Gedser, Denmark 7th to 12th November 2018

7th November

Fewer birds around today although the Goldcrests needed a lot of attention to avoid becoming chilled in the nets and rounds every 30 minutes was increased to each 20 minutes. They, and some Redpoll gave us something to do in the morning although a mist that developed after mid-day put a stop to catching through the afternoon.
Highlight of the day, a Northern Long-tailed Tit bearing ring VP65608 (MOSKVA).

1K+ Nordlig Halemejse with ring VP65608 MOSKVA

Double checking the details

Ringing Totals:  90 (22)

Gærdesmutte / Wren – 2 (1)
Rødhals / Robin – 1 (2)
Solsort / Blackbird – 0 (1)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  28 (15)
Halemejse / Long-tailed Tit - 5 (1 control Moscow)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 1
Musvit / Great Tit – 0 (1)
Træløber / Treecreeper – 1
Grønirisk / Greenfinch - 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 2
Stor Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 39
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 6
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 3 (1)
Lille Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 1

8th November

A misty start that left everything very, very damp. Condensation on the nets that transferred readily to any early birds that we did catch.

Hawthorn branches laced with dew drops

November Blackberry blooms

Late autumn, Fuglehus

So, a fairly quiet morning that was saved by a boost of Redpolls tape lured in the afternoon. Goldcrests are reducing now and quite a lot of Bullfinches are passing through.

Here's one we ringed earlier.

Meadow Pipits caught in the field nets and

 walk-in traps help to inflate the total ringed.

Barnacle Goose flocks still frequent the freshly harvested beet fields.

In the evening we went to Birkemose to see if we could find waders before the light failed.

There were 7 Sanderling on the beach, but they left just before the light failed completely and we suspect they roost on the sandbar just off shore, explaining why we haven't had success with lamping on the beaches.

Ringing Totals:  104 (15)

Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 6

Gærdesmutte / Wren – 1
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 1
Rødhals / Robin – 0 (4)
Solsort / Blackbird – 4 (2)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 0 (1)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  8 (2)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 8 (2)
Musvit / Great Tit – 2 (1)
Nordlig Træløber / Treecreeper – 0 (1)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 1
Grønirisk / Greenfinch - 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 3
Stor Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 60
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 2
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 5 (1)
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 0 (1)
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 1

 9th November

A dull, cold morning that didn't improve when the mist closed in at around midday. Tapes were allowed too late, letting the flocks of Redpoll, Fieldfare and Waxwing avoid the draw to the lures.
Numbers were low and would have been lower still were it not for the Meadow Pipits and a couple of Tree Sparrows captured as they exited their nest box. One bonus, a Twite was caught with the Meadow Pipits. The last Twite here were three that we captured on the field edge at the tip, in 2015.

1st year male Twite

Ringing Totals:  50 (11)

Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 23

Jernspurv / Dunnock - 2 (1)
Rødhals / Robin – 3 (4)
Solsort / Blackbird – 4 (2)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  1 (1)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 8 (1)
Musvit / Great Tit – 1
Nordlig Træløber / Northern Treecreeper – 1
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 1 (1)
Grønirisk / Greenfinch - 1
Bjergirisk / Twite - 1
Stor Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 1
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 2
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 1
Lille Dompap / Western Bullfinch - 0 (1)

10 November

Windier, cloudy and birds flying overhead in the morning. Nothing about by the time we could use tapes, see totals, enough said.

Totals: 7 (8)

Rødhals / Robin – 2
Solsort / Blackbird - 1 (3)
Vindrossel - 2
Sangdrossel - 0 (2)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1 (2)
Nordlig Træløber / Northern Treecreeper – 1
Musvit / Great Tit - 0 (1)
Stor Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 2
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 2

So, we decided to go for a drive in the afternoon and came across a group of Mute Swan at the harbour. Chris gave hand catching a go and caught up two of the birds while I tried to record the number of a ringed bird.

AH3752 from Poland, - pale legged a truely Polish bird.

The Danish rings have a different fastening method to those in the UK simply folding one 

metal end over the other. J6952 & J6953 marked and released 14:15hrs.

11th November

It was raining when the alarm went off at 6am and continued to do so for a couple of hours. Being that standard could begin within two hours of the set start time and we did not drop until 9:15am with the sky threatening more rain, we selected a few favoured nets and played Redpoll, Meadow Pipit and Long-tailed Tit (as there were Blue and Great Tits in the garden).

The tape lures weren't a great success, nothing coming to LTT or Redpoll until a large flock arrived around lunch time as it clouded up again. We got just two Meadow Pipits and 24 Mealy Redpoll. A party of Northern Long-tailed Tit passed through, completely ignoring the playback but finding another net all the same. Meanwhile, we caught a single new Robin and retrapped the last three Goldcrest seen over the last couple of days. There was another Swedish control Blue Tit to add to our others.

Ringing Totals: 36 (5)

Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 2
Rødhals / Robin – 1
Nordlig Halemejse / Northern Long-tailed Tit - 6
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 0 (3)
Nordlig Træløber / Northern Treecreeper – 0 (1)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 3 (1 control Sweden)
Stor Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 24

 At the end of the day we took a turn around the harbour (unable to follow our usual route due to a Politi cordon where there had been a murder, in one of the houses, over night). Kroghag (pronounced Crowhay) was very peaceful and here we managed to see some Bearded Tits although we failed to see a Snow Bunting that had been there the day before. I also found a small piece of Baltic amber washed up on the beach.

Fresh water lake,  Kroghag

Gedser seems like a sleepy place where nothing much happens. We've been quite keen to keep the house secure, difficult when a lot of people are staying here, especially at night. Last week it was cars racing the road to the tip that ended with a car 300m into the field on Saturday night, having rolled several times. I think we're absolutely right to take our 'better safe than sorry' attitude and lock our doors.

The car didn't seem to have its lights on (Chris couldn't see it in the field just after it crashed), perhaps some bizarre game driving by the beam of the lighthouse?

12th November

The season really is drawing to a close now and birds in the garden are scarce. There have been some Bullfinches through and we've done a review of those already done, changing a few to Dompap rather than stating Stor (Northern) or Lille (Western). We suspect there are some that can't be identified either way without DNA.

Stor Dompap just after release

There were some Redpolls caught leaving the roost, a lot of retraps and the rain started before the end of standard. However, we continued to the end of the session, there being very few smaller birds around now.

2k Sparrowhawk male

Totals: 31 (15)

Spurvehøge / Sparowhawk - 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 1 (1)
Rødhals / Robin – 0 (4)
Solsort / Blackbird - 0 (2)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 0 (1)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 0 (1)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1 (2)
Nordlig Træløber / Northern Treecreeper – 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 1
Stilits / Goldfinch - 3
Stor Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 12
Dompap / Eurasian Bullfinch - 1
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch - 2
                                                                     

Gedser, Denmark - 1st to 6th November 2018

1st November

At last, some decent weather for netting birds. The gales of recent days has blocked small migrants from travelling to their wintering grounds and the let up in the weather today allowed them to get moving again. We knew we had a decent number of birds from calls heard while setting the nets, Goldcrests featuring heavily.

Ringing Totals: 262 (16)

Engpiber / Meadow Pipit – 6
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 5
Rødhals / Robin –  8 (6)
Solsort / Blackbird – 0 (3)
Vindrossel / Redwing – 0 (1)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  195
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 6 (2)
Musvit / Great Tit – 3 (2)
Nordlig Træløber / Treecreeper – 2
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 4
Grønirisk / Greenfinch – 2
Stilits / Goldfinch – 2
Grønsisken / Siskin – 1
Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 11
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 9
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 2
Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 1 (2)
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer – 3
Rørspurv / Reed Bunting - 1

2nd November

A return to windy conditions and migration reduced as we expected. There were a few more crests and it looks as though this is the latest movement of Goldcrests for a few years. Sometimes there are no more than 10 or 20 in the whole of November and we are already above 200.

We saw a Long-eared Owl when we arrived back on site at about 8:30pm - set nets, played the tape but still no owl capture!

Ringing Totals: 63 (19)

Gærdesmutte / Wren – 3
Rødhals / Robin –  10 (1)
Solsort / Blackbird – 2 (1)
Vindrossel / Redwing – 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  16 (14)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 7 (1)
Musvit / Great Tit – 14 (4)
Nordlig Træløber / Treecreeper – 1 (1)
Stor Tornskade / Great Grey Shrike - 1
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 2 (1)
Grønirisk / Greenfinch – 5
Stilits / Goldfinch - 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 27
Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 1
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 3
StormDompap / Bullfinch - 1 (2)

3rd November

Another good day! Goldcrests are arriving late this year and there were another hundred or so today. We caught Siskins and Meadow Pipits in decent numbers, and our fourth Great Grey Shrike of the autumn.

Great Grey Shrike, juvenile still with faint barring on chest as

well as retained greater coverts, fourth GGS of the autumn.

Another Fieldfare - we saw a flock of approx 200 leave for 

Germany on the evening of the 1st but there are still some around.

Ringing Totals: 207 (20)

Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 24

Gærdesmutte / Wren – 4
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 1 (1)
Rødhals / Robin –  1 (3)
Solsort / Blackbird – 3 (2)
Sjagger / Fieldfare - 2
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  106 (5)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 7 (1)
Musvit / Great Tit – 14 (4)
Nordlig Træløber / Treecreeper – 1 (1)
Stor Tornskade / Great Grey Shrike - 1
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 2 (1)
Grønirisk / Greenfinch – 5
Stilits / Goldfinch - 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 27
Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 4
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 3
Stor Dompap / Bullfinch - 1 (2)

4th November

Today was a little windier and colder. The morning was a slow but as cloud built up, birds began coming through in the late morning. After standard ringing we were able to play audio lures and attracted in quite a lot of Redpoll including an interesting 1st year female and good candidate for Arctic. Having not seen that species in the hand, we've sent off images to someone 'in the know' who has confirmed that this is in fact Carduelis exilipes.

Other highlights of the day. more Northern Long-tailed Tits and some Northern Bullfinch. Also a Swedish ringed Blue Tit.

Northern Long-tailed Tit

The weather forecasts a few days of low wind and we'll see whether that encourages birds here or sends them straight overhead on to Germany.

Ringing Totals: 205 (14)

Spurvhøge / Sparrowhawk - 1
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 3

Gærdesmutte / Wren – 0 (1)
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 1
Rødhals / Robin –  2 (3)
Solsort / Blackbird – 2 (2)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  4 (4)
Halemejse / Northern Long-tailed Tit - 5
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 8 (3)
Musvit / Great Tit – 1
Nordlig Træløber / Treecreeper – 0 (1)
Kværkefinke / Brambling - 4
Grønsisken / Siskin - 4
Hvidsisken / Arctic Redpoll - 1
Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 129
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 28
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch - 5
Dompap / Western Bullfinch - 4
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 1

5th November

This really is developing into a quite unusual autumn, most likely due to the good weather in the summer that extended throughout most of October. Goldcrests are moving later than usual and we processed in excess of 100 again today bringing the total for the year so far to 1256.

Goldcrest female

Surprise of the morning was a Black Redstart.These are caught here in small numbers each year, perhaps 10 to 15 birds, but there have been no November captures in the last few years.

Black Redstart, 1st year male

Yellowhammer

Ringing Totals: 177 (9)

Spurvhøge / Sparrowhawk - 1

Gærdesmutte / Wren – 6
Rødhals / Robin –  15 (3)
Husrødstjert / Black Redstart - 1 
Solsort / Blackbird – 6
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 7
Vindrossel / Redwing - 11
Munk / Blackcap - 0 (1)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  108 (1)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 0 (1)
Nordlig Træløber / Treecreeper – 1
Stilits / Goldfinch - 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 2
Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 13
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 2
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch - 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch - 0 (1)
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 1

6th November

The first two rounds revealed a fresh crop of crests. There was a great deal of calling from Chaffinch and Brambling but as usual we watched them disappear towards the tip. There was also success with Redpolls as a tape lure was played in the afternoon, but the thrushes that were on site yesterday were mostly long gone. Later in the day a Kestrel was captured.

2K+ male Kestrel

We were pleased to catch Blue Tit  DB43031 and Mealy Redpoll DB81947, both carrying rings issued by the Riksmuseum, Stockholm scheme.

Mealy Redpoll male

We were treated to a glimpse of one of the garden’s smaller mammalian residents. I think it is a vole but I am happy to be corrected if that’s incorrect.

Bank Vole

We have seen Roe Deer and Hare in the garden, also a Polecat one night in the field by the lighthouse but this is our first small rodent.

Ringing Totals:  150 (33)

Tårnfalk / Kestrel – 1
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 5
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 4
Jernspurv / Dunnock –
Rødhals / Robin – 0 (6) 
Solsort / Blackbird – 2
Vindrossel / Redwing – 1 (1)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 0 (1)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  52 (19)
Halemejse / Long-tailed Tit - 8
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 9 ( 2 + 1 control Sweden/1 Danish ring 9CB9132, pulli 31/05/2018 at
Musvit / Great Tit – 4                                                                                   Virket Golbane)                    Nordlig Træløber / Treecreeper – 0 (1)                                                                                    

Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow – 3

Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 1
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 4
Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 55 ( 1 control Sweden)
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 1

In the afternoon we went to the marina to see the Slavonian Grebe.

Gedser, Denmark - 22nd to 31st October 2018

22nd October

The day started late due to rain that hadn’t quite stopped when it was time to drop nets.  We feared a third dull day although a Fieldfare that threw itself into the net in front of us was very welcome.

Juvenile Fieldfare, female

Our numbers really improved when we discovered a large flock of Blue Tits in the high net close to the Fuglehus. The flock not only kept us occupied but also provided a further two birds ringed under the Swedish scheme.

We hadn't expected to need the keeping boxes again!

Ringing Totals:  72 (14)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk – 1
Rødhals / Robin –  3 (1)
Solsort / Blackbird – 3
Sjagger / Fieldfare 1
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 1
Vindrossel / Redwing – 2
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 2
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  13 (11)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 36 (2 controls, Sweden)
Musvit / Great Tit – 7
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow – 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 1

23rd October

No ringing due to heavy rain and strong winds.

24th October

After a day of strong winds and persistent rain, yesterday, when ringing was not possible, this morning we were back in the routine of opening nets in the dark, clearing the nets regularly and hoping for something interesting for our efforts.

There had been quite a lot of thrushes about the previous day and some stayed on, Blackbirds being reflected particularly well in the records. 

Mealy Redpoll

Adult male Goldfinch

First year male Brambling

There were a few more finches than usual and a smattering of Robins, Goldcrests and tits. We knew that it may be worth walking the beaches, looking for birds tired out by the earlier bad weather but didn’t expect to find one in our very own pond. Chris went and got it, and not long after being ringed it was back out in the grass, grazing well.

Juvenile Barnacle Goose

We saw five Waxwing just as we were furling after standard, but despite using a tape they could not be tempted into a net.

Ringing Totals:  82 (25)

Bramgås / Barnacle Goose – 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 5 
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 2
Rødhals / Robin –  6 (9)
Solsort / Blackbird – 8 (4)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 2 (1)
Vindrossel / Redwing – 3
Munk / Blackcap – 0 (1)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  10 (9)
Sortmejse / Coal Tit – 1
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 21 (1)
Musvit / Great Tit – 4
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 5
 Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 3
Stilits / Goldfinch – 2
Grønsisken / Siskin – 4
Gråsisken /Mealy Redpoll - 1
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 2

25th October

It feels as though autumn is rapidly yielding to winter. Despite the windy conditions and menacingly grey clouds, we managed to complete the  standard compliant session this morning. The day brought a new influx of Goldcrests, most still with medium to high levels of fat and the heaviest weighing in at 6.9g. There were also some new Robins although they were carrying low fat levels and most need to feed up before the next part of their journey. The species spread dropped to just 9, although that is partly due to nets being wind affected, so more visible to the birds and less likely to hold any larger birds that are caught.

Ringing Totals:  85 (12)

Gærdesmutte / Wren – 3 
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 2
Rødhals / Robin –  20 (2)
Solsort / Blackbird – 3 (3)
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  48 (5)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 2

Musvit / Great Tit - 0 (2)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 4
Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 2

26th October

First year, female, Firecrest

The wind and rain got the better of us this morning and nets were closed at 10:30am before squally showers and a strengthening wind set in. Birds had been flying back and forth all morning, with some large finch flocks deciding not to set out over the Baltic in the current conditions. Many took refuge in the hedges and shrubs about the site although relatively few found their way into our nets.

By the afternoon the garden was empty – although we very much doubt that they’ve forged ahead with their migration. An owl was seen, briefly, at around 10am – it’s a shame the nets are just too wind affected to try for owls tonight.

Ringing Totals:  51 (8)

Gærdesmutte / Wren – 7 (1)
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 1
Rødhals / Robin –  13 (4)
Solsort / Blackbird – 6 (1)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 1
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  8 (1)
Rødtoppet Fuglekonge / Firecrest – 1
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 3 (1)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 7Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 1
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 1

27th October

Another day when it was far too windy. Had there been a lot of Goldcrests we would have had to close as it was also quite cold. We had some Blackbirds and finches with a late flourish of Blue Tits to bring the totals up to a respectable level.

male Sparrowhawk

Northern Bullfinch

Blue Tit

Ringing Totals:  61 (22)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk – 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 3
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 5 (2)
Rødhals / Robin –  4 (5)
Solsort / Blackbird – 10 (9)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 2
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  2 (5)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 17 (1)
Skovspurv / Tre Sparrow - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 9
Grønsisken / Siskin - 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch - 5

28th October

Another windy day, this time the wind coming from the North East and bitterly cold. After the clocks went back, we are again setting for 6:15am. Round one was low in numbers. Blackbirds and other thrushes were down, numbers of new Goldcrests and Robins were also low. Again our total was boosted by Blue Tits. Highlight was a Great Grey Shrike twinkled into one of our high nets by Chris. For anyone unfamiliar with the term, 'twinkling' means to cause a bird to move in a particular direction, for a specific purpose, by your own behaviour and movements. It's a rare skill!

Juvenile Great Grey Shrike showing retained greater coverts

One of today's Blue Tits, 1058 ringed at Gedser so far in 2018

Yellowhammer, first year

We again tried for owls in the evening but had to stop due to rain.

Ringing Totals:  56 (19)

Gærdesmutte / Wren – 5
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 1
Rødhals / Robin –  4 (7)
Solsort / Blackbird – 0 (3)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  4 (3)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 29 (3
Musvit / Great Tit – 4 (2)
Stor Tornskade / Great Grey Shrike - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 2
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 4 (1)
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 1

29th October

No mist netting today in the wind of 13 m/s gusting to 20 m/s and intermittentant rain. We tried hand netting and spring traps at two points during the day, having no luck other than a Common Gull at the harbour that couldn't be ringed due to a large wound in its chest that had not been visible in the dark. There were a few birds seen around the site, but most birds seemed to prefer the shelter offered by Gedser town.

30th October

Nets in use were very much limited by the changed wind direction, now from the South East.It was a slow morning and the total reached just 33, even with extra time after standard netting and five Meadow Pipits again from non standard nets.

In the afternoon we decided to look at beaches, beaches that have been completely covered in water over the last couple of days due to terrible weather conditions that forced water from the Skagerrak Strait down into the Baltic. There is now a thick covering of weed in many areas making it harder to find waders at night, when out lamping. There was no sign of the 8 Sanderling that we've been seeing (but not catching) regularly. There were 40 or so Little Gull feeding just off shore.

The beach at Birkemose

First year Little Gull

On the way back to the fuglehus, a flock of 49 Whooper Swans were seen coming into a grassy field.

Grazing Whooper Swans

Ringing Totals: 33 (18)

Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 5
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 0 (1)
Rødhals / Robin –  4 (5)
Solsort / Blackbird – 5 (4)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  11 (2)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 1 (2)
Musvit / Great Tit – 0 (1)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 0 (1)
Grønsisken / Siskin - 2
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 1
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 1 (1) 

31st October

The wind speed was too high for ringing this morning and a short session at the end of the day produced very little.

Since our arrival we have spent many, many evenings attempting to capture owls. This now runs into a great deal of net hours but despite our best efforts, and having seen one on site, we have still not managed to catch any. Other observatories also appear to be having low success with owls too. I think we can say with some certainty that there will be no October owls, this being the evening of the 31^st although nets are still open.

So I shall just post the image of the jack o’ lantern that I made and still wish you all a Happy Owl’o’een and hope for better luck in November.

Ringing Totals: 1 (3)

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 0 (1)Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1 (2)