Skåne - Sweden
Just across the Øresund Bridge from Denmark, Skåne is the most important northern European route for migrating birds, as breeding birds from as far away as Lapland in northern Scandinavia are funneled towards the southern tip on Sweden. As well as Falsterbo (see separate tour), I am familiar with several key sites within a 45-60 minute drive from Copenhagen and a full day can produce a long list.
Best time to visit
January-March - Winter is good for eagles and large birds of prey. Woodpeckers are notoriously early breeders, with black, green and great-spotted woodpeckers scattered throughout Skåne. Common Cranes travel through in their thousands. There are chances of black grouse on their lek.
April-May - Song birds mostly arrive in April and start their dawn chorus later in the period. Woodpeckers are active and feeding their young. The first breeding waders and terns arrive, including a large colony of pied avocet.
June-July - Eagles and woodpeckers become quieter. Song birds are in full feeding mode. Summer visitors such as golden oriole and cuckoo have arrived. European bee-eater has started to visit and breed recently, so hopefully this continues.
August-October - Migration is in full swing (see Falsterbo note). Without doubt one of the highlights on the birding calendar. I have been visiting the migration hotspots each year since 2007.
November-December - Several birds of prey species along with a chance of all three woodpecker species are possible in the rolling hills and valleys. Red kite numbers swell during the winter months. Large flocks of geese are present. Chance of waxwing and nutcracker, or a special owl species or two.
Key Species
With more than 350 species seen around Falsterbo alone, the list in Skåne is endless. There are many different habitats in Skåne, therefore the species list is high and diverse. There are many good sites within an hour of Copenhagen and some further afield.
The following “highlight” species is a small selection.
Birds of prey - white-tailed eagle, golden eagle, red kite, marsh, hen, pallid and montagu’s harriers, common and rough-legged buzzards, goshawk, eurasian sparrowhawk, eurasian hobby, peregrine falcon, common kestrel. Each year always provides one or two rarities as well.
Large selection of migrating waders. Common crane (spring) and geese (winter) in their thousands. Good numbers of black, green and great-spotted woodpeckers. Golden oriole, common cuckoo, red-backed (summer) and great-grey shrikes (winter), larks and pipits.
Large selection of song birds and warblers.
If you need a more accurate list for a specific month, let me know.
