Sweden Cranes, owls and woodpeckers of Hornborga Western Sweden is within easy reach of the UK and offers exceptional birding in early spring with large concentrations of Common Cranes at Lake Hornborga. In addition to the cranes this is an optimal time to search for several species of owls and woodpeckers, many of which will be on territory at the end of March. The area around Hornborga is dominated by a mix of agricultural land, huge coniferous forests, bogs and shallow lakes which attract a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.

Day 1: On arrival transfer to the small town of Skövde travelling along quiet roads Dates passing through patches of forest and Wednesday March 24th - Sunday farmland. On the forest edge there is a March 28th 2021 good chance of locating Fieldfare, Eurasian Leaders: Kent-Ove Hvass and Simon Nuthatch, the Scandinavian race of Long- McLaughlin tailed Tit, Marsh Tit and Hawfinch. Group size: 8 Birds: 75-100 Days 2-4: Three full days to explore the delights of Lake Hornborga and several other areas within close proximity. Bittern is present and with luck we should Hornborga is one the largest lakes in locate some birds giving their booming Sweden, being fairly shallow and fringed calls. Other species we may encounter with reeds and willow scrub. Our main include Greater White-fronted, Greylag and interest is connecting with almost 25000 Taiga Bean Geese, Northern Pintail, Common Cranes which rest on their jour- Eurasian Teal and hunting White-tailed ney north to breed. On the lake we should Eagles. On one day an early morning visit locate Great Crested, Red-necked, Little, to the woodland bogs at Billigen may reveal Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes. In the Western Capercaillie, Black Grouse, reedbeds a sizeable population of Eurasian Eurasian Pygmy and Tengmalm’s Owls and

Eurasian Eagle Owl Photo: Kent-Ove Hvass

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Common Cranes Photo: Kent-Ove Hvass the impressive Black Woodpecker. To the including Whooper Swan, Common Eider, north is Lake Osten, another important Common Goldeneye and Greater Scaup. stopover point where we have a chance of Later in the day we transfer to the airport finding the rare Lesser White-fronted for flights back to the UK. Goose whilst the reedbeds attract Western Marsh Harriers to breed. Lake Dattern is another area to visit where we may Prices encounter passage waders in the water meadows. During late March we may find Ground Price: £1,645 lingering visitors from further north includ- Single room: No Charge ing Golden Eagle, Rough-legged Buzzard Deposit: £150 and Northern Goshawk. The extensive for- *Air Fare:£125 est also has scarcer species, notably Eurasian Eagle-Owl, Spotted Nutcracker, This holiday is fully inclusive of Common and Parrot Crossbills and, if it has flights, accommodation and meals, been an invasion year, Northern Hawk-Owl transport, permit fees, guidance, tips and Great Grey and Ural Owls from the and taxes. High Arctic. Not included: drinks, insurance, Day 5: Depart from Skövde to Gothenburg items of a personal nature. via Torslandaviken, a vast bay fed by one of Sweden’s largest rivers. The area is a *Please refer to our terms and noted migration hot-spot with a wide range conditions relating to flights of waterbirds using it as a staging post

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