 Sweden
Amazing SCAndinavian migration and resident birds
Sun 26 September - Sun 3 October 2010
Price £ 1395 ssupp £120 deposit £300
 
Falsterbo is located at the very south-western tip of Sweden. It is part Skanor-Falsterbo, and is one of Sweden's historical cities. It is also one of the places in Europe with the highest numbers of birds to be seen on autumn migration, as virtually all Scandinavian and some Siberian birds pass here on their way South. Virtually any migrating bird in the region can turn up here, and late September - early October is the very best time to come.
You will be amazed at the sheer number of birds we will see. As an example, in 2007 in the last week of September more than 480,000 Chaffinches and Bramblings passed here with a total of 588,433 birds in the official count. It is possible to see over 100,000 birds migrating overhead in a single day. Since these records are taken from the official counting point in Nabben-Falsterbo, this is only an example of the numbers that pass through.
With this high number of migrants, it is no wonder that a lot of rarities are found. Up to 23 raptors, have been recorded, including Imperial Eagle, Lesser and Greater Spotted Eagle.
There are many good birding places in the neighbourhood, and Common Crane, Hawfinch, Nutcracker, northern Long tailed Tit and Black Woodpecker are resident. In the wetlands many waders can be seen, quite often including American species. We visit a roosting place for Cranes and on days of less migration will search for raptors. At sea there is the possibility of King Eider, Steller’s Eider, all four divers and Red-necked Grebe is almost a certainty.
We will look out for Rustic and Little Bunting, Red-throated Pipit, Common Rosefinch, Rosy Starling, Snow Bunting, Lapland Bunting and other passerines, and also search for Tengmalm’s Owl.
Our guide is Jozef Leestmans. Josef lives in Scotland, working in 2008 as a Heatherlea guide from the Mountview Hotel. Josef has great experience in Sweden as a leader on this holiday, and is fully knowlegeable about the area and its birdlife.
Birding at the migration point, Falsterbo
ITINERARY
Day 1 Sunday
On this holiday you can choose between London or Leeds for your flight to Copenhagen. We drive for two hours to Falsterbo, and should have some time to make our first birding forays into area after settling into our comfortable accommodation.
Day 2-6 Monday - Friday
After breakfast each morning we go straight to the most Southerly point of Sweden, Nabben-Falsterbo. From here we observe the overwhelming numbers of birds migrating south, watching both over land and over sea. After lunch we visit heathlands of Falsterbo where raptors soar and gain height to cross the sea to Germany and Denmark. On good days several hundred raptors can be seen and almost all European species cross the sea from here. In late afternoon and the evening we look for waders in the neighbouring wetlands.
We also go inland to enjoy birding at lakes looking for Cranes and Geese. On not so good migrating days we also will go inland looking for the birds who are lingering around to make the cross over the sea.
Day 6 - 7 Fri 1 - Sat 2 October
Price includes return scheduled flight from Leeds – Copenhagen, airport taxes, ground transportation, accommodation and all meals, incidental tips, and the services of experienced Heatherlea leader Josef Leestmans, joined by another from our main guiding team with more than 7 clients. Max 14 clients.
We stay in a comfortable en-suite Hotel in Falsterbo.
Please note: all itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual
holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and
elements beyond our control (eg weather).
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