Sweden - Oland in Spring

Naturetrek Tour Report 29 May - 4 June 2017

Report by Christian Cederroth

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report Sweden - Oland in Spring

Tour participants: Christian Cederroth (leader) with six Naturetrek clients

Day 1 Monday 29th May

After flying from the UK, we landed at the handy airport of Kalmar where we met Christian. We then drove though historical Kalmar and over the impressive bridge to Öland, where Kroppkakor-lunch awaited. Thrush Nightingales sang all around. After a good lunch we went to Blåsås where we enjoyed the abundance of orchids. Above us was a Red Kite, and later a surprise Red-footed Falcon! Then it was on to Gettlinge Grave Field with all of its tombs and standing stones. It had been in use for a thousand years up to and including the Viking Age. Later Gammalsbygården awaited us with lovely food and drinks.

Day 2 Tuesday 30th May

We started the day watching a pair of Montagu's Harriers dancing outside Segerstad. From there we drove to Ås where a young Greater Spotted Eagle was enjoying a newly harvested Bambi at close quarters - what a start! We left this foggy area for some sunshine further north, and it quickly paid off with an adult White-tailed Eagle soaring above us. This was followed by a longer Alvar Safari drive on tiny tracks. Much botanising took place, looking at the minute but pretty flowers of the plain, interrupted by the odd nice birds such as singing Wryneck and cracking Red-backed Shrike. We returned to the fog by the sea and got to hear horror stories on top of Sandby borg castle, where a slaughter was frozen in time under our feet. The splendid nature bookstore of Birdlife Sweden ended our day in the field.

Day 3 Wednesday 31st May

Today was mostly windy, but warm and day. Starting at the Segerstads fyr (Victory City Lighthouse), we were greeted by Sweden's rarest plant, the Russian Gladiolus, though not yet in flower. Black-tailed Godwits and other waders displayed. On the lee side of the garden the western wind had brought down lots of Spotted Flycatchers and others. We had excellent views of breeding Icterine Warbler and Thrush Nightingale, and two Cranes passed overhead. Lunch was had at Stenåsabadet, which provided some shelter too. Young and mother Long-eared Owl were noted. The core of the Mittlandsskogen forest was productive plant-wise, and the original locality Arontorp still had two Arontorp Roses in flower. Collared Flycatchers were heard calling. A stop at Öland's largest Iron Age fort, Gråborg, finalised the day. It was repeated later though, when Christian showed slides of what we had seen during the days, plus some Öland winter shots including alpine skiing from a rooftop! Then to bed with full brains and stomachs.

Day 4 Thursday 1st June

There was almost no wind today and it was sunny. A pair of Caspian Terns were unexpected, as well as six Red- necked Phalaropes floating about in the point pool: there were lots of things to see. Later, at lunch by Ottenby lund forest, we saw two singing Red-breasted Flycatchers and one female, picking tiny fibres for nesting material from the gravel road just in front of us. A Golden Oriole was heard calling and singing; a rare event in this forest although they breed here. A singing Collared Flycatcher did not match its standard description: it looked like a Pied Flycatcher and was thus a hybrid! In the afternoon we passed an ambiguous ancient grave stone and visited an attractive little bird lake in an ex-stone industrial area, now a green ravine.

Sweden - Oland in Spring Tour Report

Day 5 Friday 2nd June

We had an early start for our big day, starting at Gårdby sandhed, a rare sand heath. Then we continued to the mystical Ismanstorps borg fort in the centre of the island. We wondered what it had been used for? It was spectacular; and rich in orchids too. We paid a visit to Kapelludden with its church ruin and intriguing lighthouse. Then we went all the way up to the northern point of the island and its lighthouse, Långe Erik. An adult Scarlet Rosefinch showed well, and there were kindergardens of Eider ducklings; lovely to see some reproduction in this threatened species. We returned south via King Neptune's Ploughed Fields, a near sterile wonder of nature. We then drove south along ‘The Stone Coast’, enjoying the views and visiting the world's only windmill for the polishing of rocks. The day was crowned with (drum roll) Lady’s Slipper Orchids and Linnea borealis.

Day 6 Saturday 3rd June

Today we had a gentle start by the sea at a lovely spot for more Spring Adonis. Then on to Västerstadsviken for lots of birds including four Caspian Terns, Black Tern, arctic waders, Marsh Warbler, Little Gull really close and a Harbour Seal cub. A breeding Red-necked Grebe showed well on the way to Beijershamn, where we had lunch under nesting Collared Flycatchers. Lunch; well a "Smörgåsbord" provided by Gammalsbygården which included smoked salmon, homemade Swedish meatballs, pickled Herring etc. etc. Later nice varied habitats awaited us with lots of sightings from Little Stint and Broad-billed Sandpiper to the downy young of several species, most memorable being downy "Avocetlings" taking shelter in their mother's fluffy breast. The local watercolour artist Peter Nilsson later opened up his gallery for us to see his lovely paintings, whilst outside his window Montagu's Harriers and a White-tailed Eagle were spotted.

Day 7 Sunday 4th June

We revisited Ottenby, this time the southern part of the lush forest Ottenbylund. Lunch was taken at the southern point before going to a birder’s garden at Tiberga, where a normally nocturnal Blyth's Reed Warbler was singing mellowly - a treat! Then it was time to head to the airport where we said goodbye and thanks to Christian before boarding our flight back to the UK, where another Naturetrek adventure ended.

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2 © Naturetrek September 17

Sweden - Oland in Spring Tour Report

Species Lists

Birds

1 Brant Goose Branta bernicla 3 at Ölands norra udde on 2.6 2 Canada Goose Branta canadensis 7 at Kalmar on 29.5, 3 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 15 observed on 3.6 3 Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis 10 at Segerstads fyr on 31.5, 40 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 12 observed on 3.6 4 Greylag Goose Anser anser 4 en route 31.5. Observed on 4 days in total 5 Mute Swan Cygnus olor Observed on 6 days in total 6 Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii 1 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6 7 Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus 1 at Dröstorpsmossen on 31.5 and 1 en route 2.6 8 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Observed on 5 days in total 9 Gadwall Anas strepera 2 at Segerstads fyr on 31.5 and 2 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6. Observed on 3 days in total 10 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Observed on 6 days in total 11 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 2 at Kapelludden, Bredsättra on 2.6 and 5 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6 12 Garganey Anas querquedula 1 at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5 13 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 4 at Dröstorpsmossen on 1.6, 6 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 2 en route 2.6 14 Common Eider Somateria mollissima 35 juveniles and 35 ♀ at Ölands norra udde on 2.6. Observed on 2 days in total 15 Common Merganser Mergus merganser 10 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 2 en route 3.6 16 Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 70 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 2 at Ölands norra udde on 2.6 17 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus 1 en route 1.6 and 2 en route 2.6 18 Black-throated Loon Gavia arctica 3 adults en route 2.6 19 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 1 heard at Fågelsjön Degerhamn on 1.6 20 Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena 1 en route 3.6 21 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1 at Kalmar on 29.5 22 Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus 2 at Fågelsjön Degerhamn on 1.6

Sweden - Oland in Spring Tour Report

23 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1 at Segerstads fyr on 31.5, 6 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6, 10 at Kapelludden, Bredsättra on 2.6 and 5 at Ölands norra udde on 2.6. Observed on 5 days in total 24 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Observed on 6 days in total 25 European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus 3 en route 3.6 26 Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga 1 juvenile at Ås kyrka, Ottenby on 29.5 27 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 1 en route 1.6 and 4 en route 2.6. Observed on 5 days in total 28 Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 1 at Segerstads fyr on 30.5 and 2 at Segerstads fyr on 3.6 29 Red Kite Milvus milvus 1 at Blåsås on 29.5 and up to 2 en route 30.5-3.6 30 White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla 1 adult en route 30.5, 1 immature at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 1 at Segerstads fyr on 3.6 31 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 1 en route 31.5, 1 en route 1.6 and 10 en route 2.6. Observed on 6 days in total 32 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus 1 heard at Fågelsjön Degerhamn on 1.6 33 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 10 at Dröstorpsmossen on 1.6 34 Common Crane Grus grus 2 at Segerstads fyr on 31.5 and 6 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 35 Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 2 en route 30.5. Observed on 5 days in total 36 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 1 at Kapelludden, Bredsättra on 2.6. Observed on 2 days in total 37 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Observed on 6 days in total 38 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 5 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6 39 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 2 at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5. Observed on 5 days in total 40 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 1 heard on 3.6 41 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 1 at Hulterstad on 30.5, 6 at Segerstads fyr on 31.5 and 1 at Kapelludden, Bredsättra on 2.6 42 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 4 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6 43 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 1 en route 30.5. Observed on 4 days in total 44 Common Redshank Tringa totanus Observed on 5 days in total 45 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 15 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 5 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6

4 © Naturetrek September 17

Sweden - Oland in Spring Tour Report

46 Red Knot Calidris canutus 200 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 20 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6 47 Little Stint Calidris minuta 3 observed 3.6 48 Dunlin Calidris alpina C.a.schinzii: Observed 3.6 C.a.alpina: 3 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 49 Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus 1 observed 3.6 50 Ruff Philomachus pugnax 2 at Stenåsabadet on 31.5 51 Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus 6 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 52 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Observed on 6 days in total 53 Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus 3 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6 54 Common Gull Larus canus canus Observed on 6 days in total 55 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 1 en route 2.6. Observed on 3 days in total 56 European Herring Gull Larus argentatus Observed on 3 days in total 57 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 1 at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5, 1 adult at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6, 1 adult at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 1 juvenile at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 58 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 1 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 4 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6 59 Little Tern Sternula albifrons 2 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6, 2 at Kapelludden, Bredsättra on 2.6 and 2 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6 60 Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 1 observed on 3.6 61 Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 1 en route 30.5. Observed on 5 days in total 62 Black Tern Chlidonias niger 2 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6 63 Rock Dove Columba livia var. domestica 1 en route 31.5. Observed on 3 days in total 64 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus Observed on 6 days in total 65 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 2 heard at Gammelsbygården on 29.5 66 Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 1 heard at Blåsås on 29.5, 1 heard en route 31.5, 2 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6, 1 en route 2.6 and 1 en route 3.6. Observed on 6 days in total

Sweden - Oland in Spring Tour Report

67 Long-eared Owl Asio otus 1 adult at Stenåsabadet on 31.5 68 Common Swift Apus apus Observed on 6 days in total 69 Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla 1 at Blåsås on 29.5 and 2 at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5 70 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 1 heard at Arontorps NR on 31.5 and 3 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 71 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1 at Segerstads fyr on 31.5 and 1 at Stenåsabadet on 31.5 72 Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus 1 ♀ observed on 29.5 73 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 1 at Segerstads fyr on 31.5 74 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 1 at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5, 1 ♂ at Stenåsabadet on 31.5 and 1 at Segerstads fyr on 3.6 75 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus 1 heard at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 76 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica Observed on 4 days in total 77 Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Observed on 6 days in total 78 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Observed on 5 days in total 79 Northern Raven Corvus corax 2 at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5 and 1 at Ölands norra udde on 2.6 80 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 1 at Ölands norra udde on 2.6 81 Great Tit Parus major 2 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 82 Woodlark Lullula arborea 1 heard at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5 83 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis Observed on 6 days in total 84 Sand Martin Riparia riparia 3 observed on 3.6 and 4 en route 3.6 85 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Observed on 6 days in total 86 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum Observed on 6 days in total 87 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Observed on 5 days in total 88 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 1 heard at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 89 Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix 2 heard at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6

Sweden - Oland in Spring Tour Report

90 Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus 1 at Gettlinge gravfält on 29.5 and 2 heard at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 91 Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris 1 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6 92 Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina 1 heard at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5, 3 ♂ at Segerstads fyr on 31.5 and 1 at Stenåsabadet on 31.5. Observed on 4 days in total 93 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 1 en route 31.5. Observed on 4 days in total 94 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin 1 heard at Arontorps NR on 31.5 and 1 observed on 3.6. Observed on 3 days in total 95 Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria 2 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 96 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca 1 at Segerstads fyr on 31.5 and 1 en route 3.6. Observed on 4 days in total 97 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis 1 at Ölands norra udde on 2.6. Observed on 5 days in total 98 Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 1 heard at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 1 heard on 3.6 99 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea 1 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 100 Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris 2 observed on 3.6 101 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris Observed on 6 days in total 102 Common Blackbird Turdus merula Observed on 5 days in total 103 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris 2 at Gammelsbygården on 30.5. Observed on 5 days in total 104 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 1 at Blåsås on 29.5 and 1 heard at Arontorps NR on 31.5 105 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 2 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6. Observed on 2 days in total 106 European Robin Erithacus rubecula Observed on 2 days in total 107 Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia Observed on 6 days in total 108 Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis 2 heard at Arontorps NR on 31.5 and 1 ⚤ observed 3.6 109 Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva 2 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 110 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 1 at Blåsås on 29.5, 1 at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5 and 1 en route 30.5 111 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Observed on 5 days in total 112 House Sparrow Passer domesticus Observed on 5 days in total

Sweden - Oland in Spring Tour Report

113 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus 1 at Blåsås on 29.5 and 1 at Segerstads fyr on 31.5. Observed on 3 days in total 114 Dunnock Prunella modularis 1 en route 31.5 115 Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava flava 2 observed on 3.6 and 2 en route 3.6 116 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba Observed on 6 days in total 117 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Observed on 2 days in total 118 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 1 heard at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5. Observed on 4 days in total 119 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Observed on 6 days in total 120 Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus 1 adult ♂ at Ölands norra udde on 2.6 121 European Greenfinch Chloris chloris 1 en route 30.5 and 2 at Segerstads fyr on 31.5 122 Common Linnet Linaria cannabina 2 en route 31.5. Observed on 4 days in total 123 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella 1 at Dröstorpsmossen on 30.5 and 1 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6. Observed on 3 days in total

Mammals

1 European Hare Lepus europaeus Observed on 3 days in total 2 Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 20 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 3 Harbour Seal Phoca vitulina 20 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 and 10 at Västerstadsviken, Smedby on 3.6

4 European Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus 2 at Segerstads fyr on 30.5 and 4 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6 5 Fallow Deer Dama dama 50 at Ölands södra udde, Ottenby on 1.6

Report on Plants courtesy of Anne Pankhurst Oland Island is famous among botanists for its rich flora, notably on the Alvaret (Great Alvar Plain) despite its being invaded by Juniper scrub (Juniperis communis). So I was delighted to go there with Naturetrek at the best time of year. The amazing 300 year old oak forests were green, lilacs and hawthorn in bloom around the farms, many wild flowers were at their best.

There was a profusion of orchid species, especially Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza sp). Military Orchid (Orchis.militaris), Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), the first Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera) of the season, Lady's Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) and the Narrow-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolius). We were a little late for the fields covered with Pasque Flowers (Pulsatilla vulgaris), but in time for the large yellow Pheasant's Eye (Adonis malaris), endemic rockrose (Helianthemum oelandicum), Blue Globe Flower (Globularia vulgaris), Yellow

Sweden - Oland in Spring Tour Report

Oxytropis (Oxytropis campestris), Liquorice Plant (Astragalus glycophyllus) and the lovely white Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum). Besides vast quantities of Cowslip (Primula veris), we saw the delicate pale pink Birdseye Primrose (Primula farinosa).

In woodland, Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis), May Lily (Maianthemum), Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum and P. verticillatum) Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolium), Twayblade (Neottia ovata), and Chickweed Winterreen (Trientalis europea).

We hunted for the famous Swedish flower Linnea borealis, named after the great Linnaeus, and found some in bud. Just before our departure, the final treat was in a hidden place just off the road St. Bernard's Lily, (Anthericum liliagum).

These forms only a short list, the most spectacular of those we saw in the six day visit. There were 110 species on my list without naming any of the abundant grasses, sedges or rushes.