Sweden Scandinavian Breeding Birds (in conjunction with Birdwatch Magazine) Trip Report 15-18 May 2006

Trip Report by Brian Hill

Monday 15th May

After a pleasant flight from Luton, we arrived in bright sunshine at Vasteras early in the morning. At Daniel’s suggestion, we visited a small copse near the airport for Icterine Warbler, but they had not yet arrived. We did get good views of Pied Flycatcher, and other common woodland birds before moving south to Ängsö. Lunching by a shallow wetland, entertained by at least three Ospreys and a Hobby, we had fine views of a pair of breeding Slavonian Grebe. The nearby parkland had a variety of birds, including our first Fieldfares and Redwings. We had good views of pale European Nuthatches and a Hawfinch, before moving north to the Black River Valley.

Our first stop here was at Skepplinge, an area of flooded fields, attractive to waders. Here we had an astonishing 40 plus Wood Sandpipers, although there were probably more, three Greenshank and two male Ruff. We were now seeing Marsh Harriers regularly, but were soon attracted by another male harrier, pursued by angry Lapwings. Views of this were frustratingly inconclusive. It was either a second summer Montagu’s or, more probably, a Pallid.

We moved on to roadside views of a White-tailed Eagle at the nest, seeing a pair of Hobbies displaying nearby, before visiting another flooded area – Sörsalbo, with Garganey, a herd of Whooper Swans, and a party of Little Gulls, with four immaculate adults. Another roadside stop produced further Wood Sandpipers, Common Crane and around 50 Ruff.

Before arriving at our accommodation, we checked the lake Fläcksjön at Flackebo. Some 25 Black Terns, with around 10 Arctics were dipping over the water. Waders included Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers.

After a delicious evening meal, we left to hunt for owls, targeting Great Grey at a known site. Brief stops along the way gave us Northern Bullfinch, a nice male Red backed Shrike and good views of two Moose in a meadow. Entering the pinewoods, we saw Siskin and a Greyhen (Black Grouse) crossed the road.

We spent the hours before darkness searching for the Great Grey in the open clearings it was known to hunt, but without success. A little disappointed, we backtracked, meeting a Swedish birder who told us he had seen this bird, and a Pygmy Owl the previous night, from where we were standing.

As Daniel tried in vain to call up the Pygmy Owl we were entertained by up to four roding Woodcock. Then Brian, still scanning the fields calmly announced ‘Great Grey Owl on the fence’. And so it was, still in reasonable light. As dusk enfolded us, we were treated to the sight of this magnificent bird hunting the rough grass. Eventually it pounced on a large rodent (probably a water vole) and made off purposefully over the trees with its prize.

We left the Pygmy Owl for another day, and very tired, made for our beds.

Tuesday 16th May

An early start saw us at the edge of a raised bog in the middle of a forested area overlooking a Black Grouse lek. Early though it was, we were just in time. Within five minutes of our arrival, the six males displaying had melted away and the lek was silent. The bog also held breeding Wood Sandpipers. Some of these were singing, recalling Woodlark in some notes. Snipe were also displaying, and we had distant views of an Osprey eyrie, the adult on the nest. We moved into the forest in search of Hazel Hen and Capercaillie. Although we heard Hazel Hen several times during the trip, we never saw this elusive species, but did see a male Capercaillie clattering over the trees. In a cleared area of pinewood, we had excellent views of a calling Wryneck. Here the species seems to prefer this habitat rather than parkland. Other species seen included Long-tailed Tit (caudatus), Pied Flycatcher and Tree Pipit, and had fine views of two pairs of Black throated Divers on a small lake.

Returning for lunch at Flackerbo, we had time to visit the lakeside to hear singing Thrush Nightingale and Garden Warbler. Two Hobbies were hunting the lake, with Black and Arctic Terns still present.

In the afternoon we met with Owl-ringers, Kalle and Kjell-Åke Källebrink, and went to check breeding Ural Owls, a new species for most of us. As Kalle climbed the ladder to the first nest box, we heard the adult snapping its bill defiantly from within. Without ceremony, he withdrew the bird from the box, and checked it out while his brother investigated the contents of the box. It was amazing to see this large owl at such close quarters, as when released, it flew up to a nearby branch, barking defiantly. Although reminded of its reputation as slaguggla (strike owl), it looked deceptively benign and gentle as it peered down at us. We moved away quickly to another nest box, which was also checked, for more photo opportunities with this fine owl.

By great fortune, it is a good year for owls in Sweden and Hawk Owls are breeding farther south for the first time in many years. The party unanimously agreed to alter the itinerary, abandoning the trip to the coast, to visit a site north of Uppsala in the hope of seeing this species. After a long drive, we arrived in an area of scattered pine and birch, and soon picked up the female Hawk Owl calling for food high in a birch. We had tremendous views, as the male came in to feed her. As a sign of how abundant rodents are this year, the male dropped half a vole from a branch and made no effort to retrieve it. We watched for over an hour, before the female returned to incubate, her rear end comically sticking out of the cramped nest hole, high in a dead birch trunk .

As we watched, a female Hen Harrier flew past, causing the owl some anxiety before moving through, and most of us saw a Black Woodpecker.

Wednesday 17th May

After a short drive, we met Michael our guide for woodpeckers at Färna Ekopark. Lesser and Common Whitethroats were singing as, almost immediately he called up a male Three-toed Woodpecker that gave prolonged close views, unconcerned at our presence. A nice bonus was an adult male Common Crossbill perched at the top of a pine. A short distance away, we saw Grey-headed and heard Green Woodpecker. Moving along the track, we had excellent views of a pair of Wrynecks, before pinning down two Great spotted Woodpeckers, and enjoying spectacular views of a Black Woodpecker at the nest. A nearby lake held Reed Warblers, a Cuckoo and a further pair of Black throated Divers. Michael is studying Tengmalm’s Owls, and took us to three occupied boxes in a small forest area, where we were able to see this bird at close quarters. In the rather cool conditions, Daniel had to sacrifice his woolly hat to keep some very young owlets warm! The parent bird showed its gratitude by trying to bite lumps out of his fingers as he held it. Despite its small size, Tengmalm’s is a fierce little owl. Interestingly, the naturalist after whom this owl is named lived in this part of Sweden.

Near one of the boxes, we saw a pair of Woodlark on recently cleared ground.

Rain then set in for the afternoon, and we returned to the accommodation glad of a rest.

By late afternoon, although conditions were not good, Daniel agreed to try again for Pygmy Owl, and in the rain we visited a number of potential sites without success, and without many birds of any kind, apart from the odd roding Woodcock. Without much optimism, we eventually returned to a site where the bird had been seen recently and Daniel began to imitate the call. After a long wait and on the point of giving up, to our delight, we heard a reply and eventually, a wet and bedraggled Pygmy Owl manifested itself at the very top of a pine, squeaking defiance at us. We soon left it in peace, content with the views, and returned to dry off.

Wednesday 18th May

A quick tour of the garden before breakfast produced Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Sparrow and a singing Thrush Nightingale, in a duet with a bird by the lake. Leaving the village we saw our first Yellow Wagtail, before moving to a forest track, where in the pinewoods we had good views of a Nutcracker, several Siskins, Crested and Willow Tits.

We spent the rest of the morning re-visiting the waders sites. Among the Whooper Swan herd, we located a late Bewick’s and a Barnacle Goose and saw a wide variety of wildfowl, including Garganey. Waders included Ruff, Dunlin, a single Knot, Ringed, Golden and Grey Plover (in immaculate summer plumage), Greenshank and Green, Wood and Common Sandpipers. A highlight was provided by 10 Temminck’s Stints, dozing on a mudbank. A Wood Warbler singing from a tall hedge was a nice surprise, as was a confiding Hobby. A small pond provided our only Goosander of the trip.

We then embarked on a long drive to a quarry near Fjärdhundra, where Eagle Owls had bred last year. Enroute we stopped for more good views of Common Crane in roadside fields, a flyover Honey Buzzard, harassed by two Hooded Crows and a delightful party of 21 Yellow Wagtails (all thunbergi) in a ploughed field.

Unfortunately, the Eagle Owls were not in residence this year, but the visit was well worthwhile, with excellent views of at least 4 singing Ortolan Buntings, several Thrush Nightingales, and a Wheatear, while those physically able, heard a Grasshopper Warbler.

With time now pressing, we returned to Flackebo for our last meal before driving to Vasteras for the flight home, all well satisfied with a visit that, although brief, was packed with quality birds.