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Description
The deep waters around Lake Vättern are ice-free most years. This makes it an excellent wintering area for birds. The lake holds large wintering populations of gulls like Common Gull, European Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. This is also one of the best places for the rare Glaucous Gull, although it is not seen most years. Most gulls winter around Motala. The area also holds wintering waterfowl. Most commonly: Goosander, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Whooper Swan, Tufted Duck and Common Goldeneye. Around Vadstenaviken large amounts (many hundreds) of Mallard winter. Often with other rarer (wintering) dabbling ducks in the mix. The lake also holds wintering populations of Great Cormorant, Red-breasted Merganser, Smew (visitors from Boren) Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, and during mild winters: Slavonian Grebe, Velvet Scoter, Black-throated Diver and Long-tailed Duck. The large fields around Vadstena and Norrsten hold wintering geese, Twite and Snow Bunting. Many birds of prey also winter. Most common are Sparrowhawk, and White-tailed Eagle.
During the last weeks of Febuari the first spring birds arrive. Common Starling, Eurasian Skylark, Common Chaffinch, and Northern Lapwing are usually the first to arrive. Some of the previously mentioned birds might start to winter if the winters continue to be mild. Many geese like Barnacle Goose, Greylag Goose, Taiga Bean Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose Tundra Bean Goose and Canada Goose are often seen. Most geese congregate around Tycklingen and Norrsten. Sometimes Pink-footed Goose is also found.
During March most of the geese increase in number. More birds of prey arrive: Rough-legged Buzzard, Eurasian Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, and Red Kite. In Vadstenaviken large amounts of dabbling ducks often rest. Common Shelduck (Regular), Black-headed Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher, and Common Snipe also arrive during this period. From this period onwards Great Egret is sometimes seen.
During April other wader along with Linnet and Meadow Pipit arrive. During April-May large amounts of passerine birds, wader, gulls, and terns use the lake as a landmark for migration. It starts in the middle of April with thousands of Common Chaffinch and Brambling, continuing with thousands of Eurasian Curlew, with smaller amounts of other waders like Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruff and Common Redshank. Also large amounts of gulls like Black-headed Gull and Common Gull. In early May hundreds of terns (Common Tern, Arctic Tern) pass. Along with rarer birds like Black Tern, Kittiwake (quite rare) and Little Gull.
During the summer many species of night-active birds can be heard like Grasshopper Warbler, Thrush Nightingale, Corn Crake, Great Reed Warbler (vadstena reningsverk), Common Quail and sometimes River Warbler. Many other warblers can be found during this period. In the cities of Motala and Vadstena city birds like Eurasian Collared Dove, Greenfinch, Black Redstart (missing most winters), Brambling, Rock Dove, and Blackcap can be found year round.
Details
Access
Parking can be done at ample places. Some of them are: Tycklingen, Motala, Råssnäsudden, and Vadstena castle. Click on a P in the map to get directions to that area.
Terrain and Habitat
Forest , Wetland , Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , Valley , Plain , Plateau , Lake , Beach , Mud flats , Agriculture , Reedbeds , River , City/villageConditions
Flat , Hilly , Sandy , Wet , Open landscapeCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
WinterRoute
Paved roadDifficulty walking trail
Average walkAccessible by
Foot , Bicycle , CarBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
Be respectful of the birds. Especially during breeding season.