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Svartåmynning

Östergötland  >  Sweden

Nature reserve on the western shore of the large and shallow lake Roxen. Almost 300 bird species have been recorded in the area.

Added* by Ludwig Gustafsson
Most recent update 31 maaliskuu 2022

Description

Svartåmynning is a nature reserve on Lake Roxen and a top bird watching area. From one of Svartåmynnings birdwatching towers you get a sweeping view of the lake. Lake Roxen is a large shallow lake with an average depth of 4.8 meters. In Svartåmynning 279 bird species have been seen, and in Roxen as a whole 296 bird spiecies have been seen. In the winter just as the snow dissappeares in February the first spring birds arrive: kottarainen, kiuru, vuorihemppo, räkättirastas, pulmunen and töyhtöhyyppä. As the area around Svartåmynning is one of the first places to become ice free in early march, you can usually find large gatherings of haapana, metsähanhi, tukkasotka, merihanhi, telkkä, isokoskelo, uivelo, kanadanhanhi and tavi. In late march many of the less common birds can arrive jalohaikara, lyhytnokkahanhi, jouhisorsa, Lapasorsa and valkoposkihanhi. At the same time the coastal meadows are filled with: hemppo, niittykirvinen, metsäkirvinen and kapustarinta. The first waders also start to appear: punajalkaviklo, metsäviklo, mustapyrstökuiri, taivaanvuohi, kuovi and tylli.

In late March the first kiljuhanhi arrive on their route to the mountains. This is one of the few areas where this goose can still be seen regularly. In April even more ducks and geese arrive. Now the first substantial amounts of waders arrive. With them the first pikkutylli, pikkukuovi, meriharakka, suosirri, valkoviklo and suokukko are ussually seen. Around Sättuna the very large naurulokki colony starts to form. Around this time you can find pikkulokki in large amounts, and sometimes even the rare mustanmerenlokki. At the same time the first terns arrive lapintiira, räyskä and kalatiira. This is usually the best time for watching marine ducks who often wander to the lake, sometimes in large flocks. The most common of theese are mustalintu and lapasotka. But pilkkasiipi, alli and haahka are can also be seen. The lake is used by thousands tukkasotka as feeding grounds. On the coastal meadows also often se marine birds like luotokirvinen . In the latter part of april the latest duck heinätavi starts to appear. Now the waders take over with even more species like liro, lapinsirri, mustaviklo and tundrakurmitsa even some of the rarest waders are seen quite regularly: jänkäsirriäinen, vesipääsky, lampiviklo (not seen every year, has breed once) siperiankurmitsa (now seen 4 years in a row). Now the mustatiira and punavarpunen also arrive.

In Svartåmynning many rare birdspecies breed. The area has a very large amount of breeding waders: punajalkaviklo (common) taivaanvuohi (common), töyhtöhyyppä (common), mustapyrstökuiri (Swedens northernmost population of the bird breeds here), pikkutylli (uncommon), meriharakka (uncommon), kuovi (uncommon). On the coastal meadows large amount of ducks and geese also breed. On the ground hemppo, niittykirvinen, pikkulepinkäinen and kiuru all breed. sääksi (kalasääski), hiirihaukka, muuttohaukka, tuulihaukka, varpushaukka, merikotka and ruskosuohaukka all breed in the area.

As autumn starts to rear its head the waders start to increase again. If the water in Roxen is at the right level hundreds of waders can bee seen. Waders like: liro (often 100+), valkoviklo (often 30+), tylli (often 100+) suokukko (often 200+), pikkutylli (often 20+), mustaviklo (often 50+). In autumn the arctic waders are much more common and in August-September they can be seen in the hundreds: suosirri (often 300+), isosirri (often 100+), tundrakurmitsa (often 50+) kuovisirri (often 30+). Many quite rare waders are regularly seen at Svartåmynning in autumn like jänkäsirriäinen, pulmussirri, vesipääsky, karikukko and mustapyrstökuiri (islandica).

During autumn large flock of finches, starlings, wagtails and pipits often congregate on the coastal meadows. In these flock rarer birds like lapinkirvinen and lapinsirkku are often found. When the geese arrive again there can usually be found a few sepelhanhi. When the late autumn arrives and the ducks yet again reach their peak, you can see thousands of tukkasotka (often 5000+) isokoskelo (has decreased but could once be seen in the thousands in the lake) uivelo (often 1300+, highest concentrations in the country), silkkiuikku (often 2000+, highest concentration the country). Among these birds you can sometimes find rarer ducks.

Details

Access

Just outside of Linköping along the road between Ljungsbro and Linköping. There are three different entrances to the reserve. The south at Sättuna, the middle at Nybrobaden and the north at Sjövik. All of them have bird towers and information signs. The bird towers at Nybrobaden and Sättuna are accessible by wheelchair. Several parking spaces are available. Click on a P in the map to get directions to that point. Marked trails run from the car parks to the bird towers.

Terrain and Habitat

Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , Wetland , Plain , River , Lake , Forest , Beach , Mud flats , Agriculture , Reedbeds , City/village

Conditions

Flat , Wet , No shadow , High water possible , Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Autumn , Spring

Route

Paved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Extra info

Don't disturb the birds. Follow the signs, some of the paths are of limits during the breeding season (April-July)

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

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