SWEDEN 25–28 February 2011 Leader: Daniel Green

This wonderful new short-break spring tour to Sweden will give you the opportunity to see a number of Scandi-navian speciality birds including Golden and White-tailed Eagles, Northern Goshawk, Rough-legged Buzzard,Northern Hawk-owl, Eurasian Pygmy-owl, Eurasian Three-toed and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, Spotted Nutcracker,Siberian Jay and Pine Grosbeak all in beautiful scenery with comfortable accommodation and excellent food. We will also have the opportunity to see several species of mammalincluding Elk and Red Deer and possibly Wolf or Beaver.

Day 1 We depart from London on a morning fl ight to Stockholm. On arrival, Daniel Green, our English-speaking Swedish tour leader, will meet us. We then transfer to Svartådalen (the Black River Valley), a couple of hours to the northwest. En route, we will stop for hot drinks and food, and to watch a garden feeding station popular withHawfi nches together with species such as Eurasian Bullfi nch, Mealy Redpoll, Eurasian Nuthatch, Yellowhammer, European Greenfi nch, Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Fieldfare, Eurasian Blackbird, Eurasian Jay and occasionally Arctic Redpoll, Eurasian Siskin and Brambling. We will then spend the remaining period before dusk looking for Eurasian Pygmy-owls, which may often be seen perched in the tops of wayside Spruce Trees. On our arrival in the small village of Sätra Brunn, situated in the heart of Svartådalen, we will settle into our base, the Sätra Brunn Spa & Conference Hotel. The hotel consists of over a hundred red-painted wooden cottages and houses, set in a large park where mature trees attract a wealth of woodland birds. You can use hotel’s spa facilities (inside or outside!), and gaze upwards through the steam into the starry, northern sky if you choose outside!

Day 2 After breakfast, we will head out into the surrounding countryside for a full day’s exploration of the valley, taking packed lunches with us. Svartådalen offers a pleasant patchwork of deciduous and coniferous forests, farmland, and lakes and wetlands, frozen and snow-covered in winter but thawing by the time of our visit. We explore this quiet landscape on winding roads passing by pretty red-painted wooden farmhouses. We will focus fi rst on a search for Northern Hawk-owl. These owls may often be seen during the day perched in tree-tops or on telephone poles, and can give excellent views and photographic opportunities. Later we will visit a forest feeding station popular with both Spotted Nutcrackers and Grey-headed Woodpeckers. These birds often show really well and at close range, providing further opportunities for photographers and viewers alike. Here, we may additionally hope to see such other species as Crested, Coal and Willow Tits, Eurasian Bullfinches, Eurasian Nuthatches (of the Scandinavian race), Great Spot-ted Woodpecker, and Long-tailed Tits of the Scandinavian white-headed race. At dusk we will focus once again on owls, looking again for Northern Hawk-owls and Eurasian Pygmy-owls as they sit atop their favourite lookout points and watch for voles. Through-out the day, we will also look out for such winter visitors as Rough-legged Buzzard and Great Grey Shrike as well as such resident raptors including Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle and Northern Goshawks. Towards the end of the day, we will drive a couple of hours to the north to the Jädra Ås Herrgård (guesthouse) with it’s welcoming open fire in its dining room and excellent home-cooked food.

Day 3 The tiny village of Jädra Ås is surrounded by taiga forest and overlooks the nearby river. After enjoying breakfast at our guesthouse, we will visit the feeding station for Si-berian Jays at Ockelbo, which also regularly attracts Grey-headed Woodpecker and other species. As we enjoy the curious Siberian Jays, we will again enjoy an outdoor feast by grilling some locally-produced sausages over an open fire. Hopefully satisfied with re-warding views and photographs of the Siberian Jays, and fortified by our al fresco meal, we will head back to the Black River Valley via the River Dalälven. Here, White-throated Dippers (of the black-bellied race) may be found and Eurasian Pygmy-owls sometimes occur by the roadside. Back at Sätra Brunn, we will settle in once again to our rooms in the hotel, and perhaps cap the day with a pre-dinner visit to the spa.

Day 4 This final morning will be spent looking for White-tailed Eagles around Lake Fläcksjön, before venturing deep into the vast taiga forest where Black Woodpeckers, Hazelhen, Black Grouse and Red Crossbills are amongst the birds that may be seen. Here, we will also look out for Northern Goshawks and Golden Eagles, and have a small chance of Western Capercaillie and Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker. During the tour, we have a good chance of seeing some of Sweden’s mammals including such common species as Elk, Roe Deer, Red Deer, Red Fox, Brown and Mountain Hare, Red Squirrel, Stoat, Weasel and Mink. There is even a possibility of one of the more elusive residents such as Lynx, Wolf, Beaver, Otter or Wild Boar! If we have time, we may re-visit the forest feeders for further views of Crested Tits, Spotted Nutcrackers and Grey-headedWoodpeckers or put in a final search for Northern Hawk-owl. We will also keep our eyes open for Bohemian Waxwings (and even the occasional Pine Grosbeak), which can ap-pear in any garden in the picturesque small villages of the valley. In the late afternoon, we must drive back to Stockholm Airport for our direct flight back to the London.

General Information The climate can be highly variable, from mild to very cold with some rain or snow possible. Accommodation and food standards are very good. Transport is by minibus. There are no special health requirements. A moderate degree of fitness is required for some of the walks. Photographic opportunities are excellent.

Group Size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 8; maximum group size: 16 with two leaders.

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