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Description
Björken is a very shallow lake with by extensive alluvial marshes. In the agricultural landscape the wetland is an important resting place for many birds, and a last outpost before the woodland takes over to the north. In the bird observation tower, you have a good view of most of the lake, including the lake's inlet and outlet, where the ice first breaks and the birds gather in the spring. Scan mud banks for resting waders during spring and autumn. The southern part of the lake can be viewed from a platform 400 m further south. Along the path to the bird observation tower, you have a good chance of hearing Common Rosefinch in the birch groves (May-June) and Ortolan Bunting in the birch thickets (first half of May). There is a small, but stable amount of nesting Ortolan Bunting, probably the only one in Värmland.
Many swans and ducks rest in Björken during the spring, also diving ducks such as Long-tailed Duck and Velvet Scoter. When the marshes around the lake are flooded, large numbers of waders also rest, mainly various Tringa species. White-tailed Eagle and Hen Harrier sometimes occur during the spring migration and Ring Ouzel often make a stop here in the spring. In the forest groves there are Eurasian Hobby, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Icterine Warbler and Common Rosefinch. From the surrounding fields sometimes Common Quail and Corn Crake are heard, although the breeding frequency is uncertain.
In the autumn geese rest in the fields around the lake and the flocks can contain both Pink-footed Goose and Brent Goose. Waders can also stop in autumn, especially when mud banks in the lake are exposed by low water levels, which can also attract smaller numbers of Calidris waders. In some autumns Bluethroat are common.
Rare birds that have been observed in the area are Great Egret, Green-winged Teal, Ferruginous Duck, Montagu's Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Pectoral Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Little Tern, Eurasian Hoopoe, Tawny Pipit, Rock Pipit, River Warbler, Barred Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Two-barred Crossbill and Rustic Bunting.
Details
Access
From road E45, drive down towards and through Sunne and then continue on road 241 towards Munkfors. Continue on the same road to Torsberg and turn left there at the sign Bäckalund 8. Follow this road 3.6 km and park at the information sign near Tomthult's mission house (big red house with a white cross) on the right side of the road. Click on the P in the map for directions. Then follow the orange-marked path across the fields on the other side of the road to the bird tower (1.6 km). It is easy to move around the area around Björken thanks to several hiking trails, see the information board at the mission house.