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  Monday 13th of May 2019 and I left the hotel at 4 thirty. Oatmeal and tea in my room before I left and the plan is to start o the north tip of Öland at Lighthouse Långe Erik on Ölands Norra Udde. Leaving my hotel and I´m on road #136 as soon as I´m outside Färjestaden. Driving north on road #136 and I´m passing Bornholm.  Leaving the hotel and I can see the bridge to the mainland
 Leaving the hotel and I can see the bridge to the mainland
 I pass a Robin on the way
Coming to an intersection in Böda and I spotted a robin on the fence. I passed Böda Sågen Allhandel AB and I saw the “Mjukglass” sign and I will stop here when I drive back from Ölands Norra Udde. Almost at Ölands Norra Udde and I see a bird in the rear-view mirror. About 100 meters behind me. Thinking it is a magpie. - NO! IT IS NOT A MAGPIE!! I hit reverse and I stood on the paddle and I was back in a jiff. The bird took off and it landed a bit from the road. Sun against me so it would not be any good picture. It was a Jaybird and I have wanted to have a picture of this bird for a long time. Will I get the picture today?  Jaybird
 Jaybird
No, the pictures was not good enough for the bird to make it to my list of observed birds. DARN! Against the sun and there is no time for any camera adjustments as I only had 2 seconds to get down my window and the get my camera ready. I continue towards Ölands Norra Udde and this is site #1 on Visit Öland´s web page “TOP 20” birding spots on Öland a little disappointed with the Jaybird. 1. Ölands Norra Udde
To reach Ölands Norra Udde and the lighthouse Långe Erik you just have to drive along road #136 towards north until you reach a sign and you turn left driving about 2 km until the dead end, a parking area. Park your car and from there you walk to the lighthouse, crossing a bridge. There is a trail around the island. If you walk back along the road from the parking, about 100 meters and there is an area where they use to see eagles.  How to find Ölands Norra Udde and the lighthouse Långe Erik
 Approaching Ölands Norra Udde and we see the lighthouse Långe Erik
 End of the road and we can see the parking
 End of the road and we can see the walk path to the lighthouse
 Walk from the parking to the lighthouse Långe Erik
 Walk from the parking to the lighthouse Långe Erik
 The lighthouse and dwellings from the jetty
There is a small jetty and there are some waders on the beach and there are quite a few birds in the bushes. There is a garden around the lighthouse keeper’s dwellings and there are quite a few birds stopping to have a rest on their way towards north. The trail around the island goes along the rocky beach and there are sea birds that gets scared and take off before you can get any pictures. Walking across the bridge and I can see the sky turning black, very black. Sunshine coming here from south of Öland and I was driving in to the sun. Now it turned windy and it looked to be rain any minute. So I was hoping to be able to check out the area before it start to rain. Coming across the bridge and there was a Mute Swan sitting on a nest. I continue towards the lighthouse and I discover a sign leading to a trail around the small island. By now it was strong wind but I decided to walk the trail. Start walking along the trail and I see a Western Yellow Wagtail, subspecies: Dark-headed Wagtail or Grey-headed Wagtail sitting in a bush. Otherwise just sea birds and a Northern Wheatear when I came back to the lighthouse.  Western Yellow Wagtail - Subspecies: Dark-headed Wagtail or Grey-headed Wagtail
 Northern Wheatear / Stenskvätta
 Northern Wheatear / Stenskvätta
 Mute Swan feeding
The area around the parking
 The area around the parking
Walking back and I go down to the jetty and I manage to get a picture of a Barn Swallow and I can make a video of a Mute Swan feeding crossing the bridge back to the parking. I have a look around the parking area but I don´t see any birds. The weather leave a little to wish for, but there was a little sun when I left. My eBird checklist from Ölands Norra Udde - 13 May 2019, click HERE Next stop will be Böda harbour and I left Ölands Norra Udde and lighthouse Långe Erik behind. But I will come back when the weather is fine, if it is before I leave Öland. Next stop Böda harbour and I passed Böda Sågen Allhandel AB and I stopped to check out if they really had soft ice-cream. Coming out of the car and it was like being hit by a hammer, it was really cold.  Böda Sågen Allhandel AB
 Getting soft ice-cream at Böda Sågen Allhandel AB
 Getting soft ice-cream at Böda Sågen Allhandel AB
 Getting soft ice-cream at Böda Sågen Allhandel AB
 The second ice-cream at Böda Sågen Allhandel AB
 The second ice-cream at Böda Sågen Allhandel AB
 The second ice-cream at Böda Sågen Allhandel AB
 Time to leave Böda Sågen Allhandel AB
I had two ice-creams before I left, well, I finished the second ice-cream in the car. Böda Sågen Allhandel AB is not far away and it took me about 10 minutes to reach Böda harbour. 02. The bay of Böda and the Böda harbour
Böda Harbour is located just south of Böda. There are signs when you drive along road #136 so it is quite easy to find. Drive down toward the sea and you pass a camping on the right hand side and then you have a huge parking area when you reach the sea front.  To find Böda Harbour
Parking the car and I stepped out, but I was soon back in the car again. It was cold, windy and raining. So I stayed in the car and I drove around the harbour looking for birds. As soon as I stepped out of the car the birds took off. So it was actually good to be in the car working as a hide. There is also a smoked fish place and I bought smoked salmon that was very good and I had a snack/ lunch.  The beach south of Böda Harbour
 The beach north of Böda Harbour
You can come quite close to the beach with the car. Even though it was very cold, windy and rainy I tried to get out of the car. Open the door was enough to scare away the birds. So if you want pictures you should try to use your car as a hide. On a sunny day it would be very nice to get out for a walk around. In the harbour you can find seabirds hiding between the small boats and the rocks.  North part of the harbour and plenty birds driving out on the breakwater
 Böda Harbour
 Böda Harbour
It was too cold and windy to get out of the car. I drove up as close as I could to the beach on the parking area coming down to Böda Harbour. There was a few Ruffs along the beach but getting out of the car and they disappeared. So I had to take the pictures from the car.  Ruff and a Black-headed Gull
 Common Ringed Plover
 Common Ringed Plover
 Common Redshank
  Male Common Eider / Ejder
 Male Common Eider / Ejder
 Northern Wheatear / Stenskvätta
 Northern Wheatear / Stenskvätta
 Mute Swan in nest
 Common Redshank
  Female Ruff
   Male Common Shelduck / Gravand
My eBird checklist from The Bay of Böda and the Böda Harbour - 13 May 2019, click HERE I was happy when I left Böda Harbour, there had been a lot of birds, just disappointed with the weather, rain and wind. So I knew that I would most likely not be able to do any bird watching in Trollskogen just north of Böda. But I drove there to check it out. Naturum Trollskogen - Not on Visit Öland´s web page
Following road #136 from the south and you will see the sign and you only have to turn right two times from road #136 to reach Naturum - Trollskogen  How to find Naturum - Trollskogen
 How to find Naturum - Trollskogen
 You see the signs following road #136
 Leave road #136
 Leave road #136
 Grankullavik and you leave to road, 2 km to go
 After leaving the road at Grankullavik you can see the lighthouse
Långe Erik on Ölands Norra Udde on your left hand side  Drive through the beautiful forest
 Drive through the beautiful forest
 Drive through the beautiful forest
 Drive through the beautiful forest
 Reaching Naturum - Trollskogen
 Reaching Naturum - Trollskogen
Leave road #136 and when you come to Grankullavik you turn right at the sign. From here you have 2 kilometre to go to Naturum - Trollskogen and you drive along a beautiful stretch of road. First few hundred meters and you can watch the lighthouse Långe Erik on Ölands Norra Udde on your left hand side. There is a huge parking area and a Naturum Visitor Center with a very helpful staff. Walking trails marked with colours and there is great maps available.  Naturum - Trollskogen trail map - Click HERE for full size map
 Or click HERE to download the pdf file.
Beautiful trails in the forest and it was a pleasure to walk the forest. But to get bird pictures, you will have to leave the trail. I left the trail, 20 to 30 meters off the track and I sat down on a dead tree trunk. Sit down for 10 to 15 minutes´ and I was soon surrounded by birds. Due to the weather I didn´t went in to the forest on my first visit. But at my second visit I managed to see two of the very beautiful Common Firecrest, the very reason for me to come to Naturum - Trollskogen.  Gate to the forest
 Easy to follow directions
 Beautiful trails
Reaching Naturum - Trollskogen and it was raining so I left again. I don´t want to leave the car too far away with my camera if it starts to pour down. But I will come back to look for the Common Firecrest. The reason I went to Naturum - Trollskogen as I have heard about the Common Firecrest on a radio show when I was driving to the Crane Dance 1 month ago. So I decided to come here back then. So I will be back here again. Now I will start to drive south towards Hotel Skansen, Färjestaden. And I will stop at three more birding sites #3, #4 and #5 on Visit Öland´s top 20 birding sites to visit. I will start at Horns “Kungsgård” Nature Reserve and Hornsjön / Lake Horn. The only lake on Öland. I drove along the west coast and it was beautiful, of course, wind and rain and nothing but gloom and grey for long as I can see. But driving along the cliff on the coast was very nice. I passed some birds and I tried to get out to get a picture of a Grey Heron but the bird took off.  We can see Blåkulla in Kalmarsund
 A beautiful coastline
 Some wildlife along the way
No improvements on the weather and I was getting worried, one week on Ölandn and I want to see as many birds as possible, but if it continue like this I will not be able to get out of the car very much and that would be a real disappointment 03. Horns “Kungsgård” Nature Reserve and Hornsjön / Lake Horn
You will pass a sign saying Horns Kungsgård Nature Reserve and from there it is a little confusing. I stopped at two parking places. But not much information that I could see. I drove up to an information board and it looked to be 1 or 2 kilometres to walk. No problem. 15 minutes or so. But I don´t want to leave my car far behind in case of heavy rain. I bought a new camera before coming here, 3000 US Dollars and I don´t want the camera to end up full of water like my MK III So I left and if the weather turns good before leaving Öland I will come back here again to check it out.  Horns Kungsgård
 Parking area
I could not find any trails and I left, but now I know how to get back here. I´m running low on MAX and snus so I had to find a supermarket. I stopped at ICA Nära Löttorpshallen and I had MAX and snus to last me for a while when I left the supermarket. They had given me directions to a place where I might be able to find key rings. General Mackmyra Lös, a new snus that I found at ICA Nära Löttorpshallen. I popped open the snus can and I tried the snus. It was very nice and I made a mental note to buy it again if I run in to it. I was wearing a little leaving the Supermarket as a twat had parked his car very close to my car and it was next to impossible to open the door.
I crossed the road to go look for the Key ring place and I found something that looked like a barn. It was a “EVERYTHING 1 DOLLAR” type of store. I didn´t found any key rings. But the owners had a few hand he gave me them for free. Seems to be friendly and service minded people here on Öland. It was a few minutes´ drive to Högby hamn / Högby Harbour . Reaching road #136 and I turned north for a bit before I left road #136 and I drove down to the sea front. 04. Högby hamn / Högby Harbour
As you can see on the map below, drive along road #136 from south to north and you pass all the birding hot spots. Leave road #136 and you will end up on a small road going down to the beach north of Högby hamn / Högby Harbour . You will find a large parking area. You will have to walk from the parking area and there is a board walk down to the beach. There is a dust road going south from the parking, but not allowed to drive the car so you will have to walk.  How to find Högby hamn / Högby Harbour
 Reaching the parking area at the beach
 Reaching the parking area at the beach
 The parking area
 Board walk down to the beach
 Only walking allowed
Walking south on the dust road and you walk along the beach on your left hand side and on your right hand side you have old tool sheds for fishing equipment etc. You have waders and seabirds on the beach and in the water and in the small fishing harbour.  Walking towards the harbour
 The beach
 Walking along the old tool sheds for fishing equipment etc.
 Approaching the fishing harbour
 Approaching the fishing harbour
Walking past the harbour and keep close to the tool sheds and coming to the end make sure to walk so you are covered by the bushes when approaching the beach south of Högby hamn / Högby Harbour . If you can stay out of sight you have a very good chance to come close to the birds on the beach. Walking along the beach and you have sea birds and waders along the beach. On the fields you can see some ponds and when I was there it was at least 1000 Barnacle Gooses around the ponds.  The beach south of the fishing harbour
 The fields with the ponds
Högby hamn / Högby Harbour is a very nice place, and it is well worth a visit, just to walk around enjoying the scenery even if you´re not in to bird watching. Walking towards the fishing harbour and I pass 50 Mute Swans resting on the water, I think they took shelter from the bad weather. Strong winds, cold and rain every now and then. I spotted a few Common Redshanks and a couple of Ruffs. And the very beautiful Pied Avocet. Coming south of the harbour and I discover thousands of Barnacle gooses on the field. They get scared and they take off and it was a beautiful sight.    Female, Territorial male and a Satellite male
 Female, Territorial male and a Satellite male
 Satellite male
  Pied Avocet
Picture not good enough for the bird to make it to my list of observed birds.
 Barnacle Goose
 Barnacle Goose
 Barnacle Goose
Hooded Crow feeding
I didn´t spend as much time as I wanted as it was very windy and cold. The harbour was full of birds taking refuge from the bad weather. I decided to come back when the weather was better to look for waders. I have been up and about for 12 hours and I decided to go back to Hotel Skansen in Färjestaden. I will make a stop Södviken - Naturreservat Södviks Sjömarker on the way south. I stopped at Södviken - Naturreservat Södviks Sjömarker, #5 on the list. I turned around, gloom and grey for long as I could see. Strong wind and rain. Sunshine when I left Färjestaden at 5 o´clock in the morning. Arriving to Norra öland and it was black sky approaching quickly from the north. 05. Södviken - Naturreservat Södviks Sjömarker
Again, you are driving along road #136 and when you reach the village Södvik it is time to leave road #136. There are signs “Naturreservat Södviks Sjömarker” BUT after leaving road #136 there is only one more sign saying “Naturreservat Södviks Sjömarker” when you reach Gamla Vägen (Gamla Road) From there the signs are saying “NATURRESERVAT” and you leave Gamla Vägen and you reach a fork, keep left and drive along a small road until the end where there is a parking.  How to find Södviken - Naturreservat Södviks Sjömarker
 Signs to Södviken - Naturreservat Södviks Sjömarker
 Signs to Södviken - Naturreservat Södviks Sjömarker
 After taking off road #136 the sign say NATURRESERVAT
 Keep left in the fork and follow the NATURRESERVAT sign
 Drive along a small road
 Drive along a small road
 Reach the end of the road and there is a parking
 We can see Södviken - Naturreservat Södviks Sjömarker from the parking
I parked the car and, well, I stuck out my nose and it was really cold and windy. I had been on the GO since 4 thirty when I left the hotel this morning and it would be about 15 hours by the time I was back at the hotel. I decided to come back here when the weather was better and I left. Driving north and I had passed a Sibylla outside Bornholm. Sibylla, the best hot dog and hamburgers in the world. A real classic Hamburger and hot dog stand that have been around since, well, for a very long time.  A Sibylla hotdog (OR TWO) at a simple hot dog stand while waiting for them to make your hamburger 5 o´clock in the morning on the way home from the pub. I have not had a Sibylla for many many years and I was delirious by anticipation driving south towards Bornholm. I see the Sibylla and today the Sibylla places are huge restaurants looking like all the other hamburger places around the world.  They have DRIVE IN service but I go inside and I suspect that this will not be as good as I remember Sibylla as soon as I step inside. It looks like any hamburger place around the world. And well, it was not any good and I left Sibylla a little disappointed.  When I left I knew that I would never come back to Sibylla again
 A pizza in Färjestaden
Back in Färjestaden I stop for a pizza before I go back to the hotel. It was OK and I went straight to bed back at the hotel with the alarm set to go off at 3 thirty. No problem to fall asleep looking forward to a new adventure tomorrow. Click HERE to find out if I see any birds.
    
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