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SWEDISH RARITY REPORT Feb, March, April 2000

Not much unusual happened during Feb, March and beginning of April.
After the Easter in April though it got extremely sunny and warm for several weeks, and then things started to happen.
And in the beginning of May we have had birds like Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) and Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia).
See next report, coming soon.

News from the Rarities Committee + the newly formed Club 300 List Committee:
They made an agreement 2 April 2000 to change 2 species from category D to category C;
Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus (nilgås)
No published accepted recent records sofar (but see this report).
Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (amerikansk kopparand)
Several recent records.
The number of accepted cat. A-C (= spontaneous) records in Sweden is now 460.
Sources: Mainly from the Swedish hotline run by Club 300.
Most of the rarities listed below are not official Swedish records until accepted by the 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
European Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis (toppskarv)
Wintering birds along the west coast; maximum 12.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, Nycticorax nycticorax (natthäger)
1 ad Getterön (Halland) 30.4. No. 21 for Sweden.

Little Egret, E. garzetta (silkeshäger)
1 Kalmar (Småland) 24.4, 1 Grödinge (Södermanland) 26.4.

Great Egret, Egretta alba (ägretthäger)
1 Huseby (Småland) 2.4, 1 Timmernabben (Småland) 6-12.4, 1 L. Hammarsundet (Närke) 7.4, 1 Asköviken (Västmanland) 18-19.4, 1 Lake Krankesjön (Scania) 20-22.4, 1 Lillvik (Gotland) 23.4, 1 Söderhamn (Hälsingland) 23.4.

Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea (purpurhäger)
1 Kronholmen (Gotland) 27.4.

Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus (nilgås)
1 ad Getterön and Tjolöholm (Halland) 18-19.2.
See above about change of category of this species.
This should be a "new" species on the Swedish list, No. 461, when accepted and published.

Red-breasted Goose, Branta ruficollis (rödhalsad gås)
First observation 16.4 on Gotland. A total of 5.

Tundra Swan (subspecies Whistling Swan), Cygnus columbianus columbianus (tundrasvan)
1 ad N. Tysslingen (Närke) 2-5.3, 1 ad St. Frö (Öland) 19.3.

Ruddy Shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (rostand)
2 Skanör (Scania) 11.4.

American Wigeon, Anas americana (amerikansk bläsand)
1 ad m Lake Östen (Västergötland) 1-9.4, 1 m Fiskingemaden (Närke) 18.4, 1 m N. Tysslingen (Närke) (same?), 1 m Grytskär (Scania) 21-29.4.

Eurasian X American Wigeon, Anas penelope x A. americana (bläsand x amerikansk bläsand)
1 suspected male hybrid Ingelstorp (Scania) 17.3.

Common Teal (North American race), Anas crecca carolinensis (amerikansk kricka)
1 m Nyköping (Södermanland) 31.3-16.4, 1 m Råöviken (Halland) 8.4, 2 m Lake Östen (Västergötland) 10.4, 1 m Skavsta airport (Södermanland) 16-21.4, 1 m Lake Hullsjön (Västergöland) 23.4, 1 Lake Hornborgasjön (Västergötland) 30.4, 1 m Utö (Södermanland) 30.4 are unusually many.

King Eider, Somateria spectabilis (praktejder)
1 Feb - 26 March: 12 counted.
27 March - 2 April: 15 counted.
3-16 April: 13 counted.
17-30 April: 2 counted.

Steller s Eider, Polysticta stelleri (alförrädare)
Around 20 in Feb-March. 68 in April (flocks up to 16 in the Västerbotten archipelago).

Surf Scooter, Melanitta perspicillata (vitnackad svärta)
1 ad m Nidingen (Halland) 22.4.

Black Kite, Milvus migrans (brun glada) 3

Greater Spotted Eagle, Aquila clanga (större skrikörn)
1 ad Djurhusen (Scania) 23.4.

Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus (stäpphök)
1 f N. Tysslingen (Närke) 27.4, 1 f Kilsviken (Värmland) 29-30.4.

Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus (aftonfalk)
1 f Bottorp (Småland) 29.4, 1 ad m N. Källa (Öland) 29.4, 1 2y m Lake Krankesjön (Scania) 29.4, 1 ad m L. Horn (Öland) 29.4, 1 2y m Karum (Öland) 30.4, 1 f Vena (Småland) 30.4.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS, Tringa flavipes (mindre gulbena)
1 S. Tysslingen (Närke) 9.4. No. 9 for Sweden.

WHITE-TAILED PLOVER, Charadrius morinellus (sumpvipa)
1 Uvängen (Södermanland) 20-22.4.
1 Långelösa långar (Bohuslän) 29.4.
Prob. no. 4 and 5 for Sweden.

Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis (dammsnäppa)
1 Säbysjön (Uppland) 18.4, 1 Råssö (Bohuslän) 22.4 + 8 more in Sweden 26-30.4.

Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus (vittrut)
1 wintering Glommen, Halland + 1 Öland, 1 Scania, 1 Gotland in Feb.
2 Norrbotten i April

Iceland Gull, L. glaucoides (vitvingad trut)
1 wintering at Glommen, Halland.From 26.2 2 speciemens. And another in Gothenburg 5.3, all age 2y.

Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus (svarthuvad mås)
1 ad Mellbystrand (Halland) 18.3. Stayed in southern Halland into May. In Malmö harbour 1 ad as usual from end of March, joined by another 2-3 ad in the middle of April, hopefully they will breed. That should be the first in Sweden. Earlier attempts have been between mixed couples Mediterranean / Black-headed Gull, L. ridibundus.
Other records from Småland and Scania. A total around 6-7.

Ringbilled Gull, Larus delawarensis (ringnäbbad mås)
The usual individual summering in Halmstad harbour (Halland) since many years arrived 9.4.

Sabine's Gull, Larus sabini (tärnmås)
1 juv Sote huvud (Bohuslän) 13.2.

Gull-billed Tern, Sterna nilotica (sandtärna)
1 ad Getterön (Halland) 30.4.

Brunnich s Guillemot, Uria lomvia (spetsbergsgrissla)
1 Kronholmen (Gotland) 1.4.

Snowy Owl, Nyctea scandiaca (fjälluggla) ***WINTER INVASION***
November - January around 50 in Sweden. At Gessie in Scania there was 1-2 from around 15 Nov 1999 to 19 March 2000.
New ones in February-March;
Haninge (Södermanland) 15.2-
Mjölby (Östergötland) 16.2
Nyköping (Södermanland) 20.2.
Vomb (Scania) 2.3.
Skärlöv (Öland) 14.3.
Bogerud (Värmland) 16.3.

After 20 March no records. So in total this winter around 55 (although there could be some double-counts due to movements).

Great Grey Owl, Strix nebulosa (lappuggla)
1 Norrbyn (Ångermanland) 13.2, 1 W. Eskilstuna (Södermanland) 21.2, 1 Degenäs (Västerbotten) 2.3,

Barn Owl, Tyto alba (tornuggla)
This species is barely breeding in Sweden any more. There are singles at Hamra (Gotland) and in Scania.

European Turtle Dove, Streptopelia turtur (turturduva)
1 Halmstad (Halland) 8.4.

Eurasian Hoopoe, Upupa epops (härfågel)
1 Östergarn (Gotland) 7.4, 1 St. Karlsö (Gotland) 12.4, 1 Utlängan (Blekinge) 14.4, 1 Ljugarn (Gotland) 16.4, 1 Näs (Dalarna) 16.4, 1 Munkahusviken (Blekinge) 18-19.4, 1 Stenshuvud (Scania) 22.4 + 8 more Scania, Gotland, Södermanland and Västmanland. Occasionally breeds in Sweden.

Crested Lark, Galerida cristata (tofslärka)
Extinct as a breeding bird in Sweden.
1 Ottenby (Öland) 24.4.

Greater Short-toed Lark, Calandrella brachydactyla (korttålärka)
1 Ottenby (Öland) 22-23.4 + 2 more 29 and 30.4, 1 Utlängan (Blekinge) 27.4, 1 Utö (Södermanland) 29-30.4, 1 Mellbystrand (Halland) 29.4.

Richard s Pipit, Anthus richardi (större piplärka)
1 wintering Utlängan (Blekinge) November - 17 April.
1 Bottorp (Småland) 30.4.

Water Pipit, Anthus spinoletta (vattenpiplärka)
Fewer than usual; 2-3 Blekinge November - 3 April, 1 Rönnen (Scania) 26.2, 1 Kronholmen (Gotland) 9-15.4.
One inland record; Sävsjö (Småland) 27-29.3.

Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava flavissima ("gulhuvad" gulärla)
1 Utlängan (Blekinge) 30.4 -

Citrine Wagtail, M. citreola (citronärla)
5 between 24-30.4.

Stonechat, Saxicola torquata (svarthakad buskskvätta)
1 2y m Sandvik, Torslanda (Bohuslän) 11.3, 1 m Falsterbo (Scania) 27-28.3, 1 m Ottenby (Öland) 2.4, 1 m Hasslö (Blekinge) 4-5.4, 1 m Sundre (Gotland) 6.4, 1 f Suderudd (Gotland) 12.4.
At Vårhallarna (Scania) a male was found 14.3. Then 24 April it was joined by a female, and they are still on the same spot today 10 May. Hopefully there will be a breeding in May, it will be the first in Sweden in that case.

Savi s Warbler, Locustella luscinioides (vassångare)
1 Lake Hornborgasjön (Västergötland) 26.4, 1 Glivarps mosse (Scania) 29.4.

Subalpine Warbler, Sylvia cantillans (rödstrupig sångare)
1 m Vålarö (Södermanland) 21.4.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (taigasångare)
1 Hölick (Hälsingland) 29.4.

Pallas s Leaf Warbler, Ph. proregulus (kungsfågelsångare)
1 Faludden (Gotland) (singing !) 29-30.4.

Firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus (brandkronad kungsfågel)
1 m Falsterbo (Scania) 28.3, 1 m Lindö udde (Blekinge) -29.3, 1 m S. Skivarp (Scania) 31.3-1.4, 1 m Klagshamn (Scania) 2-4.4, 1 Glommen (Halland) 3.4,1 Västerås (Västmanland) 12.4, 1 Falsterbo (Scania) 15.4, 1 Ottenby (Öland) 15-18.4, 1 Faludden (Gotland) 15.4, 1 Glommen (Halland) 21.4, 1 Utlängan (Blekinge) 21.4,

Short-toed Treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla (trädgårdsträdkrypare)
1 Ribesborg, Malmö (Scania) 8.4. Heard singing; few, if any accepted field observations sofar in Sweden. 15 accepted records.

Great Grey Shrike, Lanius excubitor pallidirostris ("stäppvarfågel")
1 SW Nyköping (Södermanland) 27-28.4.

Rustic Bunting, Emberiza rustica (videsparv)
1 m Ottenby (Öland) 27.3.

Little Bunting, E. pusilla (dvärgsparv)
1 Kåseberga (Scania) 26.4, 1 Ottenby (Öland) 30.4.

PINE BUNTING, Emberiza leococephalos (tallsparv)
1 young male wintering at Sandvik, Hisingen (Bohuslän). Stayed until the middle of March. Record 14.
If you want to join Eurobirdnet (EBN), read instructions at the EBN-Sweden homepage;
http://www.pheromone.ekol.lu.se/Eurobirdnet.html

Here you also find previous Swedish rarities reports from 1996-2000
http://www.pheromone.ekol.lu.se/Reports/SwReports00.html

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

Cheers,
Swedish coordinator, EuroBirdNet
(The Scandinavian Fugle-nett is no longer a member of EuroBirdNet)

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