Snow - winter arrives

It snowed overnight and the high bits around Älemossen were a bit tricky to drive this morning, we even had to cut up a tree that had fallen across the road at one point.

Number 2 and I headed out to Klarningen to see what was about this morning. Wildfowl numbers have dropped away to just seven mallard and one tufted duck, the next step is total freeze over and the long wait for spring. More excitingly a 1K goshawk put on a show, and there was also a flock of 100+ fieldfare, ten redpolls and seven starlings. No snow at sea-level, just persistent sleet but we climbed up the the ridge to the south and soon we were sliding about. Let 2 out for a quick play at Älemossen but we had to move on before things got worse on the road. No birds of any kind noted up here. I am glad we have a coastline nearby, because birding gets a bit thin inland in winter.

Me and Mrs B

Had a nice few hours alone with Mrs B in the field today, which was a bit novel. We went south and looked at Hasslarp - almost devoid of bird interest although the flock of 30 redpoll were annoyingly hard to go through as is so often the case and then equally typically vanished.

Did the 'eagle circuit' picking up waxwing (25) in Kattarp, a superb adult white-tailed eagle at Tursköp and a rough-buzzard at Lönhult. No sign of a goldie. Hit the coast at Farhult for ten Slavonian grebes and finished up at Sandön where we found single bar-tailed godwit and oystercatcher. Pleasant day but birds rather thin on the ground. I am not used to being around at this time of year, but it just feels like it is about to go very cold and stay that way for some time...

Walking the coast

Spent the morning with Number 2 happily pottering along the coastline between Rammsjöstrand and Dagshög. Number 2 distinguished herself by conjuring up the lower jawbone of a wild boar for the growing museum back at home! Birdwise we could have done better though. A flock of pipits near Rammsjöstrand contained both rock and meadow (both surprisingly scarce on the patch this autumn); a single pipit flushed later which flew miles north may well have been last month's water pipit. Walking the Dagshög stretch a mild raptor passage was evident and two goshawks went south (presumably migrating). Walking back we spotted two mistle thrushes (another scarce bird at the moment).

Dipper!

Not only did I manage to see a dipper today (year-tick) but it actually gave amazing views. You forget how hyper-active and splendid they are when you only see them occasionally.

Dropped off the team this morning and had 43 waxwing in Förslöv, still some around. Had an hour in the field afterwards and elected to go for dipper at Axeltorpsravinen, one of the more picturesque spots in BK. It took just half an hour to find dipper here, some have bounced back from last winter's weather. Great encounter, the bird shooting upstream and landing right in front of me. Also here redpoll (25) and the ever-present sounds of bullfinch.

In the afternoon I walked the stretch of coast between Stora Hultstrand and Lervik. Pretty quiet here with just four Slavonian grebes, a curlew and a white wagtail.

Ängelsbäcksstrand

Managed to get out yesterday for 20 minutes at Segelstorpsstrand but felt kind of blue, so went home again. Did manage a nice flock of 14 snow buntings on the beach and a flock of 25 redpoll before I crawled off.

Returned today feeling better and walked between Ranarpsstrand and Segelstorpsstrand. No wind and a mirror calm sea produced three Slavonian grebes and a guillemot. Pretty quiet then, The woods had black woodpecker (1), coal tit (1), redpoll (3), bullfinch (1). Walking back I had a gang of seven meadow pipit (really very scarce at the moment) and a white wagtail flying north (always good after October, a few over-winter usually).

In the afternoon I managed to get an hour at Klarningen. No geese today, water partiallly frozen over. Waterfowl included; Canada goose (23 flying over), wigeon (20), teal (5) and tufted duck (1). Raptors were better with hen harrier (male), rough-legged buzzard (1) and kestrel (1).

OMG!

Walking

Had a rainy, wet walk with the team from Kattvik to Yttre Kattvik and back along the top today. Not much doing here, very quiet. Just two Slavonian grebes at Kattvik and two long-tailed ducks and a black guillemot past at Yttre Kattvik.

There is a yellow-browed warbler in nearby Ängelholm, it's still not too late for one in BK...

Windy weather

As usual at the weekends, my activities in the field were somewhat curtailed by the requirements of the rest of the team. The wind was blowing well from the SW though and a few good birds were spotted by others in BK today (including two great northern divers - which I still need for the year). I managed an hour sea-watching at Malen, not much coming past close here, most of it was cutting the corner but did get two Slavonian grebes, a gannet and 8 kittiwakes. The Halland flock of scaup (120) was skittish and flew about a bit before returning north.

After picking up the team in Båstad we all headed for Klarningen for a quick look. Loads of geese here with at least 650 greylags and 200 Canada, did not have long to search through them but one barnacle and 24 whooper swans were also present.

A final hour of the day sea-watching at Hovs Hallar produced just one red-necked grebe and three bullfinch...

An hour with the kids

Took the kids out to look out over Sandön this afternoon. The weather has gone horrible and hardly anyone is in the field, or like me they are not finding much. Our wander about netted us a few bearded tits, an oystercatcher and a handful of redpoll and bullfinch. Hopefully this is just the calm before the storm...

Wild finch chase

Managed to get out for three hours in the afternoon and headed for Ripagården. On arrival a big flock of 85 redpoll swept past over the bay and appeared to land at Dalen. I gave chase south, but never caught up with them. They are so flighty and hard to pin down. Whilst here I did the Gröthögarna circuit, rather quiet; a few whoopers south (9), four grazing barnacle geese and just two goldcrests and a song thrush. The best bird was an adult peregrine tucked away out of the wind on Tjällran.

Back at Ripagården the carpark alders had a flock of 30 redpoll... I was just getting to grips with them through the scope, when the whole flock lifted in panic and headed off. Buggers. Other birds here included the willow tit (heard) and a flock of 25 waxwing over Hovs Hallar briefly before dropping back into the juniper. No sign of the red-backed shrike...

Off-patch snapshot

Got a couple of hours birding in the afternoon after a relaxing morning with Mrs B. Headed straight for Farhult; scanning the bay at the start produced at least 25 Slavonian grebes. Also offshore nine whooper swans and four great crested grebes. Waders were few and far between, one disappearing grey plover was nice, otherwise just four snipe and 27 curlew. Walking the beach produced a single snow bunting and the reedbed I had at least 10 bearded tits and a single reed bunting. Jumping the fence into the wet field behind resulted in my first wellyful of water in many years. I squelched along after that and failed to add materially to the list; I was hoping for a jack snipe. Back at the car a big flock of redpoll (65) left the nearby alders flying off east and I could hear a bullfinch in there too.

My schedule allowed half an hour at Rönnen. Notable birds noted in this short time-frame included brent goose (5) and ten butch-looking twite. I wonder if the gyr falcon is going to make it back this winter? Lastly I stopped for four minutes to look at Sandön from the main road. More grey plover here (3), a single bar-tailed godwit and the village had a dozen waxwing. Out on Själrönnen a cluster of 50+ dunlin were roosting. Like many birders in southern Sweden I am looking out for the Norwegian stilt sandpiper, which left it's last known location two days ago. You gotta dream!

Klarningen clear-out

Busy most of the morning, but dragged the kids out kicking and screaming into the dull, rainy weather and chill easterly wind. After some hardware shopping we headed to nearby Klarningen, here the kids managed to flush all the geese and ducks before we had even got out of the car. I guess I know now to shut the windows as we approach. At least 500 greylag again, no chance of going through them today though! A flock of 22 whooper swans did stick around though and a few duck drifted back; wigeon (27), teal (10), mallard (68) and tufted duck (1). Just two lapwing and two starling remain, but best of all was 15 waxwing flying by - my first for the site.

After loafing in the tower for an hour we headed back towards Hemmeslövsstrand and took a walk down the Stensån for an hour. Another 20 waxwing here and the woods were crammed with bullfinch, we saw 8 but their calls could be heard all the time and I wonder how many there really were?