Swedish tick - Erythromma viridulum!

Nipped out pre-breakfast for a look around Torekov this morning, strong easterlies blowing but still overcast and very muggy. The rev was fairly quiet and the waders were a bit jumpy. A 1K goshawk steamed in at one point from the direction of Hallands Väderö, which may have explained this behaviour. Migrants mostly consisted of waders with; ringed plover (30), dunlin (29), ruff (8), bar-tailed godwit (1), redshank (8) and greenshank (3). A nice 1K red-backed shrike was by the car as I left.

The quest for a good fox photo continues... This was just one of a string of predators scaring the birds at Påarps Mal this morning.

A quick look at the sewage works area, revealed that it was being disturbed, just 2 greenshank flying away and a depressed-looking kestrel were present. Påarps Mal was better, although in the 50 minutes I was there the plover flock was put up by buzzard, sparrowhawk and a fox. This allowed me to estimate the number of golden plover present at about 300 though. Also here; lapwing (80), snipe (6), redshank (4), greenshank (2), green sandpiper (2) and common sandpiper (3). Driving home for breakfast I stopped briefly at a potato field near Dagshög for a big flock of 60 linnets and at least 8 yellow wagtails.

In the afternoon, Mrs B dropped me and the kids at Hasslarp for an hour while she went on to Helsingborg. Hasslarp was good today. The easy highlight was a single male Erythromma viridulum and a range extension for this recent colonist. Is there a colony at the site already or is this the vanguard of the inevitable invasion?

Dragonfly species number 42 for my Swedish list and probably a good find too. Erythromma viridulum has been spreading from the extreme south of Sweden, where it was first recorded in 2004. This sighting may be the most northerly in Skåne and may also be the first in NW Skåne, there are no other records in the excellent national invertebrate database anyway. I reckon I will find it in BK this year if I look hard.

X marks the spot! One of the diagnostic features of Erythromma viridulum is the black cross incised into the blue of S10 (the apical segment of the abdomen).

Birds were good too, with a garganey, a superb broad-billed sandpiper and a good scattering of common migrant waders including a splendid 26 wood sandpipers and 11 spotted redshank.

Number one modelling this year's Aeshna mixta (female) at Hasslarp today.

Last stop of the birding day was an hour at Sandön. The easterly winds had cleared a lot of water off the site and birds were abundant. Wildfowl included wigeon (2), gadwall (2), pintail (1) and shoveler (1). The mudflats held waders galore with three superb broad-billed sandpipers being the best of it, but also knot (6), Temminck's stint (2) and curlew sandpiper (1). From the island the gull and tern roost contained two 1K and two adult black terns, as well as two dinky 1K little gulls. Walking back the reed edge revealed two skittish water rails and a couple of feeding bearded tits. Two ospreys hunted overhead and an adult hobby shot past. A superb day out.

Birding - 21/08/09

A look at the weather chart convinced me that conditions were good for a fall this morning, but it sounds like it all happened slightly further south. I hit Ripagården at dawn with some optimism therefore, but it quickly became apparent that no large numbers of passerines had fallen out overnight. Migrants were about though; a deep, throaty "chuck" followed by a "whheep" alerted me to the presence of a thrush nightingale, a bird that tends to be hard to spot after the spring song-fest. A scattering of migrants included sedge warbler (1) and small numbers of lesser and common whitethroat and tree pipit. The reedbed was hosting a flock of 1500 starlings and the sea had whooper swan (1), wigeon (10, another species now on the move), gadwall (1) and an adult and juvenile razorbill. Waders were few and far between with just snipe (6) and common sandpiper (12). One of the highlights was three big fox cubs ('captured' in the video clip below) having fun by the sea - aaahh bless.

Back at home for breakfast, it was noticeable that the garden (which has been very quiet for weeks) was buzzing. A quick look found three (yes three) chaffinches, four robins, blackcap, lesser whitethroat and chiffchaff. Busy indeed.

After leaving all three kids at day-care for the first time, I took Mrs B out to take her mind off the fact that her babies were growing up. Through the intermittent bouts of uncontrollable sobbing we looked for birds. We both enjoyed a roadside marsh harrier en route to Glimminge. Glimminge was disappointing for waders, although Mrs B flushed a record count of snipe (21), also here redshank (5), wood sandpiper (2) and common sandpiper (2). Wigeon (4) and teal (12) floated offshore.

Working the woodland edge from Vasaltheden was pleasurable. A scattering of migrants included icterine warbler (2), garden warbler (2), spotted flycatcher (4), redstart (1) and tree pipit (10). A total of nine black guillemots in family parties floated offshore. A quick look at Öllövstrand revealed nothing unusual. Walking back through Vasaltheden we had a low female merlin along the shoreline.

Comfort food was required so we ate a packed lunch at Klarningen and had a quick look. Waders included curlew (4), lapwing (50), golden plover (1), greenshank (1), wood sandpiper (1), green sandpiper (1) and snipe (10). Four wigeon flew over scouting the site and a 1K cuckoo drifted along the peripheral line of trees. A few grounded tree pipits were flushed and the site looks good for autumn red-throats!

Driving back to pick up the kids we passed Ehrenstorp and found the family of cranes still in residence. Took the kids for a run-around at Torekov and had a superb osprey over the car at Västra Karup. Autumn has arrived and birds are on the move - yee hah!