Bird watching at Lake Hornborga / Hornborgasjön



Friday 2nd of April 2021 and I checked out around 9 o'clock and I drove to eBird hotspot: Väla Skog, 2 minutes’ drive from the hotel. The parking was almost full as it is popular to come here to walk the dog. I could hear the Chiffchaff and I was soon spotting two of them in a tree and they looked to be flirting.

I got pictures of the Blue Tit and Robin during my Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st constitutional in the forest. And it was a really joyful morning in the forest.

Bird watching at Väla Skog
Bird watching at Väla Skog

Bird watching at Väla Skog
Bird watching at Väla Skog

Bird watching at Väla Skog
Blue Tit

European Robin, Erithacus rubecula, Robin or Robin Redbreast, Rödhake

European Robin, Erithacus rubecula, Robin or Robin Redbreast, Rödhake
European Robin / Rödhake

Bird watching at Väla Skog
Today's track at Väla Skog

eBird

eBird Report


Väla Skog, Skåne län [SE-12], SE
Apr 2, 2021 09:35 - 10:23
Protocol: Traveling
0.72 kilometer(s)
6 species

Common Woodpigeon 3
Common Magpie 3
Eurasian Blue Tit 1
Common Chiffchaff 2 Look to be flirting
Eurasian Blackbird 1
European Robin 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S84580789

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



I will pick up my nephew at 11 o'clock and I passed the eBird hotspot: Rosendals våtmark on the way. And of course, I took the opportunity to see if there was any birds. There was birds but as they were far away the pictures was nothing to save.

Bird watching in Sweden - Rosendals våtmark
Shelduck and swan feeding at Rosendals våtmark

Bird watching in Sweden - Rosendals våtmark
Shelducks at Rosendals våtmark

Bird watching in Sweden - Rosendals våtmark
Today's track at Rosendals våtmark

eBird

eBird Report


Rosendals våtmark, Skåne län [SE-12], SE
Apr 2, 2021 10:35 AM - 10:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.24 kilometer(s)
9 species

Greylag Goose 1
Mute Swan 9
Common Shelduck 2
Mallard 2
Tufted Duck 25
Eurasian Coot 1
Northern Lapwing 4
Herring Gull 5
Hooded Crow 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S84581157

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



I pick up my nephew and we decide to have lunch at Röstånga Gästgiveri before continue to Trandansen. I call Röstånga Gästgiveri to order Tunna fläskpannkakor for when they open at 12 o'clock. We arrive 2 minutes past 12 and we are soon enjoying our lunch.

The food was excellent, but we left some food to make room for the apple pie and custard.

Tunna fläskpannkakor at Röstånga
Tunna fläskpannkakor at Röstånga

Tunna fläskpannkakor at Röstånga
Tunna fläskpannkakor at Röstånga

Apple pie at Röstånga
Apple pie at Röstånga

We left Röstånga Gästgiveri looking for the way to highway # E4 and we spotted several birds on the way. We found the highway and we only made one stop before we reached Hornborgasjön and Trandansen and it was to fill up gas in the car.

It took us about 4 hours to reach Trandansen at Hornborgaresjön and we had already seen many Common Cranes when we had passed Jököping we started to see Cranes along the way to Trandansen. And there were huge groups in the fields when we approach Trandansen.

Something I never seen before. Last time I was here Trandansen was full. Even though there was 12200 cranes, the official counting, Trandansen looked to have a very few Cranes visiting.

We could see that the parking areas was full of camping cars, coming from all over Europe to see the Crane dance. And yes, Trandansen is very famous for the Cranes coming here for a week in the beginning of April, year after year.

Bird watching at Trandansen, Hornborgasjön
Plenty camping cars on the parking

Bird watching at Trandansen, Hornborgasjön
Trandansen visitor centre

We parked at the visitor centre and we looked at the official counting board, 12200 Cranes today. They count the birds when they are sleeping standing in the lake. Impossible to count during the day as we can understand.

Correction

I must have misunderstood the way they counted the birds. I visited https://www.hornborga.com/english/ and I learned that they are counting the Cranes when they leave the area to fly to the northern part of Lake Hornborga to sleep.

They count the groups and then they add the birds to a total.

The area is full of Greylag Gooses and Whopper Swans as well. We stayed at Trandansen before we drove to check in at the hotel in Skara.

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Whooper Swan and Common Crane

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Whooper Swan and Common Crane

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Whooper Swan and Common Crane

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Whooper Swans

Best Western Plus Jula Hotell & Konferens
Eating salmon for dinner

Best Western Plus Jula Hotell & Konferens
Eating salmon for dinner

Best Western Plus Jula Hotell & Konferens
Eating salmon for dinner

We had excellent salmon for dinner when we had checked-in to Best Western Plus Jula Hotell & Konferens. We asked when they started to serve the breakfast and as it is Easter they start the breakfast at 07:30. I had prepared my nephew that he had to wake up at 5 o'clock so we could start bird watching early.

But right there and then we decided to start after breakfast, my nephew looked happy and I was happy as I was very tired and it was getting late in the evening (19:00)

I was asleep a little after that with my alarm set to go off at 4 o'clock.

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 3rd of April 2021
and we go to have breakfast and it was a very good breakfast at Best Western Plus Jula Hotell & Konferens. They had everything we could ask for, and the best thing was to discover that they had tea pots. No need to go refill the tea cup every second minute.

And they had black bread, almost as good as “Edwards Kavring” at Kalle på Spången.

Best Western Plus Jula Hotell & Konferens
Breakfast

We left the hotel to drive to Trandansen and I was lucky to miss the exit from the hotel and I ended up behind the hotel. I made a U-turn and I discovered one Fieldfare, Björktrast in Swedish.

It was shadow behind the hotel so the lightning was not optimal. We stopped the car and I was surprised that the bird was not scared, quite the opposite. The bird came closer to have a look at us and I took a few pictures.

Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris, Björktrast

Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris, Björktrast
Fieldfare / Björktrast

Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris, Björktrast
Fieldfare / Björktrast

We left the Fieldfare behind and we drove to Trandansen keeping our eyes out for foxes and Moose’s but we had seen none by the time we reached Trandansen. Today's Crane count was 13630 but I think it looked less than yesterday when there was 12200 Cranes.

It was very cold, well, it was sunshine and gorgeous weather but it was very cold in the wind. So we did not stay very long before we got back in to the car to get to “Naturum”

Bird watching at Trandansen
Greylag Goose

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

We left the road on the way to Naturum to get in to explore the forest. We could hear many birds but we did not see any birds. But we got to see a giant Ant hill.

It was just a dirt track and after a while I decided not to go any longer as I did not fancy getting stuck in the forest. So we turned around and we were soon on the paved road and we continued towards Naturum.

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Ant hill in the forest

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Ant hill in the forest

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Driving through the forest

We got out of the car at Naturum but it was very cold in the wind so we got back in to the car. What a disappointment the weather turned out to be. I called my friend in Jönköping.

He was busy making blue berry pie as I did not fancy any apple pie. I told him that we were going to Gränna to buy peppermint sticks.

My friend wanted to join and we picked him up on our way to Gränna.

Gränna

is a locality situated in Jönköping Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 2,665 inhabitants in 2018. Founded in 1652 by Count Per Brahe, it is situated in Småland on the eastern shores of the lake Vättern, about 40 km north of Jönköping.

The town is situated at the foot of Gränna mountain and is characterized by its steep streets and old wooden houses.

Up until the local government reform of 1971, Gränna and its immediate surroundings constituted a city municipality of its own; since then it has become an integral part of Jönköping Municipality.

Gränna is, despite its small population, for historical reasons often still referred to as a city. Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities.

Gränna is known for its red and white polkagris (literally "polka pig" in Swedish) stick candy, also known as peppermint rock. This was first made by the widow Amalia Eriksson in 1859.

A statue of Amalia can now be seen in the park at the foot of Gränna mountain. The town is popular with tourists and is a connection point for the ferry service to the island Visingsö.

The balloonist Salomon August Andrée, who died in an attempt to reach the North Pole by balloon, was born in Gränna. The Grenna Museum hosts an exhibition of the expedition together with a comprehensive collection of related objects and photos.

We stop at one candy maker but they had no cooking today as it was Easter. We continued to the city centre but there was so many people so it was impossible to get to see the cooking unless you wanted to stay far away.

So we drove to Fransson's and they were cooking candy and we got a look on how they do it. I bought two big polka sticks and we were leaving. I asked my friend if he knew a place where we could eat salmon. He thought we might find a restaurant down town.

I told him that I don’t mind driving, but not in to the city with all the cars and tourist.

Gränna Polkagris fabrik
We stop just to discover that there was no cooking today

Gränna Polkagris fabrik
Fransson's had cocking and bought polka sticks

Gränna Polkagris fabrik
Fransson's had cocking and bought polka sticks

My friend suggested that we should go home to him and he would make salmon. I interrogated him about what and how he was going to cook and it sounded great and we drove back to his house. He will make salmon in the oven and I had requested boiled potatoes.

He will make his “secret” sauce and I told him never mind how “secret” the sauce is, we use plenty dill and it is like guarantee that the sauce will be good.

My friend started cooking and he was playing games with my nephew while we waited for the dinner to be ready. And it looked like my nephew liked it more than playing the phone.

Bird watching in Sweden
Waiting for the food to be ready

Bird watching in Sweden
Waiting for the food to be ready

Bird watching in Sweden
Waiting for the food to be ready

Bird watching in Sweden
Waiting for the food to be ready

Bird watching in Sweden
Waiting for the food to be ready

Bird watching in Sweden
Waiting for the food to be ready
Opps!

Bird watching in Sweden
The salmon was excellent

Bird watching in Sweden
The salmon was excellent

Bird watching in Sweden
Blue berry

Bird watching in Sweden
Blue berry

Bird watching in Sweden
Blue berry

The salmon was excellent and now I have learned to make salmon in the oven. My friend is a very good cook and I take the opportunity to make mental notes when I am at his place to eat.

I am a wee bit feed up with smoked salmon so it is good to change to oven mad salmon every now Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stand then and now I know how to do.

Me and my nephew left to catch a last glimpse of the Cranes at Trandansen before the sun disappears so we said thank you. We will pass here tomorrow when we drive back to Skåne. We were full when we left and for sure, we will not need to eat anything at the hotel tonight.

There were still many people watching the Cranes when we came back to Trandansen quarter past 6 in the evening. And the sun was still shining!

Bird watching in Sweden - Trandansen, Hornborgasjön
Back at Trandansen

Bird watching in Sweden - Trandansen, Hornborgasjön
Plenty campers at Trandansen

Bird watching in Sweden - Trandansen, Hornborgasjön
Plenty campers at Trandansen

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

Common Crane, Grus Grus, Trana
Common Crane / Trana

It was quite late by the time we were back at the hotel so I was straight to bed with the alarm set to go off at 4 in the morning.

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 4th of April 2021
and today we decided to start at Hornborgasjön--Naturum before going to Trandansen. Then it would be easier to go to Jönköping to visit my friend. We got out of the car at Naturum and we walked down to the board walk, and yes, it was darn cold. Well, not so cold, but it was like ice in the wind.

We see a Mallard pair on top of the straw roof on the visitor centre and I really don't know what they were up to. Stealing straws for their nest?

Maybe, but I really don't know but it will soon be baby times.

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, Gräsand
Male

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, Gräsand
Mallard / Gräsand
Male

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, Gräsand
Mallard / Gräsand
Female

Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra, Sothöna, オオバン

Bird watching at Hornborgasjön--Naturum
Mute Swans chase

Bird watching at Hornborgasjön--Naturum
Mute Swans chase

Bird watching at Hornborgasjön--Naturum
Mute Swans chase

There were many Mute Swans and one couple was swimming in peace when we came down on the board walk, suddenly from the other side of the bay there was another Mute Swan flying in to attack the couple. The swan was chasing away the couple.

We went in to the hide but it was impossible to sit there was it was blowing ice winds through the hide and we started to walk back to the car.

Common Pochard, Aythya ferina, Brunand

Great Crested Grebe
Great Crested Grebe

Bird watching at Hornborgasjön--Naturum
Today's track at Hornborgasjön--Naturum

eBird

eBird Report


Hornborgasjön--Naturum, Västra Götalands län [SE-14], SE
Apr 4, 2021 08:51 - 09:32
Protocol: Traveling
0.81 kilometer(s)
12 species

Greylag Goose 10
Canada Goose 4
Mute Swan 30
Mallard 4
Eurasian Teal 2
Common Pochard 20
Tufted Duck 35
Great Crested Grebe 1
Eurasian Coot 18
Black-headed Gull 200
Eurasian Jackdaw X
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 7

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S84735022

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



We drive to Trandansen to have a look, 15700 cranes are todays official count. Otherwise it was the same gooses and swans at Trandansen and as it was very cold we left to pick up my friend for a cup of tea, turned out to be more than tea.

Well, we went to a restaurant on top of a mountain, always a delight to go around Jönköping with my friends as he knows a lot about the area and it is very interesting.

Lunch
It was great food

We took my friend's car and we ended up on top of a mountain with a gorgeous view. Just a shame it was so cold so we could not get out to enjoy the views. The food was good and we were happy with the “open on spring / summer only” restaurant.

We went back to my friend's house and my nephew got a bag of apples.

We called the moose safari that we will visit on the way back to Helsingborg and they told us that the moose liked apples. So now we have a bag of apples to the moose’s.

We reached the Moose safari 3 o'clock in the afternoon. We bought the ticket and I started my eBird app at 15:13

Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari
Ticket to Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari

We put the token in the slot and the gate open and we enter the wilderness, well, at least there are moose’s in the corral. We had to drive for quite a while before we spotted the first moose. The moose was just lying there ignoring our apples.

But in the Buffalo corral the buffaloes was eating the apples, and they liked them. They were almost in the car trying to take the apples. We also got to see some birds while looking for the moose’s. We spent about one hour before leaving southbound towards Helsingborg.

Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari
Trying to attract the moose’s

Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari
No interest in apples

Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari
The buffaloes liked the apple

Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari
The buffaloes liked the apple

Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari
The buffaloes liked the apple

Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari
The buffaloes liked the apple

House Sparrow, Passer domesticus, Gråsparv, นกกระจอกใหญ่
The Hooded Crow liked the apples

Bird watching at Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari
Today's track at Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari

eBird

eBird Report


Smålandet, Markaryds Älgsafari, Kronobergs län [SE-07], SE
Apr 4, 2021 15:13 - 16:25
Protocol: Traveling
6.77 kilometer(s)
8 species

Greylag Goose 2
Mallard 4
Common Woodpigeon 4
Common Magpie 1
Hooded Crow 2
Common Chiffchaff 1
Eurasian Blackbird 4 2 of them redish juveniles
Grey Wagtail 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S84751930

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



I was back at the hotel in Helsingborg between 5 thirty and 6 o'clock in the evening. I was soon in my bed with the alarm set to go off at 4 o'clock. I discovered that they did not start with the breakfast until 7 thirty as it is Easter. So I called my nephew to tell him that I would not be there until quarter past 8 to pick him up.

We will go to “Pulken Crane Site” to look for Cranes, also a famous site for Cranes, but of course, nothing comparing to Hornborgasjö. I have never been there and you just need to click HERE to find out if we see any Cranes.




Alternativ för Sverige



       
                  
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!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Flag of Skåne / Skånska flaggan Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.


                                       

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