Saturday 10th of April 2021 and I got out of bed late as the battery in my phone had gone flat during the night. I was surprised when I went out to the car as it was excellent weather.
The forecast had said terrible weather the whole week so I was happy about the weather, even though it was strong and cold wind.
Coming out and the air is full of bird song and there is a woodpecker in a tree above the cottage.
Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Gorgeous weather
I left my cottage and I decided to start in Salbohed. I will check the place where they had bird feeding when I was here back when it was winter. No birds when I arrived but I played the Great Tit call and there were soon coming birds.
No feeding during spring and summer. But there is some seeds on the ground under the bird feeders so there is a little food for them. I spent 30 minutes + looking at the birds before I left for the eBird hotspot: Fläcksjön a few minutes' away.
Yellowhammer
Yellowhammer
Blue Tit
Blue Tit
Female Chaffinch
Female Chaffinch
The road is too far away from the lake to get any good pictures. There was a group of birds and I took a picture. Checking the picture on full zoom and I could ID the birds as Eurasian/Green-winged Tea. I spotted 2 Cranes a little further up the road and I tried to come close for pictures.
There were Greylag Gooses as well, and there were many of them around the lake and swimming in the lake. Mallard, I spotted two, one female and one male and it looked to be a pair.
Common Crane
Common Crane
Greylag Goose
Today's track at Fläcksjön
eBird Report
Fläcksjön, Västmanlands län [SE-19], SE
Apr 10, 2021 11:16 - 12:04
Protocol: Traveling
5.73 kilometer(s)
10 species
Greylag Goose 11
Canada Goose 2
Mallard 3
Eurasian/Green-winged Teal 10
Common Woodpigeon 1
Common Crane 2
Common Gull 1
Common Magpie 2
Eurasian Jackdaw 35
Hooded Crow 3
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I continued towards Skultuna but at the last T I turned right instead of left and I ended up on the Fläckebovägen (Fläckebo Road). The same road we had been on looking for the owl back in February. When I was here in February we had a meter of snow covering the whole area so it is a wee bit hard to recognise the area when it is all green.
I drive slowly and I keep my eye out for birds. I took off to look for the White-throated Dipper in the stream, but no sign of the Dipper.
Fläckebovägen
I turn off Fläckebovägen to go to explore the Ecopark Öjesjöbrännan. Ecopark Öjesjöbrännan is remaining from the huge forest fire in Bergslagen 2014. It is just left as it was and the area is developing in the nature’s way. So the life is coming back without any human interaction.
I drive along the dirt track and when I reach a 3 way intersection I chose to go to the right. Big mistake, I was soon running in to a tree across the road.
I put the car in reverse and I backed back to the intersection.
I spotted one warbler and I will send the picture to Bird Safari Sweden to see if I can get the ID of the bird.
Tree blocking the road
Ecopark Öjesjöbrännan
Today's track at Ecopark Öjesjöbrännan
I drive to Skultuna and I have a pizza for lunch before driving back home. I stop to buy groceries, well orange juice and soda water and I drive home.
To bed early and I had made sure my battery was full so it will go off at 4 o'clock tomorrow morning. And I have decided to start in Salbohed again.
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Sunday 11th of April 2021 and my alarm went off at 4. It was a gorgeous morning and I was only using shorts and a shirt when I left the cottage. I get in to the car and I had decided to start looking for birds at Salbohed.
Only shirt and shorts
I drive towards Salbohed and I pass a small lake. The Viggsjön and I see a Grey Heron and I make a U-turn to go back. There were also a male Common Goldeneye.
I drove up and down the lake side 2 times and I could not see any interesting birds so I continued to the bird site in Salbohed.
Common Goldeneye
I parked the car next to the bird site and I opened the window. Turning off the engine and now I have to wait for the birds to come.
First birds were two Yellowhammers, same as yesterday. A lot of Yellowhammers in this area and there is also a lot of Chaffinches but they are not easy to get on picture.
Yellowhammer
Yellowhammer
Blue Tit
Blue Tit
Blue Tit
Blue Tit
Yellowhammer
Great Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
eBird Report
Salbohed, Bird Safari Sweden feeding place, Västmanlands län [SE-19]
SE Apr 11, 2021 09:42 - 10:28
Protocol: Stationary
8 species
Common Magpie 1
Eurasian Blue Tit 3
Great Tit 2
Eurasian Nuthatch 1
Eurasian Blackbird 1
European Robin 1
Common Chaffinch 4
Yellowhammer 12
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I drive by Fläckebovägen on my way to Ecopark Öjesjöbrännan. I have an Eurasian Jay flying in front of me at Ecopark Öjesjöbrännan when the Guide is calling about the Black Grouse Lek. He ask if I have any rubber boots as it might be wet walking to the hide.
So I have to go to look for rubber boots. But as it is mid-day I drive to Fagersta to have lunch at Fagersta Bruks Hotell. The restaurant was closed and I remembered that it is Sunday. So I left for Jula in Avesta to look for rubber boots.
I drove across Hälleskogsbrännan to look for birds on my way to Avesta but I did not see much birds in the area. A pair of Whopper Swan and 4 Great Tits
Whopper Swan
Hälleskogsbrännan
Hälleskogsbrännan
I found rubber boots at Jula and I stop to buy juice and chees on my way back home. Some food is required for the nights I will spend in tents. Now I have everything I need, hopefully.
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Monday 12th of April 2021 and my alarm goes off at 4 in the morning. I discover that the ground is covered in snow and it is still snowing. I was very disappointed to discover this. The road is covered in snow and I have to drive to Sala to make a new passport today.
Snow
30 minutes to drive to Sala but as we have snow I left at 8 to be sure to reach my booked time at 09:10. Have to drive slowly to avoid skidding of the road in the deep snow. It was not so bad as most of the snow had melted and I reached Sala 15 minutes before nine o'clock. And I had parked outside the police station and I waited until 9 o'clock and I took the 2 minutes' walk to the police office.
Car covered in snow
Beautiful with the snow covering the landscape
Beautiful with the snow covering the landscape
Took me a few minutes to do the passport and I asked them to send the passport to Helsingborg so I can pick up the passport there. I will not be in Sala by the time the passport is ready.
I found a computer store on line yesterday, the Dator Butiken i Sala and I called them, they answered the phone but they did not open until 10 o'clock. I asked how long time it took to get a 4TB m.2 SSD and it would maybe take a day. I told them that I would be there at 10and I drove back to my cottage to pick up my new computer.
I drove back to Sala and I spotted a White Wagtail on the way back. So they have come way up north. Soon time to have eggs. Back in Sala I found the shop and I paid for the SSD and it will hopefully arrive tomorrow. I left Sala for Västerås to look for gold and silver.
I will look for birds on the way and I stop in Västerfärnebo to look at a huge group of Chaffinches, at least 75 of them. When I was back in my room I saw that there were several Bramblings on the pictures as well. So the immigration birds are coming up north. I drove a couple of hundred meters until eBird hotspot: Hällby, Västerfärnebo
I spotted a few birds, but too far away for any pictures and I gave up after 20 minutes.
Today's track at Hällby, Västerfärnebo
eBird Report
Hällby, Västerfärnebo, Västmanlands lä n [SE-19], SE
Apr 12, 2021 12:26 - 12:48
Protocol: Traveling
0.19 kilometer(s)
6 species
Greylag Goose 150
Common Magpie 1
Eurasian Jackdaw 2
Eurasian Blue Tit 2
Great Tit 1
Yellowhammer 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I continued towards Västerås and I decided to drive on the gravel road through the owl area. I passed a farm and I spotted Common and Black-headed Gulls on the field so I stopped to report the birds to eBird before I continued.
Common Gull
Common Gull
I turned up on Fläckebovägen to drive through the forest to Framnän. I had not been driving for long before I spotted two Northern Lapwings flying together with a big groups of Starlings. So yes, the spring is here for sure.
There were two Ravens, first Ravens I have seen since I left here last time. I really don't know where they have gone. I was happy to see them.
I was soon running in to a third Northern Lapwing. Walking in a snow covered field next to the gravel road. I stopped to try to get some pictures, but the bird walked away.
Northern Lapwing
Driving along Fläckebovägen
eBird Report
Fläckebovägen, Västmanlands län [SE-19], SE
Apr 12, 2021 13:13 - 13:47
Protocol: Traveling
8.95 kilometer(s)
5 species
Common Crane 2
Northern Lapwing 3
Common Gull 3
Common Raven 2
Common Starling 50
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Driving back from Västerås where I had found no gold and silver. I drove to Skultuna to look for birds at Sågdammen. It was a disappointment, not much birds and no beavers and I decided to drive back to my room and call it a day.
I drove past a couple of Song Thrushes on the way back to my room.
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Tuesday 13th of April 2021 and I was out of bed at 6 thirty. I changed the alarm from 4 to 6 o'clock at 2 o'clock in the morning as I was not able to fall a sleep. I went to the post offivr before I went to look for birds. I need to send the last doll to our Agent's representative.
I leave the post office and I drive to Salbohed and I start me eBird app at Fläcksjön, a lake close to Salbohed. I see some birds along the Fläcksjön but nothing exciting. I reach Rörbosjön. There is no access to the lake. It is like a huge wetland around the lake and you have to climb at least 2 fence to reach the lake.
So I just drove along the road and I could ID some bird thanks to pictures I took. I spot 2 deer almost the first thing reaching Rörbosjön.
Deer
Deer
There was a huge group of Chaffinches flying around the field feeding. And I could not spot any Brambling like in the group of Chaffinches yesterday.
Well, not much exciting going on and I turned up on Fläckebovägen. I just restarted my eBird app and now it was set on Fläckebovägen.
Today's track at Rörbosjön
eBird Report
Rörbosjön, Västmanlands län [SE-19], SE
Apr 13, 2021 11:07 - 11:23
Protocol: Traveling
2.49 kilometer(s)
5 species
Greylag Goose 1
Whooper Swan 1
Common Woodpigeon 1
Northern Lapwing 1
Common Chaffinch 100
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Up on the road and I am soon to see Northern Lapwings and the first starlings for the year. So the spring is really in progress and the migrants are spreading up north. Chaffinch, on or two a few days ago and now I see them everywhere.
Wagtails are also arriving here from the south of Sweden.
I stopped next to the field to try to get pictures of the Northern Lapwings and the Starlings. Not as easy as it sounds. The starlings took off and the lapwings were not too happy when I brought out the camera. So no good pictures.
Northern Lapwing
Starling looking for food
Common Buzzard
Common Buzzard
Common Buzzard
Common Buzzard
I have been driving along the Fläckebovägen for a couple of minutes' when I spot a Common Buzzard sitting on a fence next to the road. The bird was facing me and the body was full red brown and I could not ID the bird.
The Buzzard got startled and took off before I had stopped the car so no picture. The bird landed 100 meters away with the back against me and the bird looked like a normal Common Buzzard. So I was pretty sure about the ID.
I will ask my Guide to confirm when I see him tonight.
Now it got a few poor pictures and my Guide from "Bird Safari Sweden" confirmed the ID. He told me that the red colour was a different sup species. So now I have seen the normal, the white and the red Common Buzzard since I came to Sweden
Great Tit
Further up the road and I spotted several birds next to the road and I stopped to try to get pictures. They called from the computer shop to tell me that the m.2 SSD 4 TB would arrive tomorrow morning.
We decided that I should bring my old computer so they could start the job tomorrow morning and I could pick iy up before lunch. So I drove back to my cottage to get the lap top and I drove to Sala to hand over the computer.
Then back home for some oatmeal before taking off the to Black Grouse hide.
Today's track at Fläckebovägen
eBird Report
Fläckebovägen, Västmanlands län [SE-19], SE
Apr 13, 2021 11:24 - 12:27
Protocol: Traveling
11.42 kilometer(s)
14 species
Greylag Goose 7
Canada Goose 2
Northern Lapwing 9
Common Gull 1
Common Buzzard 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Common Magpie 2
Eurasian Jackdaw 5
Great Tit 3
Eurasian Nuthatch 1
Eurasian Wren 1
Common Starling 25
Eurasian Blackbird 3
European Robin 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S85443140
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Grey Heron
Black Grouse
I left my room just before 5 in the afternoon. I will meet my Guide at the same parking we used when I was in the Eagle hide at 18 thirty. So I will drive around the area looking for birds. I spotted one Grey Heron when I drove by Rörbosjön.
I see 10 Black Grouses close to the meeting point so I will most likely see them again tomorrow morning. Now they are friends, but every morning during the April they want to kill each others, until maybe 9 o'clock when they are friends again.
Click HERE to see if I am lucky with the Black Grouse Lek.
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)
noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.
ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.
So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!
Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas
Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!
Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!
Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra
Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!