Gedser, Denmark 3rd October to 5th October 2018

3rd October 2018

We awoke to find the wind less fierce than we expected, partly due to a change in wind direction that left fewer nets wind affected than the previous day. We had thought, with the wind forecast to be 16m/s, that netting would be impossible, but we found nets that could be opened and with a total of 138m operational hoped for the best.

The catch was poor again, only 41 new birds including Meadow Pipit (just the second of the year for the station), European Siskin and five Redwing.

Redwing

House Sparrow with partial white plumage

Male Siskin adult

Totals: 41 (22)

Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 1

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 2
Jernsperv / Dunnock - 6
Rødhals / Robin - 11 (15)
Sangdrossel / SongThrush - 2
Vindrossel / Redwing - 5
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Gransanger / Eurasian Chiffchaff - 2 (1)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1 (3)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 1 (3)
Gråspurv /House Sparrow - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 6
Grønsisken / Siskin - 1

4th October 2018

The weather forecast looked better for today, lower wind and no rain. the first round was an improvement on the last few days as was the second. It wasn't long before the wind began to increase and fine rain began to drift in from the sea. Gedser has its own microclimate and this morning was a perfect example of the weather not running true to what was predicted. The rain came and went for the latter part of the morning. However, bird numbers were up with our first Tree Sparrow and Goldfinch. There were more Redwing, three male Sparrowhawks, some new Robins and Dunnocks.

Fully grown Tree Sparrow 1k+

Adult Yellowhammer 2k+

Totals: 128 (15) 

Spurvehøg/ Sparrowhawk - 3

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 8
Jernsperv / Dunnock - 21
Rødhals / Robin - 23 (12)
Sangdrossel / SongThrush - 18 (1)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 8
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Gransanger / Eurasian Chiffchaff - 13
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 2 (1)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 16
Musvit / Great Tit - 3 (1)
Skovspurv /Tree Sparrow - 1
Stilits / Goldfinch - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 8
Kværkefinke / Brambling - 1
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 1

5th October 2018

I will also be writing entries for the Gedser Fuglestation blog from time to time. Here is today's entry.

Passing by, brief stop or longer stay

However long the garden is needed, it’s there for the birds

On a good migration day we are often frustrated by the sheer number of flocks that scud over the garden making for the tip, before heading out to sea. They are ready to go, merely passing over the observatory on their way south. For these birds, Gedser Observatory garden offers cover and food if it is needed. There is shelter from a sudden shower and protection from predators with places to forage or roost.  It’s there for them if they need it.

The observatory garden

 Other birds just drop in for a brief rest. Yesterday we caught some Dunnocks that had plenty of fat to fuel the flight across the Baltic. These birds appeared to have fed so well before reaching Gedser that there was no desperate need to put on a great deal of weight before making the hop over to Germany. They had dropped in and roosted for the night. We don’t expect to recapture any of these heavy Dunnocks this autumn as they are sure to leave as soon as weather conditions are favourable.

Juvenile Dunnock

There are other birds that we see fairly often while they feed up on the berries and insects that the garden can provide. 9CN9376, A European Robin was first captured, and subsequently ringed, in the observatory garden on September 28th.  This bird, in its first year, was netted early in the day weighing in at 13.5g with no fat reserves visible. This weight is less than ideal for the bird to embark on the Baltic crossing and the bird must feed up and improve physical condition before continuing its migration south. Two days later on the 30^th, there was an even greater shortfall to make up as the weight had dropped to 12.9g. A drop in weigh could be for a variety of reasons ranging from harsh weather conditions, illness, fatigue or inability to find enough food. Happily, 9CN9376 appeared to be rallying and had gained weight by October 2^nd, then at 13.2g. Most of the Robins that we catch once, and don’t see again are fit for continuing migration with a weight around 17 grams or above. We haven’t seen 9CN9376 for a few days now. Most likely the bird has been in the garden long enough now to know where we have our nets and we will never know exactly when it will decide to leave or what weight it will be when the onward journey is resumed.

European Robin

However the birds use the observatory garden, it is an important ‘last chance oasis’ before setting off, out to sea, on the southwards migration.

Today’s ringing started off slowly and there weren’t many birds in the first few rounds.  Then more birds began to move about when the clouds cleared, allowing the sun to warm the garden. The highlight of our morning was an adult Ring Ouzel.

Adult male Ring Ouzel

Totals: 42 (33)

Spurvehøg/ Sparrowhawk – 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 1 (1)
Jernsperv / Dunnock –  3
Rødhals / Robin – 14 (24)
Ringdrossel / Ring Ouzel – 1

Solsort / Common Blackbird – 2 (2)
Sangdrossel / SongThrush – 7 (1)

Vindrossel / Redwing – 1

Munk / Blackcap – 1 (1)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest – 0 (2)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit –  5 (2)
Træløber / Northern Treecreeper - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 2
Grønirisk / Greenfinch – 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 1
Tornirisk / Linnet - 1