RFI: Northern Sweden in February (1 Viewer)

davidg

Well-known member

• Sep 22, 2015

• #1

I'm booked on a Northern Lights trip to north Sweden (Abisko) in February 2016. Whilst I know daylight is at a premium at that time of year is there anything that I might hope to see in the area? We'll be going on one or two day trips including one to Narvik on the Norwegian coast and we'll be spending a couple of days in Stokholm on the return trip.

Any help or suggestions would be most welcome.

Many thanks,

David

 

davidg

Well-known member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #2

I'll assume from the lack of response that I shouldn't worry too much about packing birding gear for this particular trip

David

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Oct 19, 2015

• #3

You should get Brunnich's Guillemot and Stellers Eider on the coast in winter plus huge rafts of Scoter.

Andy

 

davidg

Well-known member

• Oct 20, 2015

• #4

Thanks Andy, something to look out for at least.

David

 

Julian Bell

Natural Born Birder

• Oct 21, 2015

• #5

Glaucous gulls (as well as other gulls) can occur in surprisingly high numbers during winter - I've not been there in February but have been around Christmas time when there is even less light and seen a surprising amount of stuff.
More info here

 

Julian Bell

Natural Born Birder

• Oct 21, 2015

• #6

I have no idea if Tengmalm's owl occur so far north but they can start singing in February as can other owl species. Might be worth keeping your ears open!

 

davidg

Well-known member

• Oct 22, 2015

• #7

Thanks Julian, some stuff there for me to keep an eye (and ear) out for.

David

 

J

joswe

New member

• Dec 11, 2015

• #8

Might be something...

Tengmalms Owl rarely reach this far northwest because the forest around Abisko is mostly Birch and they prefer Pine and Fir.
There are a few pines in the National Park though... Might try there but it will be hard.

If you want to see something exotic you can look for Arctic Redpolls around the settlement in Abisko. Should be quite possible.

In the Pine area in the National Park itself it could also be possible to find Siberian Tit but its far from certain.

Last year was a very good year for Snowy Owl so there might be some around up on the mountain plateau.

Look out for Pine Grosbeak and Hawk Owl to even if its not very likely.

Good luck!
Jonas

 

davidg

Well-known member

• Dec 11, 2015

• #9

Some excellent info there Jonas, thanks very much. Hopefully one or two of the birds you mention might give themselves up - certainly worth packing the binoculars at any rate!

David

 

davidg

Well-known member

• Mar 1, 2016

• #10

We had a great time in Abisko but, as I'd suspected, there was very little wildlife to be seen. The only birds seen regularly were Hooded Crow, Magpie, Raven and House Sparrow. Ptarmigan were seen on several occasions when flushed by snow-mobiles, but not by me. In Narvik large numbers of gulls were present by the docks - Glaucous, Herring and Lesser Black-backed mostly - and in the fjord I'd like to think a distant lone duck was a female Stellers Eider but it was really too far away to be sure.
In Stockholm there were huge rafts of Goosander (300+) on the water by our hotel in Gamla Stan with a few Tufties, Mallard and Coot mixed in. Several Fieldfare in one of the city squares were a bit of a surprise, searching for leftovers from the fruit market, I imagine. A Nuthatch calling from treetops just outside Skansen was unexpected as was the Red Squirrel feeding on an apple by Vasamuseet.
As for mammals in Abisko we saw several Moose, a single very smart Stoat and signs of Arctic Hare everywhere. The prize went to a small group of Harbour Porpoises seen in the fjord on our way back from Narvik.
Thanks for all your help.
David

 

Warixenjalka

Birdwitcher

• Mar 2, 2016

• #11

I think you didn't see signs of Arctic Hare (Lepus arcticus). Hares in northern Scandinavia are Mountain hares (Lepus timidus).

 

davidg

Well-known member

• Mar 2, 2016

• #12

Warixenjalka said:

I think you didn't see signs of Arctic Hare (Lepus arcticus). Hares in northern Scandinavia are Mountain hares (Lepus timidus).

Click to expand...

Thanks for the correction, my mistake rather than the guides, I think. But whatever it was, I didn't see it

David