Eurobirdnet - since 1990.

Rare birds in Sweden June 2 - 15, 2003

Source: Club 300 bird alert system.
Most of the rarities listed below are not official Swedish records until accepted by national or local rarities committees.

Shortenings: m=male, f=female, 2y=second calender year age, w = winter plumage

English name, scientific name (Swedish name)
Number, sex/age, place (Province) day.month
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta (silkeshäger)
1 in Västergötland, 2 in Scania during the period.

Great Egret, Egretta alba (ägretthäger)
1 in Västergötland, 1 in Scania during the period.

Black Stork, Ciconia nigra (svart stork)
1 on Öland, 1 in Småland.

Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus (nilgås) (cat. C)
1 Hässleholm, Scania 4-5.6.

American Wigeon, Anas americana (amerikansk bläsand)
1 m Hörnefors (Västerbotten) 6.6.

Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina (rödhuvad dykand)
1 m Husebymaden (Småland) 12-13.6.

Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis (mindre bergand)
1 Vadstena (Östergötland) 13.6.

King Eider, Somateria spectabilis (praktejder)
1 m Svenska Högarna (Uppland) 4.6.

Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (amerikansk kopparand) (cat. C)
1 m Ålsäters viltvatten (Södermanland) during the whole period.

Black Kite, Milvus migrans (brunglada)
About 8 in southern Sweden.

Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus (stäpphäk)
1 subad Botersten (Västergötland) 6-7.6, 1 f Råöviken (Halland) 7.6, 1 juv Gillsby mossar (Öland) 10.6, 1 f Viby (Närke) 14.6.

Long-legged Buzzard, Buteo rufinus (örnvråk)
1 subad at Holmö by (Västerbotten) 13.6 - still there today 16.6., but there are discussion about this bird, might also be a Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo lagopus (fjällvråk)

Red-footed Falcon, Falco vesperitinus (aftonfalk)
About 15, from Scania to Dalarna.

Common Quail, Coturnix cotunix (vaktel)
A lot. Over 60, all over Sweden.

Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus (styltlöpare)
1 Össby (Öland) 5.6.

Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (tuvsnäppa)
1 Påarp (Halland) 8.8.

Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis (dammsnäppa)
1 Sättunaviken (Södermanland) 5.6.

Terek Sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (tereksnäppa)
1 Oset (Närke) 2-3.6, 1 Utlängan (Blekinge) 8.6.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT, Limosahaemastica (hudsonspov)
1 ad m in the Vässby fjärd area (Öland) 14.6 - still there 10.25 p.m. tonight 16.6.
New species for Sweden. Only the second record in the Nordic countries, the only one before was in Denmark 1986.
Nickname: HUGO. Road description; see below.

Great Skua, Catharacta skua (storlabb)
1 at the west coast 13.6, 1 Hovs Hallar (Scania) 14.6.

Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus (svarthuvad mås)
1 ad Scania 14.6, 1 juv Morups Tånge (Halland) 15.6.

Gull-billed Tern, Sterna nilotica (sandtärna)
1 ad Hälla (Dalarna) 6.6, 1 SW Scania 14.6.

European Roller, Coracias garrulus (blåkråka)
1 Edvallen (Värmland) 2.6.

Eurasian Hoopoe, Upupa epos (härfågel)
In Uppland, Norrbotten and Halland.

European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster (biätare)
1 Läby (Uppland) 14.6.

Greater Short-toed Lark, Calandrella brachydactyla (korttålärka)
1 Falsterbo (Scania) 3.6.

Red-rumped Swallow, Hirundo daurica (rostgumpsvala)
2 ad Hammarö (Värmland) 10-11.6, 1 Ottenby (Öland) 13.6.
The best year previously was 1997, with 11 records. Sofar during 2003 there are about 13 birds seen, so it will be the best year ever in Sweden.

Citrine Wagtail, Motacilla citreola (citronärla)
In Småland, Västerbotten and 2 on Öland.

Common Nightingale, Luscinia megarhyncos (sydnäktergal)
1 ringed Välen (Västergötland) 8.6, 1 Målserum (Småland) 10.6.

Stonechat, Eastern race maura (S. torquata maura) ("vitgumpad buskskvätta")
1 m Utklippan (Blekinge) 3.6.

River Warbler, Locustella fluviatilis (flodsångare)
At least 45 during the period.

Savi's Warbler, Locustella luscinioides (vassångare)
In Uppland, Scania, Småland and Södermanland.

Blyth's Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum (busksångare)
About 15 - 20 during the period.

Subalpine Warbler, Sylvia cantillans (rödstrupig sångare)
1 young m Falsterbo (Scania) 4.6.

Short-toed Treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla (trädgårdsträdkrypare)
1 Falsterbo (Scania) 4-5.6.

Lesser Grey Shrike, Lanius minor (svartpannad törnskata)
1 Hallbjäns (Gotland) 5.6.

Rose-coloured Starling, Sturnus roseus (rosenstare)
In Norrbotten, Västerbotten and Gotland.

Two-barred Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (bändelkorsnäbb)
1 Haparanda Sandskär (Norrbotten) 8.6.


Road description to the Hudsonian Godwit;
You drive the big road (green signs) called E22 towards Kalmar, at Kalmar you take the bridge to Öland.
The bridge will not be closed any more nights until September.
On Öland drive north along the big road to Borgholm, and continue to Föra. About 45 minutes Kalmar - Föra. (Buy a Swedish map at a petrol station or get one for free at the car rental).
At Föra (just south of the church), take a small road (yellow sign) to Vässby. Keep right in the first little junction (tarmac road). After 1 km about, stop and look around for cars, or walk out on fields to the left towards the sea.
The bird is in the same area, Vässby fjärd, but flies around with other godwits.
When I saw it yesterday it was feeding in a bay at seashore most of the time.
The area is closed, bird protection area, but with a scope you see it well.

The English / scientific / Swedish bird names in the reports follows the Swedish Holarctic list adopted by SOF (Swed. Orn. Union) 1995.
For the whole list incl. explanations, start at; http://www.pheromone.ekol.lu.se/hollisteng.html

To read all reports from 1996 - 2003, go to EBN-Sweden homepage;
http://www.pheromone.ekol.lu.se/eurobirdnet.html
(at the green section at the middle of the page. These reports have the Swedish characters intact)


Erling Jirle,
Swedish coordinator, EuroBirdNet, Erling Jirle

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