The early bird gets the worm
Personel; TMJ, TLR, LSS, NDL, MPN
Weather; cloudy with some rain – later some sun, very light breeze and cold
Projects; Wetland survey, Great Reed Warbler, Ortolan
Just after sunrise the first wetland surveys started at 5. Quite early, but successful though. The results are the following:
Fågelsjön & Åslasjön: Greylag Goose 57 (+21 chicks), Mallard 14, Bittern 4, Coot 26, Red-necked Grebe 10, Gadwall 7, Common Tern 6, Cormorant 1, Canada Goose 2, Mute Swan 4, Water Rail 2
Löten: Black-headed Gull 44, Greylag Goose 62 (+41 chicks), Gadwall 9, Coot 8, Teal 27, Lapwing 11, Mute Swan 4, Shoveler 2, Ruff 1, Canada Goose 1, Mallard 2, Common Tern 2, Common Sandpiper 1
Nyängen: Greylag Goose 13, Mute Swan 3, Coot 7, Goldenye 4, Moorhen 1, Water Rail 1, Bittern 1, Red-necked Grebe 3, Gadwall 4, Mallard 3, Common Sandpiper 1
Nynäsängen: Greylag Goose 13 (+11 chicks), Mute Swan 2, Coot 5, Goldeneye 3, Tufted Duck 13, Gadwall 2, Common Sandpiper 1, Lapwing 2, Whooper Swan 2
Fräknabotten: Greylag Goose 41, Lapwing 21, Pintail 2, Gadwall 9, Teal 141, Ruff 46, Spotted Redshank 60, Crane 30, Mallard 6, Black-headed Gull 54, Wigeon 25, Mute Swan 14, Little Gull 2, Tufted Duck 5, Redshank 1, Wood Sandpiper 11, Goldeneye 2, Shoveler 5, Snipe 2, Common Tern 8, Greenshank 3, Common Sandpiper 5
Hammarbotten: Snipe 2, Lapwing 11, Wood Sandpiper 1, Black-headed Gull 12, Shoveler 5, Coot 1, Arctic Tern 2, Mute Swan 2, Mallard 1, Teal 39, Wigeon 8, Black Tern 2, Gadwall 4, Greylag Goose 24, Crane 23
Hammarmaden: Wigeon 8, Greylag Goose 81, Herring Gull 1, Mallard 4, Teal 129, Lapwing 14, Gadwall 3, Ruff 150, Wood Sandpiper 201, Common Sandpiper 2, Redshank 3, Little Ringed Plover 1, Spotted Redshank 8, Greenshank 2, Black-headed Gull 41
Killingemaden: Snipe 1, Wood Sandpiper 15, Greenshank 2, Wigeon 4, Black Tern 6, Greylag Goose 46 (+27 chicks), Lapwing 8, Mallard 9, Teal 27, Gadwall 8, Garganey 1, Common Tern 3, Shoveler 1
Sörbysjön: Lapwing 30, Greylag Goose 8, Black-headed Gull 3, Mallard 2, Teal 2, Wood Sandpiper 133, Greenshank 5, Mute Swan 4, Spotted Redshank 5, Arctic Tern 2, Snipe 1, Gadwall 4
Like always the missing results will follow in the next days.
Our wetland surveys were just finished when we witnessed the first rarity of the day. Magnus Friberg spotted some Dotterels on a field nearby so we went there to find them. After we succeeded we instantly found the next special bird – this time a Montagu’s Harrier.
This so far very good day made a little turn to the worse. The Great Reed Warbler that was around at Rysjön couldn’t be found again which is particularly bad because tonight Jacob and Maja from Lund University arrived at the Bird Observatory. They will work on the Great Reed Warbler for the next week – well, at least if the birds will show up.
We also couldn’t find any additional Ortolans in the area so we will have to focus on Skylarks and Yellowhammers from now on. But we still hope for more Ortolans, especially the ones with the loggers.
However, the day ended more or less how it started – with rarities. In eastern Kvismare a Savi’s Warbler was heard but even more sensational was a Pacific Swift which attracted lots and lots of birders from all over Sweden. Since this is a species that usually occurs in Eastern Asia it definitely should not be around here.
TLR