13th April 2017
Staff: Daniel Wade (DWE)
Weather: Dry and (you guessed it) cold
Projects: Wetlands Census, Marsh Harriers
Today was a dry day at Kvismaren and there was much less wind so the opportunity was taken to complete the last of Wetlands Census for the week. It proved an excellent morning for birds, a Bewicks Swan was present on Öbymaden and a Jack Snipe showed itself on Kvinnerstasjön during the wetland census.
Kvinnerstasjön is a new addition to the Wetland Census, and only includes an 100m by 100m area of reed just behind the back of Sörbysjön in order to make a comparison between the more open and dense reedbeds. Non waterbirds were also counted in these parts of the census.
Fräknabotten
Greylag Goose: 3
Gadwall: 8
Wigeon: 5
Teal: 15
Lapwing: 14
These are lower than expected totals for the areas but almost certainly due to the fact a subadult White-tailed Eagle was sat in the middle of the area during the count.
Sörbysjön
Mute Swan: 1 pair
Whooper Swan: 1
Greylag Goose: 46 + 1 incubating
Mallard: 3 pairs + 4
Gadwall: 2 pairs
Wigeon: 5
Teal: 257
Lapwing: 17
Snipe: 4
Black-headed Gull: 121
Reed Bunting: 23
Meadow Pipit: 1
Bearded Tit: 2
Marsh Harrier: 1 pair.
Kvinnerstasjön
Mute Swan: 1 pair
Greylag Goose: 16
Mallard: 1 pair
Goldeneye: 1 pair + 1
Jack Snipe: 1
Reed Bunting: 4
Meadow Pipit: 1
In the world of Marsh Harriers, today was rather surprising as both a male and female were witnessed nest building in Sörbsjön, which is quite early and quite crazy as it was 2C this morning. With snow forecast for most of the day tomorrow it is likely these birds will delay their efforts for a while as this cold spell hits which is likely to last a week or so.
DWE