Gedser Fuglestation - 30 September 2015

For the last time we dropped the nets with Craig as he will be setting off back to the UK tomorrow. There was nothing particularly special to mark his last ringing day at Gedser but the flow of birds was steady. Hans, Gert and Benny looked after a school party and there were plenty of birds for them to be shown.

First calendar year male Blackcap (Munk - han) 

This is the fourth year that Craig has been to Gedser, ringing at the fuglestation and recording migrational counts at the tip. He is returning to his third year at university and we wish him all the best with his studies and for the future. Hopefully our paths will cross at some point in the future.

Totals: 156 (29)

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 27 (2)
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 4
Rødhals / Robin - 61 (15)
Solsort / Blackbird - 2
Sangdrossel / SongThrush - 4
Munk / Blackcap - 12 (2)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 26 (2)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 13 (6)
Musvit / Great Tit - 3 (2)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 1
Grønirisk / Greenfinch - 2

Grønsisken / Siskin - 1

Gedser Fuglestation - 29 September 2015

Today the three regular ringers were joined by Hans, and Lazlo who hopes to volunteer at the fuglestation in the future. We were still mindful of the possibility of Blue Tits (Blåmejse) so did not use the double height nets, but there were none - perhaps they won't stop off here at all.

It was a fairly busy day with a mix of species and Goldcrest (Fuglekonge) on the increase.
Just as we were closing after our standard hours, a Yellow-browed Warbler (Hvidbrynet Løvsanger) was heard. A few nets were left open and a tape tried but it wasn't caught.

We spent a few hours at the tip,with Craig, where thousands of ducks and geese were passing.

Eiders (Ederfugle)

 

Brent Geese (Knortegås)

Cranes (Trane)

Barnacle Geese (Bramgås)

While Craig continued to count the migrating birds, Chris and I went back to open a few nets. We had some success from the field nets with captures of Swallow (Landsvale), Meadow Pipit (Engpiber) and a single White Wagtail (Hvid Vipstjert).

Juvenile Swallow /Landsvale

The total for the day came to just over the 200 mark.

Totals: 208 (9)

Landsvale / Swallow - 11
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 4
Hvid Vipstjert / White Wagtail - 1 

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 12
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 8
Rødhals / Robin - 72 (4)
Solsort / Blackbird - 1
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 11 (1)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 1
Munk / Blackcap - 13 (1)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 22 (1)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 42 (2)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit -1
Musvit / Great Tit - 3
Grønirisk / Greenfinch - 3

Stillits / Goldfinch - 1

Rørspurv / Reed Bunting - 2

Gedser Fuglestation - 28 September 2015 - Long-eared Owl

It was very cold first thing and the lunar eclipse had not quite finished. All the nets were very damp due fog that was not quite gone by our first round. It seemed that a lot of the Robins (Rødhals) had moved on over night. We still haven't had the large numbers of Blue Tits (Blåmejse) that reports from further up the coast seemed to indicate would be with us any day so the birds have either flown straight over, or are resting somewhere between Falsterbo and Gedser. We continue to work in the knowledge that we must be prepared for a sudden rush of them, (usually at around 9.30am) as they usually drop in to the observatory garden, it being the last area of trees and shrubs before birds make the hop over to Germany.

It didn't seem very busy but we had ringed nearly 150 birds before midday.

 Redwing (Vindrossel)

 Chiffchaff (Gransanger) with Swedish ring

 Juvenile male Reed Bunting (Rørspurv - han)

Pied Flycatcher ( Broget Fluesnapper)

In the afternoon we tried for some other species in the field nets, catching some Meadow Pipits (Engpiber) and some White Wagtails (Hvid Vipstjert).

Meadow Pipit (Engpiber)

After dark we set the Sparrowhawk nets and played for Tengmalms Owl ( Perleugle) and although we did not  catch our target species we did get a Long-eared Owl (Skovhornugle), a new species for me. 

 Long-eared Owl (Skovhornugle - hun) first year female

Totals: 175 (22)

Skovhornugle/ Long-eared Owl - 1
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 14
Hvid Vipstjert / White Wagtail - 3

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 14 (1) 

Jernspurv / Dunnock - 7

Rødhals / Robin - 68 (15)

Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 4
Vindrossel / Redwing - 1
Rørsanger / Reed Warbler - 1
Tornsanger / Whitethroat - 1

Munk / Blackcap - 18 (2)

Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 24 (2)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 10 (2)
Broget Fluesnapper / Pied Flycatcher - 1

Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 3
Musvit / Great Tit - 1
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 1

Grønirisk / Greenfinch -1
Tornirisk / Linnet - 1

Rørspurv / Reed Bunting - 1

Gedser Fuglestation - 27 September 2015

Today was the day when the station had an open day. We were expecting some 200 visitors but were also on alert for Blue Tits. But, on going out for the first round it was clear that there were a great deal of Robins about. We closed a couple of nets on the first round, then set about organising the birds by size and extraction time as we began to process birds. We had extra help with extracting from local ringers who were there to show birds to the public.

The vast majority of birds were Robins with only two Blue Tits. There were few Sparrowhawks in the garden and only one light rufous phase individual was caught.

 Sparrowhawk (Spurvehøg) first year male, rufous phase.

There was a very good spread of species including some Song Thrush (Sangdrossel), a Reed Bunting (Rørspurve) and Reed Warbler (Rørsanger)

Reed Warbler (Rørsanger)

By the time the event closed at 1pm the birds had lessened a little and all nets were closed but the wind died right down at the end of the day, encouraging us to drop some nets again and try for hirundines and pipits in the field. Our final total was quite impressive with a lot of Robins. There were still lots, unringed, in the garden at the end of the day so tomorrow we expect to be busy again, and we're still on Blue Tit alert!

Open day at Gedser

Totals: 382 (8)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 1
Landsvale / Swallow - 16
Bysvale / House Martin - 1
Skovpiber / Tree Pipit - 1
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 2

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 19 

Jernspurv / Dunnock - 4

Rødhals / Robin - 265 (2)

Solsort / Blackbird - 1 (1)

Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 12
Rørsanger / Reed Warbler - 1

Munk / Blackcap - 10 (2)

Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 32 (3)

Løvsanger / Willow Warbler - 1

Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 12

Grønirisk / Greenfinch - 1
Tornirisk / Linnet - 2

Rørspurv / Reed Bunting - 1

Gedser Fuglestation - 26 September 2015

Migration was very much in evidence today in the observatory garden. We took a first round with the number of Wrens (Gærdesmutte) creeping out of single figures then, later in the morning we received a 'Blue Tit (Blåmejse) alert' as 30 had been seen to drop into the garden and flocks had been moving overhead. Where we usually ring, both of these species is treated as sedentary with no birds leaving the United Kingdom. Here it's a different matter altogether.

 Wren (Gærdesmutte)

Wrens are night migrants and some birds rest in the garden before taking a nocturnal flight across the sea. Blue Tits regularly migrate but are eruptive in some years. Unlike many other birds, they are not scared away by sudden or loud noises - they will in fact dive for cover in response to noise, so no loud noises if large flocks are passing above. 

   Blue Tit (Blåmejse)

There was also a small influx of Blackbirds (Solsort) and today's were the first newly ringed birds since August. We caught our first Redpoll (Gråsiskin) and after three Firecrest (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge) yesterday, we got another this morning.

Male Firecrest (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge - han)

Totals: 151 (9)

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 15 

Jernspurv / Dunnock - 12

Rødhals / Robin - 26 (3)

Rødstjert / Redstart - 2

Solsort / Blackbird - 2 (2)

Sangdrossel / Sond Thrush - 1

Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Havesanger / Garden Warbler - 2

Munk / Blackcap - 12 (2)

Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 45 

Løvsanger / Willow Warbler - 5

Rødtoppet Fuglekonge / Firecrest - 1

Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 15 (2)

Musvit / Great Tit - 2

Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 3

Grønirisk / Greenfinch - 5
Lille Gråsiskin / Lesser Redpoll - 1

Rørspurv / Reed Bunting - 1

Gedser Fuglestation - 25 September 2015

Numbers were up again today. Chiffchaffs are pushing on now in good numbers, we have had the first of the migrating Blue Tits and new Robins continue to appear.

Three Firecrest were a most welcome addition to the list, as was the first Whinchat of the year.

 Juvenile male and female  Firecrest (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge)

It is interesting that the literal translation from Dansk (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge) is Red topped Bird king, but the translation from English to Dansk for Firecrest would be Brandvåbenskjold.

 Juvenile Whinchat (Bynkefugel)

Totals: 130 (20)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 1

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 2 (1)

Jernspurv / Dunnock - 6 (1)

Rødhals / Robin - 20 (11)

Rødstjert / Redstart - 1

Bynkefugl / Whinchat - 1

Solsort / Blackbird - 0 (1)

Sangdrossel / Sond Thrush - 5

Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat - 2

Munk / Blackcap - 5 (1)

Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 54 (3)

Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 0 (1)

Rødtoppet Fuglekonge / Firecrest - 3

Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 23

Musvit / Great Tit - 1 (1)

Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 2

Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 2

Grønirisk / Greenfinch -1

Grønsiskin / Siskin - 1

Gedser Fuglestation - 24 September 2015

The birds continue their journey southwards despite this relentless wind that seems to shift from day to day and can make the nets too visible to the birds.

Lots of finches have been passing overhead these last few days and from the volume of calls at first light today, a large number of Chaffinch / Bogfinke chose to roost here last night.

Of course the the seven that were caught represented a tiny fraction of the number of this species passing through Gedser.

 Juvenile and adult male Chaffinch (Bogfinke)

 

It seems that most of the Robins (Rødhals) that were here a few days ago have now moved on.

Juvenile male Linnet ( Tornirisk)

The record sheet had 12 species recorded, including a Whitethroat (Tornsanger) that we have not seen for quite a few days and Linnet (Tornirisk).

We keep a check on the figures of birds coastal observatories along the migration route before Gedser. This is to inform us of when waves of birds are heading this way. There was a large catch at Falsterbo yesterday including rather a lot of Blue Tits. If they keep moving steadily, and rest here before the hop across the Baltic, it looks like Saturday could be a very big day for us.

Totals: 37 (13)

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 1
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 1
Rødhals / Robin - 5 (7)

Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 1
Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat - 0 (1)
Tornsanger / Whitethroat - 1
Munk / Blackcap - 1 (1)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 18 (3)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1
Musvit / Great Tit - 0 (1)

Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 7 

Tornirisk / Linnet - 1

Gedser Fuglestation - 23 September 2015 - YBW!

The weather seemed rather less windy than of late and although there didn't seem to be a great deal in the garden, the nets kept catching until early afternoon.
We  processed 127 new birds and 40 recaptures.

Bird of the day was a juvenile Yellow-browed Warbler!

Totals: 127 (40)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 1
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 4
Gærdesmutte / Wren - 3 (1)
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 6 (1)
Rødhals / Robin - 51 (26)
Rødstjert / Redstart - 3 (1)
Solsort / Blackbird - 1 (1)
Sangdrossel - Song Thrush - 4 
Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat - 3 (4)
Munk / Blackcap - 2 (1)
Hvidbrynet Løvsanger / Yellow-browed Warbler - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 32 (2)
Løvsanger / Willow Warbler -3
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 2 (2)
Grå Fluesnapper / Spotted Flycatcher - 2
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 4
Musvit / Great Tit - 1(1)
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 1
Grønsiskin / Siskin - 1 
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 1

Gedser Fuglestation - 22 September 2015 ( A lull in the garden)

A much quieter session this morning with a brief cessation in operations due to a shower that forced us to take a pause from ringing until nets could be opened again.

The Robins (Rødhals) still made up the bulk of birds processed.

The observatory garden is a magnet to migrants due to the diversity of fruiting shrubs and trees that provide such excellent cover and feeding opportunities. There are plenty of hips, haws, fruit and seeds attractive to many migrating birds. Small insects are also abundant for the insectivorous visitors.

 A well sheltered net ride.

Totals: 50 (11)

Spurvehog / Sparrowhawk - 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren - 2
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 2
Rødhals / Robin - 37 (11)
Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 5
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1
Broget Fluesnapper / Pied Flycatcher - 1

Gedser Fuglestation - 21 September 2015 - The Robins arrive among 22 species!

For the first time in days it was relatively calm when we went out to set the nets. We knew there had been a considerable arrival as some birds were disturbed as we walked around and put the nets up, and by the amount of ticking from the garden as we set off for the first round.

There had clearly been an arrival of Robins (Rødhals) with a few Song Thrush (Sangdrossel) and some other  migrant passerines too. One Robin already had a ring issued by the Swedish ringing scheme.

 1k Rødhals / Robin carrying a Riksmuseet, Stockholm ring

As the morning progressed we began to catch Chiffchaffs (Gransanger) and the Robins just kept appearing in the nets. The number of birds didn't decrease as sharply, as usual, after the first couple of rounds and we continued to extract birds, of a good number of species, into the early afternoon.

1k  Husrødstjert / Black Redstart

We had few recaptures but a Gulspurv / Yellowhammer was the first that we've caught at this site.

 1k Gulspurv / Yellowhammer

Totals: 251 (10)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 2
Tårnfalk / Kestrel - 1
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 3
Gærdesmutte / Wren - 5 (1)
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 16
Rødhals / Robin - 127 (1)
Husrødstjert / Black Redstart - 1
Rødstjert / Redstart - 2 (1)
Solsort / Blackbird - 0 (2)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 7 
Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat - 3 (1)
Munk / Blackcap - 7
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 62
Løvsanger / Willow Warbler - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 5 (1)
Broget Fluesnapper / Pied Flycatcher - 1
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 2
Musvit / Great Tit - 0 (1)
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 0 (1)
Grønsiskin / Siskin - 1 
Rørspurv / Reed Bunting - 1
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 0 (1)

Gedser Fuglestation - 20 September 2015

We were up early to set the nets, as usual, but were stopped in our tracks by the sound of rain pounding on the windows. A swift check of the weather forecast informed us that there had been another change and heavy showers would be rolling through the area for the next three hours.

After an extra couple of hours sleep we were up checking the weather again. It was much windier than had been predicted, but we dropped nets in the sheltered areas and were up and running by 9am. It was immediately apparent that our good spell for birds was short lived and many had cleared out, probably before the rain in the night. The wind was problematic so we continued until 12.30pm then closed. After yesterday's session the total seemed very low.

Goldcrest (Fuglekonge)

In the afternoon we had a look around a small reserve by the ferry terminal. We then moved on to Bøtø where our highlights were three Red Kites, a Peregrine and three White-tailed Sea Eagle.

 White-tailed Sea Eagle (Havørn)

Totals:  23 (4)

Spurvehog / Sparrowhawk - 2
Jernsperv / Dunnock - 3
Rødhals / Robin - 1
Rødstejrt  / Redstart - 3 (1)
Munk / Blackcap - 1 (1)
Sydlig Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 12
Løvsanger / Willow Warbler - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 0 (1)
Musvit / Great Tit - 0 (1)

Gedser Fuglestation - 19 September 2015

After days of infavourable weather the wind has not only dropped but shifted slightly. Passerines that have been blocked from migrating dropped in overnight with more in the late morning and early afternoon. We started off with decent numbers of Robins (Rødhals), then there were Chiffchaffs (Syd Gransanger) and Redstarts (Rødstjert) and their numbers increased as the day went on.

Robin (Rødhals)

First year male Redstart (Rødstjert)

 Dunnock (Jernsperv)

There were also some Dunnocks (Jernsperv) new in.

There was a smattering of flycatchers including three Pied Flycatchers (Broget Fluesnapper)

 Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper)

We had singles of Goldcrest (Fuglekonge - direct translation being king of birds), Tree Pipit (Skovpiber - skov meaning tree), Wren (Gærdesmutte) and Icterine Warbler (Gulbug).

 Icterine Warbler ( Gulbug)

In addition to the captured birds, there were also 1000s of hirundines migrating, as well as good numbers of birds of prey. We saw several Honey Buzzard,  two Pallid Harriers, a Red Kite, a Rough-legged Buzzard and a Hen Harrier. An Eleonora's Falcon was the 5th for Denmark, but we failed to see it.

There were also sightings of Bank Vole and Common Shrewin the ringing garden.
.

 Comma (Det Hvide C)

Totals: 159 (13)

Spurvehog / Sparrowhawk - 6
Skovpiber / Tree Pipit - 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren - 1
Jernsperv / Dunnock - 20 (1)
Rødhals / Robin - 33 (3)
Rødstejrt / Redstart - 23
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 2
Gulbug / Icterine Warbler - 1
Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat - 5 (1)
Havesanger / Garden Warbler - 1 (1)
Munk / Blackcap - 5 (2)
Sydlig Gransanger / Chiffchaff -  38
Løvsanger / Willow Warbler - 10
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1
Grå Fluesnapper / Spotted Flycatcher - 3
Broget Fluesnapper / Pied Flycatcher - 3
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 2 (1)
Musvit / Great Tit - 0 (3)
Træløber / Treecreeper - 0 (1)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 4

Gedser Fuglestation - 18 September 2015

Very windy again today forcing a limited meterage of 79 meters. We stayed open all morning but only processed nine birds, two of which were retrapped.

One of the female Sparrowhawks (Spurvehog) was in its second year.

 2k female with retained secondaries and retrices

With such a low count for the garden, we had to look slightly further afield for some birds in the afternoon. We started at the tip where there was little happening on the sea, but some raptors were turning up, although several did not actually set off across the sea.

 Marsh Harrier (Rørhog) quartering the sugarbeet field at the tip.

We went into Gedser for a few groceries and checked the surrounding fields on our way back seeing several Sparrowhawk (Spurvehog) and Kestrel (Tårnfalk), three Honey Buzzards (Hvespsevåge) and two Osprey (Fiskeørn) travelling towards the tip as well as a resting Wheatear (Stenpikker).

Osprey (Fiskeørn)

 

Wheatear (Stenpikker)

Totals: 7 (2)

Spurvehog / Sparrowhawk - 4 (1)

Rødhals / Robin - 0 (1)

Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 2

Munk / Blackcap - 1

Gedser Fuglestation - 17 September 2015

The wind speed increased today and there were some early showers of rain too,but we still managed to get a full session in.

There were even fewer captures than yesterday, but we did net a couple of Siskin (Grønsiskin).

 Female and Male juvenile Siskin ((Grønsiskin).

There was also a single new Willow Warbler (Løvsanger).

Willow Warbler (Løvsanger).

The weather has been inclement for the past few days and forecasts keep changing, but the weekend is looking a little more promising with Monday having potential to be a big day with minimal wind and a sharp drop in temperature over night. We shall wait and see.

Totals: 10 (11)

Spurvehog / Sparrowhawk - 4 (1)
Gærdesmutte / Wren - 1
Rødhals / Robin - 1 (3)
Solsort / Blackbird - 0 (1)
Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat - 0 (3)
Munk / Blackcap - 0 (2)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff -  0 (1)
Løvsanger / Willow Warbler - 1
Grå Fluesnapper / Spotted Flycatcher - 1
Grønsiskin / Siskin - 2