Gedser, Denmark - 19th to 21st October 2018

19th October

The first frost of the autumn, a change of wind direction and the possibility of a lot of birds in cool, damp conditions called for a cautious approach and we limited net metres to just 129, avoiding use of both high nets

Leading species was European Robin (138) followed by Goldcrest (87). Between the two of us it was quite a leisurely pace and we could have managed a couple of other nets, but it wasn’t worth the risk of many crests awaiting extraction in rather wet nets.

Highlight of the day was an adult Great Grey Shrike.

Great Grey Shrike, our second of the season

We also managed to catch a few Song Thrushes and Redwing.

1k Redwing

Totals:  292 (22)

Gærdesmutte / Wren –  12

Jernspurv / Dunnock – 1

Rødhals / Robin –  138 (4)

Solsort / Blackbird – 2 (1)

Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 11 (1)

Vindrossel / Redwing - 6

Munk / Blackcap – 4 (1)

Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 10

Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  87 (14 including a Swedish control )

Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 5 (1)

Musvit / Great Tit –  3

Stor Tornskade / Great Grey Shrike - 1

Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 1

Grønirisk  / Greenfinch – 2

Stilits / Goldfinch – 2

Grønrsisken / Siskin - 2

Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 1

Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch - 1

Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 1

Rørspurv / Reed Bunting - 1

20th October

We had help over the weekend when, today, there wasn't even enough to keep two occupied. Numbers dropped considerably and the session was split by a 45 minute break due to rain accompanied by strong wind. It was impressive, not by the numbers present, but by the fact there was so little, with so many Robins the day before, that were still bouncing around the garden into the late afternoon, to find that they had all virtually gone overnight. Migration truly and very obviously in action. We would have finished after standard, there being very few new birds coming through, and a majority of birds ended up being re-captures, with Crests, trying to gain weight, that in view of the very few new birds present, there was little to be ringed anew post standard, maybe it was best to call it a day and leave the already ringed Goldcrests to the garden alone. Chris and I spent some time at the tip and searching the fields and beach around Gedser.  The nets, meanwhile were open until 5pm. There was some opposing thoughts over a bird from the standard session, extracted by me and assessed then as a Northern Treecreeper, but ringed as a Short-toed to become the third, in Gedser records for the year. Later some Long-tailed Tits were aged as 2K+ (aged 4 in the UK), which left us confused as both adult and juveniles do full moults, and are in theory cannot be aged after they have finished their full moult. in theory cannot be aged after they have finished their full moult.

Ringing Totals:  34 (41)

Gærdesmutte / Wren –  2

Jernspurv / Dunnock – 0 (1)

Rødhals / Robin –  4 (7)

Solsort / Blackbird – 1

Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 2

Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 2

Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  12 (29)

Halemejse / Long-tailed Tit - 3

Nordlig Halemejse / Northern Long-tailed Tit – 4

Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 1 (2 including a control from Sweden)

Musvit / Great Tit – 0 (2)

Træløber / Northern Treecreeper – 1

Grønirisk  / Greenfinch – 2

21st October

The second of two lack lustre when ringed new birds totalled less than 50 on each day. Re-trapped Goldcrests far outweighed new birds on both days although most Robins appeared to have moved on.  The species count at 13 was low and would have been lower still were it not for a small party of tits that dropped in and foraged through the shrubs and hedgerows.

 2K female Sparrowhawk - 8 separate wing measurements taken for full
wing formula of each Sparrowhawk. Maximum chord, plus distance from
tip of seven primaries to tip of longest primary.

Ringing Totals:  46 (35)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk – 1
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren –  3 (1)
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 1
Rødhals / Robin –  4 (5)
Solsort / Blackbird – 1
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  20 (24)
Sortmejse / Coal Tit – 5
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 3 (2)
Musvit / Great Tit – 4 (1)
Grønirisk  / Greenfinch – 2