Sweden in Spring

This spring, why not head north with the migrants on this exciting Naturetrek break to central Sweden. Within just a couple of hours of leaving the noise and bustle of Heathrow Airport, we will be exploring a peaceful rural landscape of forests, lakes and wet meadows, the stillness only broken by the trumpeting of a passing flock of Cranes, the ‘crex crex’ call of a Corncrake, or the lively song of a Thrush Nightingale. The patchwork of habitats within and around Svartådalen (the Black River Valley) are home to an exciting variety of northern birds. Here we find ourselves at the southernmost fringes of the boreal forest, that great swathe of conifers, dotted with a myriad lakes, that stretches north to the treeline and then both east and west to wrap the planet’s northernmost latitudes in a girdle of green. Whilst birds such as Three-toed Woodpecker, Capercaillie and Hazel Grouse are much appreciated by British birders, the most sought-after denizens of these northern forests are the owls. Here live the great and the small of the owl world, from the diminutive Pygmy Owl to the majestic Great Grey and Eagle Owls. Add to these extremes Ural, Tawny, Long-eared and Tengmalm’s Owls, plus an exciting supporting cast of woodpeckers, warblers and waders, and you have the makings of an unforgettable long weekend of boreal birding.

Our holiday begins with a flight to the Swedish capital of Stockholm. Here we meet our guide, Daniel Green, and drive for a couple of hours to the forests, lakes and marshes of Svartådalen. En route we will stop for our first Swedish birds, amongst them Slavonian Grebes, resplendent in their breeding dress, plenty of Fieldfares, and perhaps an Icterine Warbler or Crested Tit. We will be based for the next three nights at a comfortable guesthouse located within easy reach of the main birding areas.

On our first evening we will position ourselves beside a meadow at the edge of the forest and hope for an appearance by the star target of this weekend. Over the past decade several pairs of Great Grey Owls have moved south into the forests bordering Svartådalen and one particular pair has become especially tolerant of people, often perching, unconcerned, within several metres of human admirers. The sight of a Great Grey Owl perched on a post or swooping low over a meadow must be one of the most breath-taking in the avian world and is sure to leave us entranced by its piercing yellow eyes and sheer mesmerising beauty!

Having hopefully encountered one of Europe’s largest owls, we next turn our attention to the smallest. Pygmy Owls are no larger than a Starling and tend to emerge just before dark. Although difficult to find, Daniel knows exactly where to look and on one evening we will go in search of this diminutive predator. Not all owl watching is limited to the hours of dusk and darkness, for additionally we will join local ringers as they ring Ural Owl and Tengmalm’s Owl chicks. Since the adult birds usually roost in the nest boxes alongside their young, we hope to be treated to rare and privileged views of these elusive and strictly nocturnal birds.

Our exact itinerary for the weekend will be flexible, dependent on the weather and the advice of our guides. One morning, however, we will devote to the carpenters of the avian world, the woodpeckers. Our local guides are expert at finding even the most elusive of woodpeckers, and up to six species can be seen in a single morning, amongst them Three-toed, Grey-headed and Black Woodpecker. Other species to look out for during these walks include Capercaillie, Black and Hazel Grouse, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Wryneck.

As exciting as the forests can be, we must not ignore Svartådalen’s wetlands. Black-throated Divers nest commonly on the forest lakes whilst, in the Black River Valley, Black Terns and Little Gulls hawk for insects over the flooded fields and Thrush Nightingale, Scarlet Rosefinch and Red-backed Shrike nest in adjacent scrub and willow thickets. Reedbeds hold Bitterns and Spotted Crakes, and overhead soar White-tailed Eagles, Honey Buzzards and Marsh Harriers. There is even a chance of a mammal or two, for Elk, Roe Deer, Red Squirrel and Mountain Hare are all common, whilst Wolf and Lynx still roam the region, although the latter are only seen by a very fortunate few!

Our long weekend to Sweden must sadly draw to a close with a short journey back to Stockholm for our return home.