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[edit] Overview

The long, narrow island of A-land off the eastern coast of Sweden is one of the country's primary birding areas and Ottenby at its southern tip is undoubtedly the rarity hotspot.

This Ramsar Site consists of a coastline of small bays and sandy and shingle beaches, sandspits and extensive areas of seaweed-covered shoreline.

Away from the immediate coast is open grazing land, scrub and deciduous woodland, mainly birch, aspen and oak.

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

Important as a breeding site, Ottenby has Gadwall and many waders including Pied Avocet, Ringed Plover, Northern Lapwing, Dunlin and Ruff, Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew and Turnstone.

Passage visitors include Barnacle Goose and Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Common Eider, Common Crane and numerous waders, Golden Eagle and White-tailed Eagle are regular in November.

The woodlands are rich in passerines with Icterine Warbler and Barred Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Collared Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Golden Oriole and Common Rosefinch.

[edit] Rarities

Rarities include southern species overshooting in spring and birds of Siberian origin are regularly recorded in autumn.

Regular watching at Ottenby has produced more "firsts" for Sweden than anywhere else in the country with rarities such as Eleonora's Falcon, White-throated Robin and Cretzschmar's Bunting.

A White's Thrush was recorded in April 2003 and the total species list for the area is around 350. Less rare but regular migrants include Black Kite and Red-footed Falcon, European Bee-eater and Hoopoe. King Eider and Steller's Eider and Yellow-billed Diver are regular in small numbers offshore and Red-breasted Goose is almost annual.

[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, White-billed Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, White Stork, Whooper Swan, Bewick's Swan, Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Eider, King Eider, Steller's Eider, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Western Honey-Buzzard, Black Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Rough-legged Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Northern Hobby, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Gyr Falcon, Common Crane, Corncrake, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Pied Avocet, Ringed Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Northern Lapwing, Red Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Arctic Skua, Little Gull, Caspian Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Short-eared Owl, Long-eared Owl, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Skylark, Horned Lark, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Grey-headed Wagtail, White Wagtail, Thrush Nightingale, Eurasian Robin, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Marsh Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Barred Warbler, Pallas's Leaf Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Bearded Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Common Rosefinch, Chaffinch, Brambling, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Twite, Common Bullfinch, Snow Bunting, Reed Bunting

[edit] Other Wildlife

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[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

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[edit] Areas of Interest

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[edit] Access and Facilities

A-land is only a short distance from the mainland and there is a bridge at Kalmar or regular ferry services.

Ottenby is at the extreme southern tip of the island. The reserve has marked footpaths and observation towers, and although some areas are closed during the breeding season, most of the area is open access.

A new visitor centre was opened in 1997. Ottenby has a few shops and there is limited accommodation in a youth hostel and campsite, visitors may be able to stay overnight at the observatory.

There are also rooms for rent at nearby Parboang. However, the area is very popular with visiting birders during passage periods and accommodation may be hard to find. Bicycles can be rented at the youth hostel.

[edit] Contact Details

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[edit] External Links

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Content and images originally posted by Steve