Intro

Seven weeks ago I was on the plane towards Stockholm, Sweden impatient to start birding and hoping for lifers both realistic and unrealistic! Now after a six week holiday spent in Stockholm (8 days), in Oslo (8 days) and around Storfjorden, a large lake in the mountains 240 km North West of Oslo(28 days), I’m a very satisfied birder with 20 lifers and many other good birds! It was more of a family holiday than a birding holiday although time was put off for nature reserve visits and in the mountains I was nearly always out and about birding.

First week in Stockholm

Poor record shot of White-tailed Eagle at Lundby

The day after arriving we spent some hours in Norra Järvafaltet nature reserve, exploring the southern part of lake Saby. Four Common kestrels and 3 juvenile Marsh harriers were busy hunting. Even better was a Common Buzzard that flew by, not a bird we see much of in Malta. When passing through some forest we enjoyed great views of a male Greater spotted woodpecker. And then the first lifer of the trip… a Tree creeper! There was much activity on the lake, 12 Gadwalls, 6 Pochards, 1 Wigeon, family parties of Mute swan and great crested grebe as well as loads of Coots. Two Ospreys, Common terns and a Grey heron were more interested in life under the water than that above it.
The next day we were taken around in the truly magnificent archipelago by a friend. We were shown an Osprey nest with both adults about. We sat watching them coming and going sometimes with sticks for the nest for quite some time. A great experience! Also Great crested grebes were everywhere as were four gull species the highlight of which was two Greater black-backed gulls. At the end of the tour I got my second lifer, a Caspian tern flying over. Back on land I saw what I had long been looking forward to, a White-tailed eagle! Although immature it was still fantastic. It was shortly followed by a Lesser whitethroat, another lifer, a bit smaller but still nice!
Early Sunday morning we visited another part of Norra Järvafaltet (Southern Ravalen lake). As we arrived a male Marsh harrier flew overhead with prey in its claws later mobbed by a Hobby. Then a superb lifer – a male Red backed shrike! At the lake a hunting Osprey was great as were a Honey Buzzard, a male Tufted duck still in summer plumage and a Pochard. On the way home an adult White-tailed eagle soared overhead giving stunning views!
Two days later we set off for Landsort, the southernmost island in the archipelago, and a very good point to watch migration especially waders. However the weather was not on our side, the heat meant a terrible heat haze and the shores were littered with sunbathers. All the same we got three Velvet scoters on migration, a further lifer. Passerines were quite abundant though with the best being Winter wren and Marsh tit, both lifers, as well as quite a few Red-backed shrikes, Yellowhammers, Common and Lesser whitethroats and Willow warblers. From the ferry we spotted 2 Arctic terns, the fourth lifer of the day and a joy to watch as well as White-tailed eagle, Eiders, Goosanders, Tufted ducks and of course Cormorants!
Spent our last day in Stockholm before travelling to Oslo, at Lundby farm B&B, which is surrounded with good and varied habitats. We were up and about at sunrise and started off with a pair of Common cranes close by feeding. One or two Stock doves were in amongst the Woodpigeons, providing a nice variation! Then two Mistle thrushes landed in a pine tree – 10th lifer. Later we saw many more as well as fieldfares and blackbirds. In a small oak wood we got some good birds, the best was a Green woodpecker, another beautiful bird we hadn’t seen before! Wryneck and Jays were a nice bonus. From here we could also see over a small lake and a flooded field where Teals, Coots, Goldeneyes, Wood sandpipers, and a single Spotted Redshank and Greenshank were busy taking their breakfast. Suddenly the air was filled with Lapwing calls, around 80 flew around before landing. Quite a sight especially when we’ve only seen singles before! We appreciated the Spotted flycatchers’ effort to reduce mosquito numbers but wished they had larger appetites! Another Green woodpecker, 4 wheeling Buzzards and yet another White-tailed eagle concluded some great birding in Stockholm, for now.

Then it was off to Norway...

Golden Eagle

Family of Goosanders

Record shot of one of the Hawk Owls

Great Grey Shrike

In Oslo we went birding at Fornebu with an experienced local birder and friend Per Gylseth, with the highlight being seven or so Oystercatchers feeding on rocky islets, another lifer as well as an Osprey and two Red-backed shrikes. Quite a few other waders about too, Lapwings and Greenshanks in good numbers, also Green and Wood sandpiper, Ringed plover and Common snipes. A Water rail was an interesting addition to my Norwegian list. Finally a flock of 115 Greylag and Barnacle geese were fun together with Eiders (50), Goldeneyes (35), and Red-breasted merganser (30).
The following four weeks we spent at our family cabin in the mountains with a variety of habitats ranging from bare mountain slopes, birch and conifer forest, lakes, rivers and heath land. Birds of prey were in greater abundance than other years, not something we complained about! Rough-legged Buzzard (a long longed for lifer), Common kestrels and Merlins were the most frequent. With adult Golden eagles seen twice being just as exciting. I wasn’t expecting a Hen harrier (also a lifer) but it was very welcome although a female! Common Buzzards and Sparrowhawks were also present.
The magnificent Black-throated divers were seen including a family party of four. As other years Goosanders were abundant, watching from the window six young with their mother catching their dinner while we were eating ours was fun. No family parties of willow grouse unfortunately but still saw a few. Then there were the Hawk owls, what amazing birds, lifer and a dream come true! Even better we got good views of at least 2 individuals, probably a third, one staying around the cabin for two days.
Three-toed woodpecker was another great bird to see as were White-throated dippers and a female Ring ouzel (lifer). We were further thrilled to see a few Great grey shrike! Another great lifer which we also enjoyed good views of! The final birds of note were 2 Siberian jays, Crossbills (lifer) and a Mealy redpoll.
Back in Oslo we visited Scandinavia’s largest inland delta – Nordre Øyeren a great place but unfortunately due to very high water levels there were no waders except Common snipes. Well got a Black woodpecker on the way there as well as my first Marsh harriers and Pintails in Norway. Additional birds of note were Wigeons (5), Teals (35) and single Great grey and Red-backed shrike.
The following day we found a Greater spotted woodpecker busy feeding, loads of Eurasian jays and best of all three Spotted Nutcrackers (lifer) crops full after a day feeding in the city parks.
Then it was back to Stockholm for a day before taking the plane to Malta. We stayed at Lundby farm where we got a pair of Whooper swans (last lifer) on the lake. Two other great birds were White-tailed eagles sitting in an oak tree giving fantastic views! What beaks! Also of note (at least for a birder living in Malta) were a few Redwings, Fieldfares, Mistle and Song thrushes all feeding in the same field.

List of Birds seen in Stockholm

Mute Swan
Whooper Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Gadwall
Common Teal
Mallard
Common Pochard
Tufted Duck
Common Eider
Velvet Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Goosander
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Great Cormorant
Grey Heron
European Honey Buzzard
White-tailed Eagle
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Osprey
Common Kestrel
Eurasian Hobby
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Common Crane
Northern Lapwing
Common Snipe
Spotted Redshank
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Stock Dove
Common Wood Pigeon
Common Swift
Eurasian Wryneck
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Eurasian Skylark
Barn Swallow
Common House Martin
Tree Pipit
Meadow Pipit
White Wagtail
Winter Wren
European Robin
Common Redstart
Northern Wheatear
Common Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat
Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Spotted Flycatcher
Marsh Tit
Willow Tit
Eurasian Blue Tit
Great Tit
Eurasian Nuthatch
Eurasian Treecreeper
Red-backed Shrike
Eurasian Jay
Common Magpie
Western Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Common Raven
House Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Common Chaffinch
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Yellowhammer
Common Reed Bunting


Lifers are marked in blue

Total: 92 bird species

List of Birds seen in Norway

Black-throated Diver
Great Crested Grebe
Great Cormorant
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Greater Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian Teal
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Tufted Duck
Common Eider
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Goosander
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Rough-legged Buzzard
Golden Eagle
Osprey
Common Kestrel
Merlin
Willow Ptarmigan
Water Rail
Common Coot
Common Crane
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
European Golden Plover
Northern Lapwing
Common Snipe
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Tern
Stock Pigeon
Common Wood Pigeon
Northern Hawk Owl
Common Swift
Eurasian Wryneck
Black Woodpecker
Three-toed Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Sky Lark
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Tree Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
White Wagtail
White-throated Dipper
European Robin
Bluethroat
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Ring Ouzel
Common Blackbird
Fieldfare
Redwing
Garden Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
Spotted Flycatcher
Willow Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Wood Nuthatch
Eurasian Treecreeper
Red-backed Shrike
Great Grey Shrike
Eurasian Jay
Siberian Jay
Black-billed Magpie
Spotted Nutcracker
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Common Raven
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Chaffinch
Brambling
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Eurasian Siskin
Common Linnet
Mealy Redpoll
Common Crossbill
Reed Bunting

Lifers are marked in blue