Champions of the Flyway!

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Sweden, 2019 - Falsterbo Raptorama

Familiar perhaps, but still arguably the star bird of the trip - the spectacle of hundreds of Sparrowhawks on the move at Falsterbo is one of the most awe-inspiring aspects of visible migration there....
 
No need to be alarmed - this one has a full crop and is therefore unlikely to try and eat these birders
 
Raptor-wise, it wasn't just Honey-buzzards... over the course of our trip, we had 16 species, and Falsterbo provided the perfect backdrop and context against which to enjoy their respective migrations.

Red Kites were a regular presence.... 
 
... and we had several (much scarcer) Black Kites moving through
 
Ospreys migrating together
 
A juvenile Red-footed Falcon speeds south along the coast past the lighthouse
 
Osprey heading out to sea with a loose flock of Honey-buzzards
 
Another Red-foot - this one over the viewing roof at the Bird Show