The school-run was enlivened by Number 1 spotting a white-tailed eagle over the village this morning. But got it wrong today in a brisk NW wind. I worked the coast between Påarps Mal and Norra Ängalag for very little return, a few skylarks on the move and one sub-adult shag at Torekov. As I headed for lunch the news came through that Kent had found the glaucous gull within range of the top end of Eskilstorpsstrand. I had other commitments but still got there within an hour with the kids in tow. No sign of the bird and a trawl north up the beach failed to locate it it either. Had it gone south into BK? I must start to take this bird seriously, I actually need it for Sweden I think...
Showing posts with label Skummeslövsstrand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skummeslövsstrand. Show all posts
Friday, March 1, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
hawk owl again
This morning I nipped out for a couple of hours checking the coast between Stora Hultsstrand and Ranarpsstrand. Stora Hult had the best birds with three BK year-ticks (green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker (!) and red-necked grebe), plus a nice male smew. Elsewhere a small flock of 17 fieldfare and a white-tailed eagle graced Grytskären.
In the afternoon we all searched for the Skummeslövsstrand glaucous gull, once I realised one was around. It has been present since the end of January and I cannot believe it has not strayed into BK. Last thing we checked Älemossen for the hawk owl and were rewarded with a brief 'scope view.
In the afternoon we all searched for the Skummeslövsstrand glaucous gull, once I realised one was around. It has been present since the end of January and I cannot believe it has not strayed into BK. Last thing we checked Älemossen for the hawk owl and were rewarded with a brief 'scope view.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Patch work
I do not need much inspiration to work my patch hard, but yesterday's events underlined the great pleasure of finding your own rarities. Rolf's well-deserved and splendid dowitcher here in NW Skåne was eclipsed by the news back home in Norfolk of Rob Martin's equally well-deserved and simply awesome rufous-tailed robin. Read Rob's account on the punkbirder website. Magic stuff.
That said, I put some time in today and nothing amazing materialised just some nice birds. Kicked off at Klarningen at first light. The pools held 11 whooper swans, which moved on fairly quickly once the sun got going. The greylag goose flock pulled down a single white-fronted goose during the hour I spent going through the wildfowl. Fifteen shoveler remain and the teal flock numbered 250 this morning. The great grey shrike remains and was chasing fieldfares today, it seems particularly pugnacious this one. I spent another hour tramping about in the stubble, hoping for something good but had to settle for linnets and skylarks, before heading for Eskilstorppstrand. Nice flattish sea here but nothing offshore and little overhead action either. Looking north into Skummeslövsstrand produced more in the way of seaduck including 17 scaup and one long-tailed duck.
In the afternoon we al went for a walk along the shore between Ranarpsstrand and Segelstorpsstrand. A peregrine was sitting out on Grytskären and the foreshore had a small number of twite, my first of the autumn. Offshore at least five Slavonian grebes, keeping company with a brace of red-neckeds. The sunny weather produced a red admiral sighting, going south. Best bird here though was my latest BK wheatear, a very rusty 1K individual that was not from round here. Segelstorpsstrand had another Slavonian grebe and the gardens produced two chiffchaffs.
On the way home we stopped briefly at Ljungbyholm for 350 golden plover and a great grey shrike.
That said, I put some time in today and nothing amazing materialised just some nice birds. Kicked off at Klarningen at first light. The pools held 11 whooper swans, which moved on fairly quickly once the sun got going. The greylag goose flock pulled down a single white-fronted goose during the hour I spent going through the wildfowl. Fifteen shoveler remain and the teal flock numbered 250 this morning. The great grey shrike remains and was chasing fieldfares today, it seems particularly pugnacious this one. I spent another hour tramping about in the stubble, hoping for something good but had to settle for linnets and skylarks, before heading for Eskilstorppstrand. Nice flattish sea here but nothing offshore and little overhead action either. Looking north into Skummeslövsstrand produced more in the way of seaduck including 17 scaup and one long-tailed duck.
In the afternoon we al went for a walk along the shore between Ranarpsstrand and Segelstorpsstrand. A peregrine was sitting out on Grytskären and the foreshore had a small number of twite, my first of the autumn. Offshore at least five Slavonian grebes, keeping company with a brace of red-neckeds. The sunny weather produced a red admiral sighting, going south. Best bird here though was my latest BK wheatear, a very rusty 1K individual that was not from round here. Segelstorpsstrand had another Slavonian grebe and the gardens produced two chiffchaffs.
On the way home we stopped briefly at Ljungbyholm for 350 golden plover and a great grey shrike.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Irruptive behaviour
Checked out Eskilstorpsstrand this morning. Frost overnight again and a cold start to an otherwise sunny day. The wind has gone east, can it produce? I searched anyway. The sea had 100+ scaup (mostly off Skummeslövsstrand) and good numbers of velvet scoter (100) off the patch and many more off Skummeslövsstrand. More bullfinches again today with 13 seen, many of which were flying over giving the 'eastern' call. Thirteen waxwing south too. The coastal strip of vegetation produced nothing else of note apart from two coal tits, but as I was getting in my car I noticed a small flock of redpoll feeding in an alder with individuals occasionally dropping to feed on the ground. Unlike previous flocks this autumn, they were settled and allowed a good going through. Of the twenty birds present one showed a good white rump and I focussed my attention on it - another Arctic redpoll! It behaved really well, but as the flock flew south, I wondered how many of the twenty had been Arctic, or had I chanced on the only one? Difficult birds to pin down on your own, mostly because they are hyperactive!
Naturally I visited Klarningen briefly on the way home. Water levels are at an all-time high and so were goose numbers. At least 500 greylag in. A thorough search revealed 46 Canada geese, three white-fronts and a single tundra bean goose. Superb. Duck numbers are dropping though as the temperatures plummet; just 15 wigeon and 8 teal remain. A kettle of eight migrating buzzard and a single hunting rough-legged buzzard were the only raptors today. The huge flock of starling present recently had dwindled to one today! Best bird though was my first bullfinch for the site...
Naturally I visited Klarningen briefly on the way home. Water levels are at an all-time high and so were goose numbers. At least 500 greylag in. A thorough search revealed 46 Canada geese, three white-fronts and a single tundra bean goose. Superb. Duck numbers are dropping though as the temperatures plummet; just 15 wigeon and 8 teal remain. A kettle of eight migrating buzzard and a single hunting rough-legged buzzard were the only raptors today. The huge flock of starling present recently had dwindled to one today! Best bird though was my first bullfinch for the site...
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Birding - 20/12/09
The garden had at least 15 brambling this morning and three redwing were feeding in the rowan. Dropped the family at the swimming pool in Laholm in the morning and went for an hour long walk at Påarp, well off-patch this and rather quiet today! A single redwing being the only bird of note. Back at Laholm, an excellent red kite flew over.
Drove back the long way through Mellbystrand and Skummeslövstrand. Stopped near some fruiting trees at the latter site and had at least 6 more redwing and a small flock of redpoll (7). Last stop of the day was Eskilstorpstrand where we slid about on the sea-ice. Just a few more redwing, a calling dunnock and five whooper swans south here. Back at home at least 20 redwing roosted near the garden at dusk. A quiet day.
Drove back the long way through Mellbystrand and Skummeslövstrand. Stopped near some fruiting trees at the latter site and had at least 6 more redwing and a small flock of redpoll (7). Last stop of the day was Eskilstorpstrand where we slid about on the sea-ice. Just a few more redwing, a calling dunnock and five whooper swans south here. Back at home at least 20 redwing roosted near the garden at dusk. A quiet day.
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