Started off in the car from Uppsala at around midday, and though the weather was rather horrid (rain rain and rain) the trip went well. A bit peeved when an eagle flew across the road, and all I could see was that is was no White-tailed Eagle but couldn't stop to investigate further. Most probably a Golden Eagle.
Anyway, arrived at around 7pm, at which time it was dark and so no birding that day. Talked a bit to the birder we were sharing the flat with, and got a few tips for the next day. Most notably a Red-flanked Bluetail had been spotted that day! Went to bed planning the route for tomorrow.
Day 1, October 17
Got up early and drove down to the southernmost part of Öland, Ottenby. The most well-known place on Öland when it comes to birds, even ordinary people know it's something extra. The parking lot next to the ringing station was packed with cars, and we barely got out of the car before the phone rang and we were told a Hoopoe had been spotted by the lighthouse. Walked the hundred yards to the lighthouse, only to find that the bird had taken refuge in the vegetation and could not be seen. Waited for a while, and then up it flew! Sadly only a few people got to see the bird, but as I was one of those I don't complain.
Watched some migrating geese and ducks, for a short while, and then decided to go for the Red-flanked Bluetail instead of trying to refind the Hoopoe.
Driving north along the east coast of Öland we kept our eyes open for any eagles or anything along the road, but saw nothing. Not surprising, the Steppe Eagle usually wasn't reported before lunch anyway. Probably liked to sleep in. Well, we got to the place where the Bluetail had been seen, a grove by a beach by the sea on the east coast. Along with several other birders who were there we searched the grove, getting excited at everything that moved (and disappointed when it turned out to be just a Robin or a Chiffchaff). Then, finally, someone found the bird. Ran over there only to get really bad views of it, but still, a Red-flanked Bluetail! And then it disappeared again. Search started again. And then it was found again, and this time gave us really good views as it sat on a log. Showed off it's rust-coloured flanks nicely, flicking the little tail up and down. Wonderful little bird, and actually my second this year! (The first a singing male up in the deep forests of Västerbotten.)
Very pleased with the views and the bird (and also the nice athmosphere at the twitch, everyone was very friendly), we decided to have some lunch and drove to a small town to eat (and buy a toothbrush, since I had left mine at home. Oops.)
Drove south after that, as we got a call about the Red-breasted Goose that had been seen the day before. Got to the place, and found it amongst a few hundred Barnacle Geese, feeding in a field. Apparently it had been in another field first, but an angry farmer scared the flock away. Guess he didn't appreciate the geese eating all his crops! A first-year bird, it was beautiful nonetheless.
As we were a bit tired now we decided to go down to Ottenby again, to have some coffee and relax a bit. Getting there we noticed a lot of people gathered on the tip of the peninsula. Of course, a Little Bunting had been spotted here the day before, and they must be watching it! Walked out to the crowd and was told that the wee bird was sitting by a log only 10 metres away. Despite the proximity it was VERY hard to see! Finally (thanks to the direction of the man next to me) I managed to see it and even scope it. Beautiful little bird, hopping around in the vegetaion, really well camouflaged with it's browning plumage. It didn't seem the least bit bothered by all the people watching it, it just kept on feeding.
Anyway, by now we were really tired, and decided to call it a day. Lots of great birds, apart from the ones already mentioned we saw several Sparrowhawks, a Hen Harrier, Mistle Thrushes, loads of Goldcrests, several flocks of assorted buntings and finches and quite a few migrating ducks. Went to bed happy, hoping to see the Steppe Eagle tomorrow.