Meeting and pick-up point: Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
This trip coincides with the main migration season in southern Sweden and will be based in two major birding sites: on the Falsterbo peninsula, one of Europe’s main hotspots for migrating passerines, birds of prey and waders and on Öland a 3.5 hour drive in comfortable vehicles from Falsterbo and a famous birdwatching site. We will also visit some cultural sites on both trips, and bird the interior of Skåne (Scania), the southernmost province of Sweden. Ringing demonstrations will be held at Ottenby and either at Falsterbo or a private site nearby. We may be accompanied by one or two local experts over dinner one night. Don’t forget your camera!
The trip is arranged by AviFauna Naturresor www.avifauna.se, with 40 years experience of arranging birding trips worldwide. AviFauna is the largest bird tour operator in Scandinavia and runs c. 40 trips a year. AviFauna is a member of the professional travel agencies’ organisation, SRF, and comply with EU regulations for arranging package trips.
GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE TRIP
This trip is in a relaxed pace and will focus on bird migration. The exact schedule of the days will be decided by weather and recent bird reports to maximise the experiences. There may be some early mornings. Transports are usually within an hour’s duration, except for the drive to and from Öland when a car ride of 3.5 hours, interspersed with one or two birding breaks, will take place. On one day we may venture further away from Falsterbo and may have a transport of up to 90 minutes. Vehicles used will be spacious minivans, with room for a reasonable amount of luggage and a maximum of 7 participants in each. The vehicles are driven by the tour leader and, if more than 7 people join the trip, an assisting tour leader.
FOOD
Full board from dinner on the arrival day to lunch the final day. Dinner is always a three course meal with non-alcoholic beverage (alcohol available at own expense). Breakfasts are usually served in restaurants but may be packed for the field on single days. Lunches are usually as lunchboxes. We can cater to most diets.
ACCOMMODATION
(The following hotels are planned, but may be changed to at least the same standard in rare cases)
Falsterbo: Höllviksnäs möten och mat – A 15 minute drive from the migration point and with plenty of migrant birds passing over it.
Öland: Gammalsbygårdens Gästgiveri – A 20 minute drive to Ottenby, situated in a small village on the edge of the IUCN World Heritage Site of Alvaret. The Baltic Sea is a short walk away.
All rooms are with ensuite bathrooms.
WEATHER
The weather at this time of the year is usually nice, but preparedness for rain is advised. Temperatures may be between 10 and 20 °C, with chillier early mornings and nights. There is often a wind, not necessarily strong. Expect also sunshine and bring sunblock.
CLOTHING
Waterproof and windproof, light, clothing is recommended to bring along, also a warm sweater or two. Sturdy walking boots and/or -shoes are also recommended. Weather can be quite summer-like and warm at this time of the year, but one never knows beforehand.
OUR COMMUNICATION
We will contact you once the trip has reached the minimum number of participants and then you may make your travel arrangements. More detailed information, list of group member’s names and what to bring will also be sent out then. Before that we will require you to fill in a registration form including contact details to next of kin, travel insurance number and consent issues regarding appearing in photographs and sharing names among your co-participants.
HIGHLIGHTS – birds
Black-throated and Red-throated Divers, ducks and waders on migration, migrating raptors such as Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Pallid Harrier, perhaps Spotted or Lesser Spotted Eagle, resident White-tailed Eagles, strong migration of Yellow Wagtails, Tree Pipits, Chaffinches and Bramblings, pipits and resting tropical migrants with a good chance of Red-breasted Flycatcher. It is also a good time for rarities from Siberia if the weather has been favourable. A full species list will be provided before the trip which can be used in the daily log calls. The tour leader will be equipped with both local and natinal bird alerts.
HIGHLIGHTS – other things
On Öland we will be given a guided tour of the fantastic site of Eketorps borg, an ancient fort. You will travel on the bridge between Denmark and Sweden, of international TV series fame. In Scania we will also visit one of Sweden’s major ringing sites and see bird ringing/banding in action and we will visit both the Falsterbo and Ottenby bird observatories. On our trip to Öland we will stop for lunch at the Naval Museum of Karlskrona and be given a guided tour.
DAY-TO-DAY PROGRAMME
Note that we may switch the programme on some days as we wish to optimize the bird-watching in relation to weather.
20 September. Pickup at Copenhagen airport early afternoon, earlier if flight arrival times admit. We drive over the bridge, renowned from the TV Series ”The Bridge”, to Sweden and our accommodation c. 45 minutes away. Evening birding nearby.
21 September. Birding in and around Falsterbo all day. Illustrated talk in the evening focussing on the migration over southern Sweden.
22 September. Morning visit to a ringing station c. 45 minutes away from our accommodation. Morning and midday in the lake district, for raptors. Evening at Foteviken.
23 September. We explore the Falsterbo peninsula all day, sites according to weather and birds.
24 September. Morning birding depending on what more we would like to see and then drive to Öland (3.5 hours) with stops on the way. Lunch in Karlskrona. Evening birding on Öland.
25 September. Ottenby Bird Observatory in the morning, birding depending on weather and birds but mainly around this area. We will scan along the coast, which can be impressive if seabird migration is on, or spend time in the large, isolated forest north of the point which harbour many resting migrants. A guided tour of the bird observatory is also planned.
26 September. Birding at various sites on Öland, Visit to the archeological site of Eketorp after some morning birding, rest of day birding at the many sites in the southern half of Öland depending on bird reports and weather.
27 September. Depart Öland after breakfast, arrival at Copenhagen Airport c. 3 pm
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
• Full-board from dinner arrival day to lunch final day. Three-course dinners, alcoholic beverages not included
• Bed in double room, unless single room is booked
• All transports from and to Copenhagen airport, including road tolls
• Tips to restaurants, hotels and guides
• Tour leader from AviFauna, if more than 7 participants also one assisting tour leader/driver. Tour leaders also have telescopes with them
• Vehicle drivers
• Species list before the trip for preparations
• Trip report with short diary and species list after the trip
• Entrance fees for visits specified in the programme
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
• Trip from your home to Copenhagen airport and back
• Hotel nights that may be required due to unfavourable connections
• Items of a personal nature, such as laundry and porters etc
• Compensation for food expenses if participant chooses not to take part in the group’s activities
• Expenses due to late arrival to the trip
• Insurance and protection for trip cancellation
• Visa fees, if required
