Home, sweet home

After four weeks away it was fantastic to get back out on the patch this morning. The weather was equally enthusiastic with a brisk westerly whipping in some spiteful little wet squalls in the first few hours after dawn. Nice!

Kicked off at Klarningen where water-levels have dropped considerably since my last visit. The wind pump has yet to be connected up and I suspect that some former field drains still need disabling... But, maybe it has just not rained much or the site is being managed low for some reason? A few noteworthy birds here; crane (at least three calling early on from Eskilstorpsdammar but they slipped away unseen somehow), little ringed plover (1), redshank (2 pairs), green sandpiper (3) and my first chiffchaff at the site.

Torekov next, Flytermossen produced a calling water rail, and two barn swallows here were a hint of spring. The rev was quiet, just one purple sandpiper briefly (no doubt more were hunkered down in the rocks) and a splendid little tern (my earliest date on the patch). Just had time for a quick look at Ripagården, the westerly wind did not seem to be producing much in the way of passage but I was not concentrating too hard. Did see red-throated diver (2), little tern (2 south) and razorbill (2). On land things were quiet with blackcap (2) and brambling (heard) being the best of it.

Ten minutes at Hålehallstugan on the way back from the shops produced the bird of the day, a stonking ring ouzel.

A quick session at Hålehallstugan in the afternoon produced a big flock of thrushes by the pond (which had three vocal red-necked grebe). At least one ring ouzel present, as well as mistle thrush and song thrush.