Getterön Fågelstation, Sweden, 25th & 26th September 2016

It was less windy early on this morning so we had a better chance of birds staying in nets than yesterday! We opened all the nets, and after a rather quiet start things started to improve. Chiffchaffs continue to make up a decent amount of the catch, Reed Buntings have reduced at present and Meadow Pipits are down with the windier conditions.

 Juvenile male Yellowhammer

Great Tit, adult male

Greenfinch

Totals: 87 (8)

Meadow Pipit - 8 (1)
Wren - 1
Dunnock - 2 (1)
Robin - 8 (3)
Redstart - 0 (1)
Reed Warbler - 2
Blackcap - 17
Chiffchaff - 24 (1)
Blue Tit - 1
Great Tit - 1 (1)
Greenfinch - 2
Lesser Redpoll - 1
Yellowhammer - 1
Reed Bunting - 19

26th September

A light, moderate SSE wind to start, increasing by 11am and cloud. We expected similar to yesterday, opened and waited to see what happened. The Chiffchaff calls worked quite well, but our attempts to attract finches did not work although we could see several small groups passing overhead. Nets were closed for 11am.

Garden Warbler

Dawn departure of geese.

In the afternoon we went walking at Sumpafallen. It was a beautiful place, but like all woodlands at this time of year there were only a few birds to be seen.

Our target species were Dipper and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and we saw neither. On returning the Getterons via Varberg we drove in to town just as the Cranes were returning from the fields. Some were at the lagoon edge close to the observatory.

Pre-roost activity of Cranes 

Chris had another try for some Starlings. The flock has swelled considerably and they positively drown out the tape lure when they're all roosting for the night. Current estimate is a minimum of 2000 birds. Chris was disappointed to find birds roosting either side of the net run this morning when we hadn't tried last night. Of course they all left almost vertically and none were captured.

Our last attempt was for owls. We tried Pygmy and Hawk owls as they are now passing through but were unsuccessful again.

Total: 95 (12)

Meadow Pipit - 14 (1)
Wren - 0 (1)
Dunnock - 2 (2)
Robin - 6 (4)
Redstart - 1 (1)
Sedge Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 9
Garden Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 19 (1)
Chiffchaff - 22
Willow Warbler - 1
Bearded Tit - 0 (1)
Blue Tit - 0 (1)
Reed Bunting - 19

Getterön Fågelstation - 10th & 11th September 2016

10th September

It was a damp and misty start to the day as we dropped all nets for 5.15am.

There were a couple of nice captures, a female Pied Flycatcher and a Grasshopper Warbler, from the first round. The garden nets continue to catch well, adding quite a few Meadow Pipits to our total, and the Sparrowhawk from yesterday was back again!

Near the end of the morning's ringing a couple of Bearded Tits, including a smart male, were caught in the nets by the path to the photographic hide.

This evening we will try for non-passerines.

Long-eared Owl - adult male

Pied Flycatcher - female

 Grasshopper Warbler

 Bearded Tit male

Totals: 136 (15)

Sparrowhawk - 0 (1)
Long-eared Owl - 1
Swallow - 1
Tree Pipit - 2
Meadow Pipit - 35
Dunnock - 5
Robin - 5 (3)
Blackbird - 1
Redstart - 2
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Sedge Warbler - 2
Reed Warbler - 12
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 3 (1)
Garden Warbler - 13 (1)
Blackcap - 37 (2)
Willow Warbler - 2
Chiffchaff - 4 (1)
Pied Flycatcher - 1
Bearded Tit - 1 (1)
Blue Tit - 5 (4)
Great Tit - 1 (1)

11th September

Firstly, the attempts of last night resulted in the capture on an adult male Long-eared Owl! We have had reports that Hawk Owls are on the move so we will also try for those, as well as continue for Pygmy and Long-eared Owl.

Overnight the wind was due to change to a more southwesterly direction, being somewhat variable throughout the day to end up coming from the west. It was a strong wind and we knew to expect numbers to be down. Again, we had a forecast for rain in the middle of the morning so after the last couple of rounds with very little in the nets, we closed for 10.30am.

There will be no ringing tonight unless the wind gusts reduce considerably.

Early morning departure of geese.

Cranes were particularly low in the strong winds.

 Juvenile Reed Warbler

 Juvenile Willow Warbler

High water level in the bay as the wind drives water in.

There were a couple of reports that calls similar to Yellow-browed Warbler had been heard along the access track to the observatory. We did reopen a net briefly but the audio-lure enticed nothing and on looking, the only bird seen was a Chiffchaff.


Totals: 54 (8)

Robin - 1 (1)
Redstart - 3
Grasshopper Warbler - 0 (1)
Sedge Warbler - 3
Reed Warbler - 23 (1)
Marsh Warbler - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Whitethroat - 1 (1)
Garden Warbler - 3
Blackcap - 12 (3)
Willow Warbler - 2
Chiffchaff - 2 (1)
Spotted Flycatcher - 1
Reed Bunting - 1