Yesterday was a big day for Gedser with the arrival of a national rarity, a Red-flanked Bluetail
(Blåstjert) being trapped and ringed here. The bird arrived with a fall of Goldcrest (Fuglekonge). In a fall, birds are resting, often in considerable numbers - so if yesterday, there was a fall, then today there was an avalanche! We had reduced to 153 net metres, just 13 nets, but this still proved difficult to clear. As we went out for the first round birds began to hurtle through the garden. There were hundreds of Goldcrest (Fuglekonge) with a few Wrens (Gærdesmutte). They were moving fast and seemed intent on heading straight for Germany. Nets were cleared and furled as quickly as we could. We were in danger of running out of bags so some birds were ringed at the net. This was the first time we have needed to 'ring and fling' (a term that means birds are ringed with minimal data taken) here. Full data was taken on some birds with the heaviest weighing 6.4 grams with 4 fat. The average weight for Goldcrest is around 5.4 grams.
We were too busy for photoes today - so here's one I took earlier. Many thanks to those who came to help with extracting and ringing!
There seemed to be an arrival of Robins (Rødhals) in the late morning and many of the Goldcrests (Fuglekonge) stayed to feed up in the garden. Tomorrow should be very interesting - there will definitely be even less nets up!
There were reports of birds flying into windows of the building at the tip and Hans informs me that this is probably the largest catch of Goldcrest, in one day, at Gedser ever! It was an exceptional event and I shall let the numbers speak for themselves.
Denise
Totals: 804 (9)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush -1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 10
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 733 (3)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 1
Grønirisk / Greenfinch -1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 1
(Blåstjert) being trapped and ringed here. The bird arrived with a fall of Goldcrest (Fuglekonge). In a fall, birds are resting, often in considerable numbers - so if yesterday, there was a fall, then today there was an avalanche! We had reduced to 153 net metres, just 13 nets, but this still proved difficult to clear. As we went out for the first round birds began to hurtle through the garden. There were hundreds of Goldcrest (Fuglekonge) with a few Wrens (Gærdesmutte). They were moving fast and seemed intent on heading straight for Germany. Nets were cleared and furled as quickly as we could. We were in danger of running out of bags so some birds were ringed at the net. This was the first time we have needed to 'ring and fling' (a term that means birds are ringed with minimal data taken) here. Full data was taken on some birds with the heaviest weighing 6.4 grams with 4 fat. The average weight for Goldcrest is around 5.4 grams.
Goldcrest (Fuglekonge)
There seemed to be an arrival of Robins (Rødhals) in the late morning and many of the Goldcrests (Fuglekonge) stayed to feed up in the garden. Tomorrow should be very interesting - there will definitely be even less nets up!
There were reports of birds flying into windows of the building at the tip and Hans informs me that this is probably the largest catch of Goldcrest, in one day, at Gedser ever! It was an exceptional event and I shall let the numbers speak for themselves.
Denise
Totals: 804 (9)
Gærdesmutte / Wren - 19
Rødhals / Robin -38 (6)Sangdrossel / Song Thrush -1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 10
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 733 (3)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 1
Grønirisk / Greenfinch -1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 1