6 January 1997. A new species for Sweden:



About 4 days ago a Buff-bellied Pipit, Anthus rubescens (hedpiplärka) was discovered among other pipits on the shore of Träslövsläge, near Varberg, Halland, SW Sweden. The other pipits were; 1 Water Pipit, A. spinoletta (vattenpiplärka) and several Rock Pipit, A. petrosus (skärpiplärka) and Meadow Pipit, A. pratensis (ängspiplärka).
Pipits have been studied more careful the last 3 winters since it was discovered that Sweden has small numbers of wintering Water Pipits along the southern coast, a species unrecorded in Sweden before.
The person who discovered the Buff-bellied Pipit was unsure of wether it was an aberant Rock Pipit or something, but yesterday Per Alström, Krister Mild and others confirmed the identification and it was send out on the minicall system and the hotline, so today there were hundreds of birders seeing it (including me :-))
It has been identified as the nominate race rubescens, although the leg colour is fairly light which could suggest the race japonicus.
According to Alstrom/Colston/Lewington, Rare Birds of Europe there are 14 records in Europe before; 4 on Iceland, 3 in Great Britain, 2 in Ireland, 3 in Germany (1851-1899) and 2 in Italy.
The closest breeding grounds are on Greenland and in Kanada.

Other recent observations in Sweden:
Water Pipit, A. spinoletta (vattenpiplärka)
2 at Ottenby (Öland) 22-26.12, 2 wintering at Kråkenabben (Blekinge), a few along Scanian south coast, 1 at Ramsjöstrand (NW Scania) last days, 1 at Landskrona (Scania) today, and the one in Halland mentioned above.

Crested Lark, Galerida cristata. This species formerly bred in southernmost Sweden. There is 1 bird wintering at Falun (Dalarna)(seen today), and 1 at Bollnäs (Hälsingland), fairly far north in Sweden.

Barn Owl, Tyto alba. This species has officially been extinct in Sweden the last 2 decades, but last summer it was discovered that at least 1 pair have been breeding in central Scania for a long time. This is now published but the locality is kept secret. A project is run to maintain good breeding fascilities in this area and check the barns in the area for more owls.
For twitchers there has been 1 bird at Karlsborg (Västergötland) in December, found dead 19.12. Another one have been recorded for some time at Getterön (Halland), it was also seen today.

Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis (stäppörn) 1 3y at Lisa mosse (Halland) from 21.12. Still there, seen today.

Little Auk, Alle alle (alkekung). Scattered along the coasts, seen in a number of places.

The ice situation is getting worse and worse since it is calm weather and cold weather for a long time even in south Sweden. A few waders remain, for example Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Purple Sandpipers, Turnstone, Common Snipe, Woodcock and Dunlin.

Happy new Year
Erling Jirle
Swedish coordinator EuroBirdNet / Fuglenett

22 January 1997


Hello

After a very cold and icy week 1 and 2 of 1997 the climate is getting milder. Instead of cold and sunny it has been very foggy the last week.
There are few rarities around, most of them has been reported in an earlier report;

The following are wintering:

Water Pipit, A. spinoletta (vattenpiplärka) At least 5 scattered around the southern coast; Hörte, Hoaganäs, Ystad and Barsebäck (Scania) and Getterön (Halland).

Crested Lark, Galerida cristata. This species formerly bred in southernmost Sweden. There is 1 bird wintering at Falun (Dalarna), and 1 at Bollnäs (Hälsingland).

Barn Owl, Tyto alba guttata. One at Getterön (Halland).

Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis (stäppörn) 1 3y at Lisa mosse (Halland) from 21.12.

Other rarities:
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Buff-bellied Pipit, Anthus rubescens (hedpiplärka), the first for Sweden, remained at Träslövsläge, near Varberg (Halland) until 14.1.

Red-headed Pochard, Netta rufina (rödhuvad dykand) 1 seen at Barsebäck and Klagshamn (Scania) 12-18.1.

Hawk Owl, Surnia ulula (hökuggla) 1 at Örebro (Närke) 5-14.1.
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Bird rally
Last Saturday, 18 January, the 4th Scanian winter bird safari took place.
The goal is to see as many species as possible in Scania during one day. You can start at midnight if you want, and you have to be at the goal at 6 p.m. sharp.
Our teem, Falkögas Vänner, started at 6.40 and took it fairly easy, going into the forests around Kranke-Vomb and southwards towards the big lakes, in very nice weather (sunny and calm, good visibility). At 11 a.m. the fog came, and remained the rest of the day. Very dense fog ! We then went along the south coast between Ystad and Höllviken, then up to Malmö and checked Spillepengen, Alnarp, Lund sewage works and then Landskrona harbour, at 5 p.m. up to Frostavallen were the goal was. In total 320 kms. Some teams went 640 kms and started at 00.01 a.m......

We got 87 species, with some nice species like Shelduck, Pintail, Red Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Redshank, Black Woodpecker, Woodlark, Skylark, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Dipper, Black Redstart, Great Grey Shrike, Crossbill and Two-barred Crossbill.
We missed several "easy" species like Heron (1 dead only !), Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Starling, Twite and Dunnock, mainly due to the dense fog, but so did the other teams as well.

There were 18 teams. The competition in the top was fierce, here is the top 3;

1. Pjodligan 89 p.
2. Slit i fält AB 88 p.*
3. Falkögas Vänner 87 p.

* The actually saw 93 species, but arrived 5 minutes too late !

In total, around 125 species was seen by all teams together.

Erling Jirle

3 February 1997



Hello

Still winter up here among the Polar bears and few bird rarities around.
Most of them are the wintering birds reported earlier:

Water Pipit, A. spinoletta (vattenpiplärka) At least 6 scattered around the southern coast; 1 at Trelleborg (Scania) 18.1, 2 at Kråkenabben (Blekinge) and 3 at Ramsjöstrand (Scania) during the whole period.

Crested Lark, Galerida cristata. This species formerly bred in southernmost Sweden. There is still 1 bird wintering at Falun (Dalarna).

Barn Owl, Tyto alba guttata. The one at Getterön (Halland) is still there.

Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis (stäppörn) 1 3y at Lisa mosse (Halland) during the whole period.

Snowy Owl, Nyctea scandiaca (fjälluggla). 1 f at Kvismaren (Närke) 25-29.1.

Shag, P. aristoteles (toppskarv) 1 at Höganaes (Scania) 25.1, 1 at Kempersvik (Bohuslän) 26.1.

King Eider, Somateria spectabilis (praktejder) 1 at Skanör (Scania) 29.1.

Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus (vittrut) 1 2y at Gubbanäsan (Halland) 31.1.

Firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus (brandkronad kungsfågel) 1 at Silvåkra (Scania) 26.1.

Erling Jirle
Swedish coordinator EuroBirdNet / Fuglenett



3 March 1997



SWEDISH REPORT 16 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH 1997

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Sources: Fax from the Swedish hotline Club 300 + local e-mail.
Several of the rarities listed below are not official Swedish records until accepted by the national or local rarities committees.

National characters:
å = a ring (pronounced as eau in Beau)
ä = a dots (pronounced as a in Mary)
ö = o dots (pronounced as the first u in furniture)

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

English name, scientific name (Swedish name)
Number, sex, place (Province) date
************************************************************************

White-billed Diver, Gavia adamsii (vitnäbbad islom)
1 at Gubbanäsan (Halland) 25.2.

Sooty Shearwater, Puffinus griseus (grå lira)
1 at Kullen (Scania) 22.2.

Hawk Owl, Surnia ulula (hökuggla)
1 at Skärsnäs, N. Vånga (Scania) 9-23.2

Snowy Owl, Nyctea scandiaca (fjälluggla)
1 at Lake Roxen (Östergötland) 24.2, 1 at Sandemar (Södermanland) 19.2

Great Grey Owl, Strix nebulosa (lappuggla)
1 at the road-junction Degernäs - Obbola, S. Umeå (Västerbotten) end of Feb.

Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides (vitvingad trut)
1 3y between Falkenberg - Varberg (Halland) 22-27.2

Kumlien s Gull, L. glaucoides kumlieni (vitvingad trut, ras kumlieni)
1 ad Getterön (Halland) 20.2

Glaucous Gull, L. hyperboreus (vittrut)
1 2y at Oskarshamn (Småland) 22.2.

Ringbilled Gull, L. delawarensis (ringnäbbad mås)
1 at Kronholmen and Västergarns Utholme (Gotland) 1.3.

King Eider, Somateria spectabilisw (praktejder)
1 f at Skanör harbour (Scania) until 22.2, 1 m at Bjärehalvön (Scania) 23.2, 1 2y m passing Gubbanäsan (Halland) 28.2, 1 m at Röskär, Varberg (Halland) 1.3.

Steller s Eider, Polysticta stelleri (alföerrädare)
1 at Näsudden (Gotland) 22.2, 1 at Flundreviken (Gotland) 23.2.

The 2 Water Pipits, Anthus spinoletta (vattenpiplärka) at Krakenabben (Blekinge) are still wintering there, and the Crested Lark, Galerida cristata (tofslärka) at Falun (Dalarna) is still doing fine.

Shore Lark, Eremophila alpestris (berglärka)
2 wintering at Dåvamyran garbage dump (Västerbotten).

Two-barred Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (bändelkorsnäbb)
2 at Höör (Scania) 1.3.

The female Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris, ringand) at Lomma (Scania) reported on the hotline 22.2 was probably a Tufted Duck, A. fuligula.

1 m hybrid Goldeneye x Merganser, Bucephala x Mergus (knipskrake) was seen at Nynäshamn (Södermanland) 6-16.2.

*****************************************************************************

Stormy and mild weather for the moment in southern Sweden;
115 Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (tretåig mås) at Kullen 1.3, and at Hönö (Bohuslän) 2.3; 37 Fulmar, Fulmarius glacialis (stormfågel), 2 Gannet, Sula bassana (havssula) and 1 Puffin, Fratercula arctica (lunnefågel).

Erling Jirle
Swedish coordinator EuroBirdNet / Fuglenett

13 March 1997

Hi

A very mild period in southern Sweden (up to + 14 C.) with larks and lapwings coming in, but up to 2 m snow in northern Sweden..


SWEDISH RARITY REPORT 1-9 March 1997
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Sources: Fax from the Swedish hotline Club 300 + local e-mail.
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

English name, scientific name (Swedish name)
Number, sex, place (Province) date
************************************************************************
White-billed Diver, Gavia adamsii (vitnäbbad islom)
1 in winter plumage at Rödskär (Halland) 1.3.

Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis (ringnäbbad mås)
1 ad at Västergarn (Gotland) 1.3.

Iceland Gull, L. glaucoides (vitvingad trut)
1 4y at Glommen (Halland) 3.3.

Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina (rödhuvad dykand)
1 m Lake Krankesjön (Scania) 5.3.

King Eider, Somateria spectabilis (praktejder)
The female at Skanör harbour (Scania) was seen until 2.3. The male at Grytskär (Scania) was seen 28.2-4.3.
Several migrants: 1 m Rödskär (Halland) 1.3 and 2 m there 4.3, 1 f Gubbanäsan (Halland) 4.3, 2 m 9.3.

Steller s Eider, Polysticta stelleri (alförrädare)
On Gotland: 1 f at Visby the whole period, 1 f Furillen 9.3, 1 m Västergarn 9.3.

White Stork, Ciconia ciconia (vit stork)
2 at Urshult (Småland) 28.2, 1 with colour ring at Rönnen (Scania) 5.3, 1 with a Swiss ring at Oskarsström (Halland) 8-9.3.

Lesser White-fronted Goose, Anser erythropus (fjällgås)
1 ad at Skatelöv (Småland) until 4.3, 1 ad at Tortuna (Västmanland) 5-6.3.

Hawk Owl, Surnia ulula (hökuggla)
1 still south Skärsnäs (Scania), seen 9.3.

Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus (tretåig hackspett)
1 at Nytebodaskogen (Scania) 8.3.

Cheers

Erling Jirle
Swedish coordinator EuroBirdNet / Fuglenett
Back to EBN-Sweden
Update: 97-03-14.
Erling V. Jirle, Dept. of Ecology, Lund University, S-223 62 LUND, Sweden. Tel: +46 46 222 4999 Fax: +46 46 222 4716