It's become somewhat a tradition to go to Öland in late spring/early summer. This year, because of stupid exams, I couldn't go until early June, whereas May is really the best month. Also, I couldn't stay more than three days because of my summer work starting. So, a short trip was scheduled.
Cattle at Ottenby
Arrived at Svalgården, the place we always stay while on Öland, late on June 3. Tried to listen for Quail in the fields just outside, but no luck. Went to bed.
Next morning we woke and drove down to Ottenby. The primary target there was the pair of Kentish Plovers that had taken up residence there (the only pair in Sweden!). Alas, they were not that easy to spot as the reports had said, and we only saw Ringed Plovers running around. This would repeat itself, as we actually never managed to see the plovers... we chose the one weekend when they weren't seen!
Got some new year ticks though, such as Little Tern, Avocet and Ruddy Turnstone. The weather was lovely, warm and sunny, although most birds seemed to keep away. The Southern Grove was filled with Icterine Warblers, Blackcaps, Chaffinches and other songbirds. A Golden Oriole had been heard, but it kept silent when we were there. Over the meadows (Schäferiängarna) we saw one of only two Montagu's Harriers for the trip, a nice male, although pretty far away. Wheatears and Red-backed Shrikes posed here and there, and the cries of agitated Redshanks (when are those birds NOT upset??) almost drowned out the Skylarks.
Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina)
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), shown at Ottenby
The following days gave us pretty much the same, it was a calm weekend with no real rarities except a Great White Egret that we caught up with by the road. Some highlights were great views of a male Barred Warbler, singing and flying around nicely (and I think I spotted the female in a bush... hard to tell though!), the Long-eared Owl that got caught at the bird observatory at Ottenby one morning and was shown to the birders up that early (great to see one up close), the large group of Avocets feeding in a shallow bay, and I finally caught up with a singing Collared Flycatcher (last year all I got was a hybrid Collared/Pied... singing like a Collared by looking like a Pied!) that sang and showed splendidly.
Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria), adult male.
Really looking forward to my next trip to this great island!
