SWEDEN - 3rd July

A similar pattern to the weather at Rysjön in the morning but the strong wind started just a few hours in to the day; birds caught included three Thrush Nightingales (two adults and a little fluffy potato of a juvenile), an Icterine Warbler, a juvenile Pied Flycatcher which I ringed as a nestling on 18th June in a nest box there and a seven-year-old Garden Warbler.  Other birds around included six Crossbills which went south (a Swedish tick!), a calling Black Woodpecker, 350+ Swifts which came in when the wind picked up, the three Great White Egrets, a little flock of juvenile Goldeneye which have been increasing every day – now up to ten birds (presumably locally bred) and a distant Lesser Black-backed Gull – also a Swedish tick.   

We returned to the forest near Morskaga in the afternoon but the Great Grey Owls had fledged and there was no sign; the only other birds of note were a pair of big, chunky Northern Bullfinches – a Swedish tick!

Juvenile and adult Thrush Nightingale