Birding - 19/12/09

We all went out for a short walk along the beach at Hemmeslövstrand this morning. The kids enjoyed playing on the frozen edge of the sea but did not last long due to the intense cold. I just had time to score a few good birds including; scaup (15), goosander (5), redwing (7) and at least ten common crossbill. Back in the car we did a tour of Klarningen (just one rough-legged buzzard) and a few sites on the Hallandåsen (nothing of note except at least one redwing at Axeltorpsravinen).

Frosted reeds at Klarningen.

Back at home the feeders had pulled in this goldfinch, a feeder tick!

Mrs B kindly suggested I nip out for the last hour of light and this paid off handsomely. I headed for Glimminge plantering and after chatting with one of Glimminge's resident birders (Kent Sjöström), kicked about to great effect. Booted up a jack snipe and three snipe from the foreshore. The former flew a short distance, landed but realised straight away that it was in full view (just as I was thinking about a photograph) and immediately flew to an offshore islet. Rats! Other good birds during the session were sparrowhawk (my first this month), a superb male hen harrier, curlew (3) and redshank (1). Great end to the day.

Kullen from Glimminge plantering at dusk.