SWEDEN - 5th July

Calm and cloudy to start allowing us to get a standardised ringing session in at Fågelsjön where the highlights included a French ringed Reed Warbler, a re-trap Marsh Warbler, a nice male Whinchat, another juvenile Yellow Wagtail, a re-trap Great Reed Warbler (which was fitted with a logger) and a nice selection of Bearded Tits.   

The wind then picked up with heavy, persistent rain through until mid-afternoon when it turned very windy with some nasty showers whipping though; it was a brilliant session at Löten though where some smart waders had dropped in with an adult BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER and 9 Curlew Sandpipers – all in stunning bright red breeding plumage the definite highlights.   

Other birds here included 10 Dunlin, a Garganey, a distant adult White-tailed Eagle, 21+ Greenshank (several of which were stained a peachy buffy colour, presumably from their breeding pools further north), 60+ Wood Sandpipers, 4 Spotted Redshank, 20+ Ruff, 26 Black Terns, a male Grey-headed Wagtail (a slightly imperfect one with a bit of a whitish supercillium behind the eye), the first juvenile Marsh Harriers on the wing and 400+ Swifts whizzing around really low.

Marsh Warbler

Juvenile Whinchat

Female Whinchat

Male Whinchat

Roe Deer