Waterfowl Census Part 1 - Dagshög to Torekov

This 1K golden plover hit overhead wires near Slättaröd this morning. I flash-fried the breast fillets and tiny drumsticks for a tasty snack when I got back. You would need a few for a pie though.

It's that time of year again. Time to do the September wildfowl counting. This morning I tackled the section between Dagshög and Torekov and it was rather dull really on the wildfowl front as is often the case at this time of year. The first bird I saw was a bizarre male kestrel with the chestnut back and upperwing coverts replace by the same grey as the tail. The terminal band in the tail and wingtips were perfect for kestrel but it really looked odd! The other highlight was the passerine vizmig overhead, mostly chaffinch/brambling, with plenty of siskin too and a few yellow wagtails, tree pipits and a surprising number of common crossbills. The walk also produced a single shag and the same three 1K grey plovers that were seen yesterday. A 1K hen harrier hunting the foreshore at the sewage works may also have been the same bird seen yesterday.

Duty done we headed out for a walk in the afternoon around Killeröd loop. I was hoping for more two-barred crossbill action and was not disappointed, a flock of 30 hanging around the car park were simply superb.

A flock of thirty two-barred crossbills is a good way to end the birding day.