A period with nice winds from southeast - east, therefore a long list.
The last days though very cold and rainy, i.e. back to the normal ....
A summary of the wwbt invasion at the end.
SWEDISH RARITY REPORT May 13-20 1997
Sources: Fax from the Swedish hotline Club 300, + www-umea + ERAD-Gotland.
Most of the rarities listed below are not official Swedish records until accepted
by the national or local rarities committees.
Abbreviations: m=male, f=female, 2y=second calender year age, s=summer plumage
English name, scientific name (Swedish name)
Number, sex, place (Province) date
Great Northern Diver, Gavia immer (svartnäbbad islom)
1 ad Gubbanäsan (Halland) 13.5, 1 2y at Lake Vallsjön (Småland) -19.5, 1 ad at Järnäsklubb
(Västerbotten) 14.5, 1 at Eksta (Gotland) 16-17.5, 1 at Järnäsklubb (Västerbotten)
14.5.
White-billed Diver, G. adamsii (vitnäbbad islom)
1 ad at Järnäsklubb (Västerbotten) 14.5, 1 at Gubbanäsan (Halland) 14.5, 1 at Kronholmen
(Gotland) 18.5, 1 at St. Fjäderägg (Västerbotten) 18.5, 1 at Järnäsklubb (Västerbotten)
14.5.
Ross s Goose, Anser rossii (dvärgsnögås)
1 at Stockviken (Gotland) - 14.5.
Black Stork, Ciconia nigra (svart stork)
1 at Siljansnäs (Dalarna) 10-14.5, 1 at Frösslunda (öland) 16-17.5 and at Penåsa (öland)
17-18.5 and W. Slagerstad 22.5, 1 at Tullgarnsnäset (Södermanland) 19.5.
Great White Egret, Egretta alba (ägretthäger)
1 at Ajkes träsk (Gotland) -12.5.
Little Egret, E. garzetta (silkeshäger)
1 at Persnäs vik (öland) -13.5 and at Segerstad 22.5, 1 at Getterön (Halland) 18-20.5.
American Wigeon, Anas americana (amerikansk bläsand)
1 m at Umeå moved to Villanäs (Västerbotten), stayed there until 16.5.
American Teal, Anas crecca carolinensis (amerikansk kricka)
1 m at Leonardsberg (östergötland) 16.5.
Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca (vitögd dykand)
1 f at Lake Hornborgasjön (Västergötland) - 16.5.
Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina (rödhuvad dykand)
1 f at Utlängan (Blekinge) 19.5.
King Eider, Somateria spectabilis (praktejder)
1 f at Ottenby (öland) - 19.5, 1 ad m + 1 subad m at Fårö (Gotland) 18 and 19.5, 1
m at Hörnefors (Västerbotten) 14.5,
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensisi (ringnäbbad mås)
In Halmstad harbour (Halland) as usual.
Glaucous Gull, L. hyperboreus (vittrut)
1 2-3y at Getterön (Halland) 17.5 and 22.5.
Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus (svarthuvad mås)
1 3y in Malmö harbour (Scania) the whole period + 1 ad on nest (still on nest 19.5).
Both birds also seen at Arlövs ängar now and then.
1 2y at Kronholmen (Gotland) 14-15.5.
Whiskered Tern, Chlidonias hybridus (skäggtärna)
1 ad at Lake Hornborgasjön (Västergötland) 15-16.5. Seems to be the best spot in Sweden
for this species.
Pomarine Skua, St. pomarinus (bredstjärtad labb)
4, light phase, at Järnäsklubb (Västerbotten) 14.5, 2 at Busön (Halland) 14.5, 1 light
phase, at Ottenby (öland) 17.5, and another 18.5, 1 at Sännerstagrundet (Västerbotten)
19.5.
EGYPTIAN VULTURE, Neophron percnopterus ginginianus (smutsgam)
1 discovered 18.5 at Ligga, N. Jokkmokk (Lapland !!).
22.5 it was rediscovered 130 km further south, at Vistbäcken, 30 km W. älvsbyn.
This is a very strange record. The race ginginianus (all yellow bill) is resident
in India and Nepal, although there are intermediates who are more migratory.
There were rumours that the bird fed on handheld saucages. In a phone call Lars Sandberg,
Piteå, who were among them discovering the bird, said this is false. Meat was thrown
out on the ground, and of course the bird approached it after a while and fed on it (it was snow in the area !), but it is not at all a tame bird. We will see what
the rarities committee says about this record...(low odds I would say).
Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus (stäpphök)
1 f at Hylteröns kulle (Västergötland) 13.5, 1 f W. Alby (öland) 17-20.5 and Risinge
hamn 18.5, 1 2y f at Paviken (Gotland) 19.5, 1 f at Kvinneby (öland) 22.5.
Black Kite, Milvus migrans (brun glada)
1 at Ottenby (öland) 19-21.5, 1 at Nottorö (Södermanland) 19.5, 1 at Muskmyr (Gotland)
12.5 and 19-20.5, 1 at Holmögadd (Västerbotten) 17.5, 1 at Umeå (Västerboten) 19.5.
Lesser Spotted Eagle, Aquila pomarina (mindre skrikörn)
1 at Bureå (Västerbotten) 17.5.
Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus (aftonfalk)
1 f at Kvismaren (Närke) 18.5, 1 subad at Gillsätra (öland) 18.5, 1 m at Fårö (Gotland)
19.5, 1 m at Skrubbs (Gotland) 20.5, 1 at Muskmyr (Gotland) 22.5, 1 at Hörnefors
(Västerbotten) 18.5.
Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (tuvsnäppa)
1 at Risinge hamn (öland) 18-19.5.
Terek Sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (tereksnäppa)
1 at Eckels udde (öland) 18.5
LESSER YELLOWLEGS, Tringa flavipes (mindre gulbena)
1 at Frötunaviken (Uppland) 14-17.5. Record no. 7.
Marsh Sandpiper, T. stagnatilis (dammsnäppa)
1 at Hasslarp (Scania) 19-22.5, 1 at Vadsjön (Småland) 19.5, 1 at Ottenby (öland)
19.5, 1 at Hjästaviken (Uppland) 22.5.
Kentish Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus (svartbent strandpipare)
1 f at Ledskärsviken (Uppland) 14.5, 1 f at Sandby skjutfält (öland) 16.5.
The only breeding pairs in Sweden is a small colony of 2 pairs + 1 m at ängsnäset,
Falsterbo (Scania), but the result seem to be rather dissapointing.
Bee-eater, Merops apiaster (biätare)
1 at Hammarö (Värmland) 16.5, 1 at Ottenby (öland) 17.5.
Lesser Grey Shrike, Lanius minor (svartpannad törnskata)
1 at Stureholm (Scania) 18.5.
Firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus (brandkronad kungsfågel)
1 m at Kåsehuvud (Scania) 13.5, 1 m at Falsterbo (Scanaia) 13.5, 1 at Utklippan (Blekinge)
16.5,
Short-töd Lark, Calandrella brachydactyla (korttålärka)
1 at Ottenby (öland) -20.5, 2 at Forsmark (Uppland) 13.5, 1 at Kronholmen (Gotland)
14.5, 1 at Getterön (Halland) 14.5, 1 at Utlängan (Blekinge) 15.5, 2 at Hoburgen
(Gotland) 15.5 and 20-21.5, 1 at östergarnsdalen (Gotland) 16.5, 1 at Rivet (Gotland)
-20.5.
Crested Lark, Galerida cristata (tofslärka)
1 at Majstregården (Gotland) 19.5, 1 at Hoburgen (Gotland) 22.5.
Richard s Pipit, Anthus richardi (större piplärka)
1 at Landsbergagård (Uppland) 15.5, 1 at Vikersvik (Dalarna) 16.5,
Red-rumped Swallow, Hirundo daurica (rostgumpsvala)
1 at Ottenby (öland) 14.5, 1 at Långrataudden (Värmland) 18.5, 1 at Getterön (Halland)
19.5, 1 at Långrataudden (Västerbotten) 18.5. (Over 60 records of this species now).
Stonechat, Saxicola torquata (svarthakad buskskvätta)
1 m at Brosjötornet, Norrtälje (Uppland) 17.5, 1 m at Ottenby (öland) 17.5.
*****************************
The amazing invasion of White-winged Black Tern, (= wwbt) Chlidonias leucopterus (vitvingad
tärna) was THE event of the period.
The total record of this species is around 120 over the years, with a fairly recent
invasion of around 20 birds.
May 12 there were no records in Sweden. Then during 13-15 May 2479 !!! birds was
seen in southern Sweden. After that only small flocks remained, at Lake Krankesjön
there were still 4 birds May 22.
A combination of warm winds from SE and bad visibility could account for this invasion,
which also hit Holland, Germany (especially north Pommern, with 800 birds), eastern
Denmark etc.
Records per province in Sweden:
13.5;
502 in Scania, with 250 at Lake Krankesjön + 9 other localities.
2 at Öland (Segerstad).
14.5;
1372 in Scania, highest numbers at Lake Krankesjön (262), Lake Ringsjön (370. Biggest
flock ever in Sweden).
176 in Halland, with 124 at Skottorpsdammen, SE Halmstad.
204 in Småland (Over 200 at Skatlövsfjorden, Växjö, 2 at Draven).
35 at Gotland (33 Stockviken, 2 Paviken).
3 at Öland.
3 in Västergötland (Lake Hornborgasjön).
1 in Dalarna (Vanbo) in central Sweden.
IN TOTAL 1794.
15.5;
170 in Scania (7 localities).
4 in Småland (Lake Draven).
11 at Gotland (Furilden).
1 in Västergötland (Lake Hornborgasjön).
1 in Närke (Rävgångsmaden). Still there 16.5.
I was at Lake Krankesjön 13.5, the lake was full of white-winged, one small dense
flock of 65 just below the tower at Silvåkra. Fantastic.
The next week (week 22), the organization Club 300 has organized a hunt for rarities
on Gotland, the big island in the Baltic Sea. Over 150 birders will participtate.
Hopefully the weather has improved by then.
Erling Jirle
Swedish coordinator EuroBirdNet / Fuglenett