Idre Fjäll 2013

Idre Fjäll in Dalarna, Sweden is an ideal place to combine a week of skiing with a little birding. Scandinavian specialities like Siberian Jay+Tit can both be seen. Black Grouse, Willow Grouse, Ptarmigan, Hazel Grouse, Golden Eagle, Ural Owl have all been seen on previous trips as well. This year we had a good mix of the above-mentioned species. Siberian Jays performed really well and could almost be hand-fed just next to the slopes on the eastern side of the mountain. Black Grouse was seen near the cross country tracks just north of the skiing area. A few short trips in the surrounding area gave Golden Eagle and Ptarmigan on Nipfjället and Arctic Redpoll inside Idre Town at a feeding station. The feeding station at Brunvallen had Siberian Tit during the cold weather prior to our visit. I did not see any during three short visits there though (best bird was a Dipper in the almost frozen stream). The species can be very tricky to find and I have only seen it twice in ten visits (I have only missed Siberian Jay once…). Half day trips would be the option if the Tit is the main target this would also include good chances for Grey-headed Woodpecker.

1/2 Idre Fjäll. Confiding birds when being fed.

1/2 Idre Fjäll. A nice bird indeed!

1/2 Idre Fjäll. I had brought bread from the cabin and the sib jays would come in for just a few seconds before either eating the bread in a nearby tree or flying away into the forest

1/2 Idre Fjäll. Looking out for more bread.

1/2 Idre Fjäll.

1/2 Idre Fjäll. 

31/1 Söderbyn, Idre Fjäll. Nuthatch ssp. europaea were quite common this year.

30/1 Idre Town. Coue's Arctic Redpoll with Common Redpolls.

31/1 Söderbyn, Idre Fjäll. Good numbers of Common Redpolls present this year.

29/1 Brunvallen. Common Redpoll

29/1 Brunvallen. Borealis Willow Tit - up to 20 birds at a time at the feeders.

29/1 Brunvallen. Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

29/1 Brunvallen.

29/1 Black Grouse, Idre Fjäll

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Ural Owl

In week three I went on a skiing holiday with my family to Idre Fjell in Dalarna in Sweden. A few good birds were seen during the week with Ural Owl being the highlight. This was my first observation of the species although I have visited the area in winter six times before. A Golden Eagle was seen in the same area as the owl.

14/1 Ural Owl, Idre Fjäll. Unfortunately I did not get close views of the owl. The first WP-tick for me in 2012!

14/1 Ural Owl, Idre Fjäll. Unfortunately I did not get close views of the owl.The first WP-tick for me in 2012!

16/1 Golden Eagle, Idre Fjäll. Seen eating something which was probably a Mountain Hare.

 A feeding station at Brunvallen near Burusjöen had good numbers of tits but the target Siberian Tit was not seen although I visited the place four times. A period with snow increased the number of birds and according to the locals at the place other birders had seen Siberian Tit prior to my visit. Out of seven visits I have only seen Siberian Tit once at Idre Fjell.

18/1 Willow Tit, Brunvallen. Most common tit in the area with more than 20 birds just at this feeding station.

 Siberian Jay is normally quite easy on the eastern slopes of Idre Fjäll but this year I completely failed even though I spent more time searching the area. Driving along Burusjöen I did see Black Grouse on two occasions and a flock of four Reindeers. Moose (4) was seen from the skiing area and a flock (3) on the way back south towards Denmark.   

18/1 Black Grouse near Burusjöen.

19/1 Reindeer on Burusjöen.

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Skiferie Idre 2008

Hvis skiferien skal tilbringes nordpå, og der samtidigt skal ses lidt fugle, er stedet, Idre. Stedet kan i bedste fald byde på; Lapmejse, Lavskrige og diverse høns. Dette års besøg blev dog desværre ikke så succesrigt som tidligere. Fodrede intensivt i træerne foran hytten med en del mejser og Grønirisker som resultat. Grønirisk, Fuglekonge, Sortmejse og Spætmejse var nye vinterarter på Idre, så den milde vinter kunne føles på flere måder. Turen til Idre bød på tre Elge, hvilket skulle vise sig at blive turens naturmæssige højdepunkt. To overflyvende ryper var nok Dalryper, men kunne desværre ikke bestemmes. Overflyvende ryper i vinterdragt er ikke lige sådan at bestemme.

Hvor mange Elge er der her?!? Foto: Peter Bo Nielsen.

En såkaldt toplister optræder åbenbart på fjeldhotellet om aftenen. Så det desværre ikke selv....

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