Taking a spin to see a Phalarope: Thursday 21st May
On Thursday morning we drove the short distance to Grasgrads hamn, a small fishing port on the east coast of Oland. Here we saw a breeding plumaged Grey Phalarope but the views were distant and the bird unobligingly hid behind a rock for much of the time, so we planned to return later in the day when the light, and hopefully the behaviour of the bird, would be better. We then explored a beautiful area of deciduous woodland at Ottenby-lund, just north of the bird observatory. Birds here amongst the trees included Red-breasted, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Icterine and Wood Warblers, while raptors included Hobby, Montagu’s Harrier and Red Kite.
From here we took the short drive south to the Oland Bird Observatory. Migrants were thin on the ground as by now it was midday and clear skies had meant that most birds had moved north.
Later in the afternoon we returned to the fishing port, hoping for a better look at the phalarope. Our luck was in: the bird showed exceptionally well. This female in full breeding plumage was a real stunner as she bobbed around on the calm bay: brick red with white eye patch and bright lemon-yellow bill. Other waders here included a Broad-billed Sandpiper, hundreds of Dunlin and a collection of breeding plumaged Knot and Grey Plover. Avocets strutted through the shallows as Little Gulls picked insects from around their feet. It was worth turning our back on the shoreline however, just to make sure we enjoyed the great views of Red-backed Shrikes, sitting atop thorn bushes in the afternoon sun.