SWEDEN - 8th July

Bar a spell of rain as a front moved to the south of us it was a decent ringing session at Fågelsjön as the highlights included 2 Marsh Warblers, some Bearded Tits, a female Yellow Wagtail, a juvenile Whinchat and 4 re-trap Great Reed Warblers; not much else was seen although the were more than normal waders flying around – all the usual species but encouraging nonetheless.   

The afternoon followed this theme with a long walk round the reserve producing some excellent visible migration with a steady stream of Swifts pouring in from the north and presumably carrying on south although there were hundreds whirling over the lakes (750+ put down for the day) as well as quite a few very high Black-headed Gull flocks also heading south.   

The highlight though was on Löten as I inadvertently timed my arrival with two huge, heavy rain showers which slowly swept across the site and as they were just moving through (although it was still raining) waders started to call with 22+ Greenshank, 40+ Wood Sandpipers, 3 Redshank and some Curlew all suddenly launching into the sky to head away high to the south – a fabulous sight with the air full of ‘tuu’s’ and twitters as the migrant birds which had just been waiting out the rain continued on their way south, brilliant!   

Totals for the afternoon comprised 14 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Little Ringed Plover, 14 Curlew, 9 Snipe, 4 Green Sandpipers, 3 Spotted Redshank, a good 44 Greenshank, 65 Wood Sandpipers, 3 White-tailed Eagles in a field at Hammarmaden and a Hobby.

Whinchat

Bearded Tit

Nuthatch from the other day

Female Blue-headed Wagtail

Wheatear

Hobby