlies. Few birds about, especially waders, as a result.

Rönnen was better with a reasonable flock of eider building, which included two smart-looking long-tailed ducks. Will this be the location for the annual spring king eider this year? Other notables here included smew (3), white-tailed eagle (1) and ringed plover (4).

Last stop of the afternoon was Sandön where we found a huge total of six smew, as well as three scaup. Again high water levels meant few birds close in, but 75 oystercatchers were roosting on the Själrönnen offshore rocks.

Quick look

Lots of snow and rain of late, so for the last two days I have been buried in the office burrowing into a pile of chores that should have been done long ago. But I did manage to get out for an hour today at Torekov.

A fierce SW wind was blowing and it was armed liberally with sleet and rain which made viewing difficult and unpleasant. The highlights were the first lesser black-backed gull of the year and at least seven purple sandpipers. I was hoping for some leftover gadwall and pintail from yesterday but they had obviously moved on, leaving just three teal and six wigeon. Recent arrivals included shelduck (30), oystercatcher (27) and lapwing (2).

On the way home stopped for four whooper swans at Norra Ängalag (hoping for a tundra...). Roll on spring.

Ringo!

Another blue sky day had me shelving work at home in favour of more walking and birding. Got to get out whilst it is nice at this time of year, especially after the winter we have had. We headed over to Farhult again. En route there were lapwings and stock doves on offer, things are really moving now. Farhult was packed with whooper swan (45), shelduck (50), wigeon (15), goldeneye (110), smew (3), oystercatcher (32), lapwing (5) and curlew (12). The highlight for me though was three dainty white-fronted geese that flew in to loaf about on the ice. Other good birds included ringed plover (1, year-tick) and reed bunting (1).

A quick look at Sandön on the way back produced more big numbers of shelduck (76) and oystercatcher (24), and four more smew.

In the afternoon the entire team headed out for a circular walk from Mäsinge strand to Rammsjöstrand. Yellowhammers were singing and buzzards were definitely heading north this afternoon. Walking the shoreline produced more shelduck (50), teal (7), oystercatcher (3) and a dozen starlings. The tap is on and stuff is on the move.

Pygmy!

Had the luxury of an hour with Mrs B before she started work this morning. We headed for the Killeröd loop walk that we do every now and again and it proved to be a good idea. We heard a calling male pygmy owl about 200 metres up the trail and Mrs B rather annoyingly saw it briefly in flight! Also here goldcrest (2), long-tailed tit (8), coal tit (1), redpoll (8) and a single common crossbill (my first of the year). Greylag and Canada geese moved north in small numbers here and at other sites throughout the rest of the day.

Later I checked out Ranarpstrand, picking up a single lapwing at Ranarp en route. The coast here had a good collection of shelduck (18), wigeon (4) and a grey heron. Out on Grytskären three oystercatchers poked about.

Next I endeavoured to find the water pipit at Vasaltheden. I saw this bird in October at nearby Glimminge plantering but then it went missing only to be re-located nearby by Mats Ljungren recently. I finally found it at the southern end of the Vasaltheden shoreline. Superb bird and nearby a rock pipit too - both these species have been really hard to find this winter whilst meadow pipits have simply vanished. It will be emotional to see a mipit when they finally return. Also here more shelduck (4), wigeon (6) and another oystercatcher.

After tea I nipped out to listen for owls at Killeröd and heard a singing tawny owl and probably in the distance the pygmy owl again. A great day.

Moose hunting

Took the team up to Älemossen for an hour and got really close to a moose but did not see it as we tracked it through the snow. Just one great tit in the hour we spent there! Ended our tour at Hemmeslövsstrand where the offshore seaduck included tufted duck (10), scaup (40) and velvet scoter (6).

Spring is on the horizon

Took the team for a walk along the stretch of coast between Påarps Mal and Torekov rev today. Sunny day but with a vicious NW wind that had us mostly sheltering in the surprisingly warm lees of various Cold War era bunkers. The wind brought some nice seabirds with razorbill (1 - somehow a year-tick), and my first fulmar (1) and little gull (2K) of the year too. Plenty of skylarks on the move and perhaps a few buzzards sneaking past north as well. No sign of any purple sandpipers at the rev but 15 shelduck feeding along the edge of the slushy ice offshore can only be a sign of spring surely!

Goldie!

Spent the afternoon looking quickly at the sites between Lönhult and Sandön, en route picking up two rough-legged buzzards. First stop was a quick look at Farhult to check if the gyr falcon was sitting around. No luck but three curlew looked out of place in a break in the sea-ice. Next stop was another favourite of the gyr (Lönhult), I worked the fields and eventually spotted a dead thing being picked apart by gulls and crows. Sitting nearby was a very fat young white-tailed eagle. Widening the search I found a tree with two more eagles, one of which was a splendid 2K golden eagle. I have done really badly finding this bird during the winter so this was a great moment. Just round the next bend a big gang of greylags got me working but nothing else apart from a few Canadas. As the sun broke through the low cloud skylarks soared into song. Nice - perhaps spring may come after all... Hard to beat.

A quick look at Rönnen produced another white-tailed eagle and four lapwing flying by. Last stop was Sandön, which had more curlew (10) and two smew at very long range. Only three weeks till the cranes start moving, hope it warms up for them.

Struck down

Been out of action lately with a suspected amoebic infestation and still not 100%... Managed to get out birding for the first time in over two weeks and checked out Glimminge plantering. It is still very cold here and lots of ice on the sea, so nothing amazing to report.

After lunch tried Klarningen, iced up and deadly quiet, and Eskilstorpstrand. The highlight at the latter location was my first coot for the site but a big flock of 35 whooper swans in nearby Eskilstorp was nice.