Micro-session

Managed a little bit of time in the field today. Checked the beaches at Vejbystrand and Stora Hultstrand, both have been remodelled by the recent gale and held just a few ringed plovers and crowds of white wagtails. A single adult red-necked grebe looked good in the sun.

Ranarpsstrand was another story though. An skulking Acro in the ditch on the way to the car park was a surprise reed warbler. Wildfowl were present in reasonable numbers with 90 teal, 19 wigeon, three shoveler and four pintail. A 1K little grebe was a surprise, my first at the site. But it was the same story with waders here with just one greenshank, 24 golden plover and 18 dunlin. Over the blue sea a dark phase Arctic skua harassed a common gull. Then it was back to my domestic chores.

Raptor watch

News that a black kite was heading south towards BK took me out to Klarningen in the afternoon to see if I could pick it up. No joy on the black kite front but nine honey buzzards south, a peregrine and a hunting goshawk (1K) were good reward for the effort.

Low diversity but high numbers of birds on the wetland. Large numbers of lapwing and greylag goose remain on site. Teal numbers have dropped to about 80 though. The ruff flock has hit 20, but there were just single snipe and greenshank otherwise. The access track had a total of nine whinchat and two wheatears.

Duding about on a Sunday

Got out before breakfast and had a look at Klarningen. More greylag geese in (650), with many feeding on spilt grain in the stubble next door. Wigeon numbers have hit the heady heights of 12, just one pintail remains but the shoveler gang is up to at least six birds and the lone tufted duck remains. Waders have reduced slightly with just 6 ruff, three dunlin, snipe (20), curlew (1) and wood sandpiper (2). The lapwing flock is increasing though with 500 present today.

All these birds were unconcerned when a hobby flew through but pandemonium ensued half an hour later when a peregrine flew south over the site.

Spent the rest of the day with the family - a light honey buzzard passage evident over Hallandåsen, coal tit and osprey at Hemmeslövsstrand and a black woodpecker calling near Cafe Utsikten.

Quiet morning

Nipped out early to check out Torekov and Glimminge. All the lovely rotting weedmats along the coast have been re-organised and replenished by the recent gale and no longer offer easy feeding opportunities, so there were few waders feeding at the rev. Wigeon are on the move, with ten in this morning. Waders present did include knot (7), dunlin (32), bar-tailed godwit (2), curlew (11) and greenshank (3). No visible passerine migration obvious this morning.

Påarps Mal next, quiet here too with just 30 golden plover, a couple of dunlin and redshank and a greenshank. A single pintail was nice and offshore an adult razorbill and its youngster were cruising about.

Last stop of the morning was a quick look at Glimminge. This produced the only decent bird of the session, a resting 1K little gull. Also here red-necked grebe (1K), ten snipe, bar-tailed godwit (2) and greenshank (2).

In the afternoon we all went for a walk around Vasaltheden, still quiet, no passerines lurking anywhere and little on the move. A flock of 16 goldfinch was the only notable record.

Day out with Mrs B

Had a day out with Mrs B after an appointment in Helsingborg. We did Hasslarp first but high water levels (after all the rain) had put most of the waders off. I got unreasonably excited when I realised that for once Klarningen was better value than Hasslarp for waders and ducks! The easy highlight was a gang of 3 honey buzzards drifting south with a sparrowhawk.

Sandön next, reasonably quiet here too though a 1K Caspian gull was briefly spotted before it flew north perhaps to Själlrönnen. Also here water rail (1) and calling bearded tits.

We saved the best for last though with a couple of hours at Rönnen. Lilla Viken was fantastic. First up was a fine 1K red-necked phalarope, and then closer examination revealed a superb broad-billed sandpiper, a little stint and a Temminck's stint. All at close range in splendid light, no hide, no other birders. Just superb! It was so good we had a snooze on the grass in the sun.

Geography and geomorphology have conspired to create an excellent wader pool, Lilla Viken at Rönnen. If there is a more exciting wader location in NW Skåne I would be amazed. I just wish it was in BK! It had a mouth-watering array of waders this afternoon.

Day 2 of seawatching - 26/08/10

Day 2 was a much more relaxed affair, especially as I had Number 2 with me for the whole day, joined by Number 1 in the afternoon. Yttre Kattvik is the only choice when you want to seawatch with kids so back we went. The wind had kept strong west through the night but slowly died during the day. Light and sea-state were conducive to viewing and whilst the number of birds had declined the views were good

The morning session was excellent, a packed carpark was attained shortly after arrival but the number of observers had dwindled to just me and the Klinteroth's by the time two superb 1K long-tailed skuas powered past about 150 metres out. Superb and beyond doubt, I had plenty of 'maybe' views yesterday! Also an osprey, a collection of waders including 4 curlew sandpipers and a Temminck's stint, a nice 1K Arctic skua and 22 1K little gulls and a razorbill past.

Had an hour and a half after lunch at Yttre Kattvik too. Two adult Arctic skuas topped the bill this time and then exhausted we went to check Klarningen to see if the gales had brought anything new. Klarningen was packed with birds. I have become quite accustomed to the site only holding 20 birds that to see over a thousand here is a splendid novelty. The majority were made up of greylag goose (450), teal (200) and lapwing (350). The lapwing flock included a curious yellowish, leucistic bird. Peregrine food. The pintail flock has reached 11, other wildfowl included the two whooper swans, six shoveler and a couple of wigeon. A solitary tufted duck was my first at the site. Wader numbers were also up; ruff (15), curlew (13), spotted redshank (1), greenshank (2) and wood sandpiper (4). The access track had a big haul of five wheatear and six whinchat.

Day 1 of seawatching - 25/08/10

The much-anticipated gale arrived, huge westerlies thrashing the sea into a maelstrom. I had to fit several short sessions in around my domestic duties but although I missed a lot of birds, my species tally at the end of the day was OK. Many birders had come to BK from a great distance and they like I were probably slightly disappointed, especially when the news of a great shearwater on neighbouring Kullaberg hit in the mid afternoon (great shearwater is an extreme mega here). I made one 'greenhorn' error, the seas were so big I should have gone to Hovs Hallar to get on higher ground, there is a reason everyone heads there after all! Yttre Kattvik is right next door but you are almost at sea-level there and we failed to pick up a huge number of birds today that were spotted at neighbouring Hovs Hallar.

Anyhow, I started the day with a pre-breakfast session at Yttre Kattvik, the easy highlight was a close adult pomarine skua just before I headed home. Probably my best view in Sweden. Also on the move small numbers of pintail, common scoter, ringed plover, knot, dunlin, whimbrel, tirnstone and lesser black-backed gull.

An hour and 20 minutes later I was back at Yttre Kattvik, having missed little in my absence. Alarm bells were ringing but I stuck it out, what amazed me most about the day was the lack of gannets and appreciable numbers of kittiwake. It is so hard to second-guess what will turn up in a given gale. Gannets have been in short supply all year for some reason.

This second session produced my first Arctic skua of the day, as well as a single kittiwake (1K) and at least 10 1K little gulls. I got itchy feet later and tried Båstad for a couple of hours. There was nothing obvious stuck in the corner, just a couple more Arctic skuas and two more 1K little gulls.

My last session of the day was at Ripagården, in the teeth of the gale. I hunkered down in the lee of the northernmost bunker and finally got gannet (2) for the year! Also here incredible views of two great skuas as they steamed past together and two more kittiwake (1K).

So at the end of the day I had not done too badly, dipping Manx shearwater and long-tailed skua but doing OK.

A glorious mixed-bag and a patch tick too!

A classic patch day and a sure sign that autumn is upon us, managed a few little mini-session and amassed a great haul of birds. Nipped out in the morning after sorting out the team and checked Ehrenstorp. This site has been good for wryneck in August in the past and it did not disappoint this morning. I had a wonderful ten minute encounter with one of these crazy woodpeckers - a patch year-tick.

Not sure what went wrong with this one, it was quite dark but perhaps I shouldn't have had the camera on the 'fireworks' setting. It was a great bird!

Also here one very close migrating honey buzzard, a dozen mistle thrushes and both spotted and pied flycatcher. Although BK has 55 kilometres of coastline, in August you are better off looking for common migrants on the higher ground. A quick look at Klarningen in strong SW winds and occasional heavy showers produced two whooper swans, shoveler (3), ruff (6), greenshank (1) and wood sandpiper (4).

In the afternoon I had 20 minutes at Vejbystrand and neighbouring Stora Hultstrand, the wind was very strong and the sea was incredible. Waders were clinging on at Vejbystrand with knot (2), curlew sandpiper (2, 1K), dunlin (4) and bar-tailed godwit (3). Right by the fence that marks the boundary between the two minicipalities was a beautiful broad-billed sandpiper - just 30 cm off-patch! Not to worry though, I flushed it south and poked my telescope over the fence to look into BK and there were two more on Stora Hultstrand. Result, my first patch 'flock' of these northern beauties. Also here knot (1), Temminck's stint (1) and curlew sandpiper (1, adult).

Arriving home later after the school-run, I realised rather late in the day that sea-watching was happening. The wind was strong but I thought it was too SW for seabird action. Things were happening to the north though, so I gave it a couple of hours at Yttre Kattvik at the end of the day. Just terns moving for me, but quite big numbers and it was no surprise when an adult black tern came past close-in. Patch tick! There have been so many around this month that is was slightly inevitable but still a great moment. Tomorrow looks monster for sea-watching and I will be squeezing in sessions around my various domestic duties and hoping for the best...

A few dragonflies

Not much birding today, busy in the house. Did manage to get out for a couple of hours looking at a few dragonfly sites. The ponds near Lindab in the village were surprisingly good value with 9 species of Odonata, including another Sympetrum flaveolum. Also here three grey wagtails, presumably local breeders dispersing as a family group.

Checked out Hålehallstugan too, more common dragonflies on the wing and a surprise Calopteryx splendens here (another late record). The tufted duck flock has reached 21 and then it was time to return to domestic duties.

Lazy Sunday

Could not get out of bed this morning, eventually got out for the tail-end of the windy weather at Yttre Kattvik for a mid-morning session with the whole team. The results of the hour-long watch, whilst not stunning did suggest that I should have made the effort to get out earlier! A big surprise was a female scaup, belting past in the company of a female tufted duck. Other good birds included a flock of six 1K little gulls, a 1K kittiwake, a single knot and a whimbrel.

After lunch I nipped out on my own to look at Torekov and Ripagården. The rev was excellent but once again the birds were distant and spooky (too many raptors around, including an excellent 1K peregrine). Best of the waders; knot (8), sanderling (1), little stint (1 - patch year-tick), Temminck's stint (2), curlew sandpiper (1 1K), dunlin (68), ruff (3) and turnstone (2). A few passerines dropping out too with lesser whitethroat, whitethroat and yellow wagtail evident. Had a recce around the back of Flymossen enjoying a food pass between an adult and a juvenile marsh harrier and adding a few dragonfly species to the fledgling square list.

Last stop of the day was at Ripagården. The beach had knot (3) and bar-tailed godwit (7) and the bushes had at least one red-backed shrike. It was eyes down for dragonflies though and I may have glimpsed a male Sympetrum striolatum (scarce here). Did see a few definite Sympetrum vulgatum. and some other common species.

Sympetrum vulgatum male.

Birding - 21/08/10

Nipped out to Torekov before breakfast. The rev was busy but many of the birds were roosting out of view and it was hard counting them. The highlight was my first patch sanderling of the year, other waders present including; grey plover (1), knot (8), curlew sandpiper (1), dunlin (36), ruff (1), bar-tailed godwit (3) and turnstone (1). A huge movement of tree pipits evident with perhaps 400 flying past in just over an hour. A few grounded tree pipit and yellow wagtail about too.

A pair of cranes south whilst we were at Klarningen this morning, plenty of other migrants on the move too.

Took the kids out of the house after breakfast to allow Mrs B to take it easy and recover from a nasty cold. Klarningen was the chosen spot and we had an entertaining two hours here. After all the recent rain and windy weather the water levels were up nicely and there were plenty of birds about. Big flocks of greylag (450), teal (180) and lapwing (250) contributed to the almost bustling feel to the place. The pintail flock has grown to nine birds and single shoveler was also present. Despite the good numbers of teal I could not find a garganey. A 1K goshawk entertained us, sitting up to be admired and occasionally sparring with hooded crows and a marsh harrier and also making more serious efforts to kill a common gull. Other raptors included up to five marsh harriers and two red kite. Two cranes drifted south and there were four whinchats on the fence. Waders were present in a reasonable variety and the raptor action ensured that most were flushed for views at some point or another. Hightlights included golden plover (1), Temminck's stint (1), ruff (1), snipe (10), curlew (8) and wood sandpiper (4).

Be nice to see Klarningen bank-full one day but things are moving on nicely, it is a delight to watch the gradual colonisation of the site by aquatic macrophytes and water quality seems good.

Before lunch we just had time to nip into Petersberg and look for a few dragonflies in the sun. We got eight species, including a single male Lestes virens (over-looked in the last three years evidently...), a nice male Aeshna cyanea and two late Libellula quadrimaculata. The kids enjoyed a big longhorn beetle we found (Aromia moschata).

Aromia moschata or musk beetle at Petersberg today.

Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea), my first at Petersberg.

Two late Libellula quadrimaculata were flying at Petersberg too.

After lunch we headed out again this time to twitch a broad-billed sandpiper reported yesterday at Stora Hult. No problems with this bird, it was one of the few waders present at the site and good views were had. Walking on to Vejbystrand we were rewarded with close views of three 1K curlew sandpipers and a dozing 1K little gull. Last stop wasa quick look at Ranarpsstrand, a few waders here including; dunlin (2), snipe (6), spotted redshank (2), greenshank (4), green sandpiper (1) and wood sandpiper (9).

Two year-ticks today!

This male Lestes virens was just one of a swarm noted at an off-patch site near Gånarp.

Mmmm, nice! Mrs B is starting to call me a nerd when I whip out my hand-lens and start looking at anal claspers...

The site at Gånarp, it looks very good and I will try to get back next year. Not got much of this kind of habitat in BK but searching it out is a priority. We found two possible contenders today.

After dropping off Number 1 at school the rest of Team Benstead headed off to scope out a few dragonfly sites for next year. [I have taken on 8 BK squares for the 2009-2014 Dragonfly Atlas of Skåne, which is why there has been so much dragonfly action of late.] Our first stop was Gånarp and a beautiful little site crammed with Lestes virens. One on patch last week and now this! Too much. Afterwards we headed back on patch to check out a few sites that might offer the same biotope, we kind of succeeded but no sign of any more virens. A single honey buzzard (probably a resident) was our only birdy reward.

Aeshna mixta (female) at Rönnen.

In the afternoon I jettisoned the team (who were going shopping) and headed out to do the nearby coast from Sandön to Farhult. Sandön had a scattering of waders, best of the lot was my first sanderling of the year but also notable were; grey plover (1), knot (10), dunlin (60), ruff (2), bar-tailed godwit (2), curlew (58), redshank (6) and turnstone (1).

Rönnen was quiet, the geese had taken over and I could not avoid flushing 850 barnacle geese from the paths where they were happily grazing. Clearly no-one had been birding much today, which was why I could roll up and find these dollying about on the water...

Surprise of the afternoon was not one but four red-necked phalaropes at Rönnen, my first multiple encounter in Skåne and a year-tick to boot! There are three in this photograph (honest!), taken at long range on macro setting...

Other waders at Rönnen included; avocet (13), knot (1), another sanderling, Temminck's stint (1), three spotted redshank and at least 15 wood sandpipers. Last stop of the day was Farhult, thrashed about behind the reedbed for dragonflies and then did the birds. Waders again providing the interest. Another single sanderling made me wonder if I was being followed. Also here; avocet (4), grey plover (3), knot (21), curlew sandpiper (1), dunlin (105), bar-tailed godwit (20, most flying past including one with an orange leg flag - French?), an impressive 57 redshank and 14 greenshank.