egret

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Friday 17 May 2013

Sweden in Spring final day

Observers: Paul Lewis, Steve Carter, Daniel Green, Ian Currie, Vibeke Moeller, Flemming Moeller, Bridget Gregory, Peter Wilson, Brenda Wilson.

Our final day in Sweden and our last chance to catch up with Capercaillie and Hazel Grouse so we had organised with Daniel an early morning visit to the forest and upland bog. On arrival we slowly drove along the forest track searching for signs of Grouse and anything of  interest. With not much about we left the vehicle and Daniel briefly played the call of Hazel Grouse. It was immediately answered and a few minutes later a male bird flew across the track giving the briefest of views. Fortunately it then flew into a conifer and showed well for a minute or two giving me time to take in this small but plump Grouse adding another lifer to my list. We then visited the nearby upland bog where several Black Grouse were heard calling although they did not show. In the canopy of the forest Crested Tit, Redwing, Brambling and Goldcrest were all heard singing while the resident Ravens were agitated by something unseen to us. Then while driving back along the forest track I had the briefest of glimpses of a pale looking wolf it’s thick long coat evident before it disappeared into cover. We then made our way back to Salbohed Garden for breakfast before packing our luggage ready for our journey back to Arlanda Airport. En route we stopped off at Forbijob wetlands where a single Red-necked Grebe and up to 9 Slavonian Grebe all in breeding plumage were observed. Among the commoner waders a beautiful Spotted Redshank fed in the shallows and nearby 2 singing Eurasian Wryneck were heard. Then after speaking to a few local birders Daniel alerted us to the fact that an American visited had arrived at this wetland. A few minutes later we were viewing a lovely drake American Wigeon that was feeding on the far side of the lake. Then we moved on making the briefest of stops to view a lovely Long-eared Owl at the nest and reel of a few shots. We all then returned to the vehicle and headed off to Torslunda Quarry where a wonderful male Ortolan Bunting was observed, my last lifer of the trip. It was then time to return to the airport, say our goodbyes and head off back to London Heathrow.
A full list of species observed as follows:-
Red-necked Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Grey Heron, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Common Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Black Grouse (calling), Hazel Grouse, Common Pheasant, Eurasian Coot, Common Crane, Northern Lapwing, Golden Plover, Common Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Eurasian Woodcock, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Common Cuckoo, Long-eared Owl, Eurasian Wryneck, Green Woodpecker, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Barn swallow, Sand Martin, Tree Pipit, White Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Pied Flycatcher, Willow Tit, Crested Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Common Starling, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Common Raven, Hooded Crow, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Siskin, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Northern Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Ortolan Bunting, Reed Bunting,     
Mammals:-
European Hare, European Wolf, European Roe Deer, Red Deer,
Fallow Deer, Red Squirrel.

                                          Long-eared Owl at nest.

                                         Ortolan Bunting at Torslunda Quarry.

A full list of species observed throughout my visit as follows:-
(Lifers highlighted)

1.   Red-throated Diver
2.   Black-throated Diver
3.   Great-crested Grebe
4.   Red-necked Grebe
5.   Slavonian Grebe
6.   Great Cormorant
7.   Great Bittern
8.   Grey Heron
9.   Whooper Swan
10. Greylag Goose
11. Canada Goose
12. Barnacle Goose
13. Eurasian Wigeon
14. American Wigeon
15. Common Teal 
16. Garganey
17. Gadwall
18. Mallard
19. Northern Shoveler
20. Common Pochard
21. Tufted Duck
22. Common Goldeneye
23. Goosander
24. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
25. Western Marsh Harrier
26. Common Buzzard
27. Rough-legged Buzzard
28. White-tailed Fish Eagle
29. Osprey
30. Common Kestrel
31. Eurasian Hobby
32. Peregeine Falcon
33. Black Grouse
34. Hazel Grouse
35. Common Pheasant
36. Eurasian Coot
37. Common Crane
38. Little-ringed Plover
39. Golden Plover
40. Northern Lapwing
41. Ruff
42. Whimbrel
43. Eurasian Curlew
44. Common Redshank
45. Spotted Redshank
46. Common Greenshank
47. Green Sandpiper
48. Wood Sandpiper
49. Common Sandpiper
50. Common Snipe
51. Eurasian Woodcock
52. Little Gull
53. Black-headed Gull
54. Common Gull
55. Herring Gull
56. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Baltic Gull)
57. Common Tern
58. Arctic Tern
59. Black Tern
60. Woodpigeon
61. Feral Rock Dove
62. Common Cuckoo
63. Long-eared Owl
64. Northern (Eurasian) Eagle Owl
65. Tawny Owl
66. Ural Owl
67. Great Grey Owl
68. Pygmy Owl
69. Eurasian Wryneck
70. Black Woodpecker
71. Green Woodpecker
72. Great-spotted Woodpecker
73. Three-toed Woodpecker
74. Woodlark
75. Eurasian Skylark
76. Barn Swallow
77. Sand Martin
78. Tree Pipit
79. Meadow Pipit
80. White Wagtail
81. Yellow Wagtail
82. Wren
83. Dunnock
84. European Robin
85. Thrush Nightingale
86. Common Redstart
87. Whinchat
88. Northern Wheatear
89. Common Blackbird
90. Fieldfare
91. Song Thrush
92. Redwing
93. Mistle Thrush
94. Blackcap
95. Lesser Whitethroat
96. Common Whitethroat
97. Wood Warbler
98. Willow Warbler
99. Goldcrest
100. Spotted Flycatcher
101. Pied Flycatcher
102. Marsh Tit
103. Willow Tit
104. Crested Tit
105. Blue Tit
106. Great Tit
107. Coal Tit
108. Common Treecreeper
109. Eurasian Nuthatch
110. Red-backed Shrike
111. Common Starling
112. Eurasian Jay
113. Common Magpie
114. Western Jackdaw
115. Common Raven
116. Hooded Crow
117. Tree Sparrow
118. House Sparrow
119. Common Chaffinch
120. Hawfinch
121. Eurasian Siskin
122. European Greenfinch
123. Lesser Redpoll
124. European Goldfinch
125. Common Linnet
126. Northern Bullfinch
127. Common Crossbill
128. Yellowhammer
129. Ortolan Bunting
130. Reed Bunting.

Mammals:-

1. European Hare
2. European Wolf
3. Eurasian Elk (Moose)
4. European Roe Deer
5. Red Deer
6. Fallow Deer
7. Eurasian Beaver
8. Red Squirrel



   

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