This was to be the last full day of ringing at Gedser, but rain continued until well after midday so nets were not dropped until around 2pm. That meant that we could use tapes as it was much too late to do a standard session.
We caught a few birds, quite a lot of Blackbirds, with many being recaptures.
But, much as we would love to, we can't be here every year so there are volunteering opportunities here for licenced ringers.
Gedser is one of only three main observatories on Denmark and is located at the most southerly point of Scandinavia. It is an important departure point for raptors and passerines and the observatory is just a short walk from the tip, a viewpoint for staggering numbers of ducks and geese passing close to the coast. Busiest ringing days are during Autumn - late September into October with large volumes of common migrants such as Robin, Siskin and Goldcrest, although every year is different. Our stay in Autumn 2015 was remarkable for the numbers of Goldcrest that passed through, 700+ on one day alone. More unusual species should be encountered although we somehow only got one Yellow-browed warbler when so many were turning up in Western Europe and the UK - and there was also a Red-flanked Bluetail! If you think that this could be the place for you next migration season, have a look at either our or the Gedser Fuglestation blog for more information. We're also happy to answer any questions and provide details of the fuglestation management.
We caught a few birds, quite a lot of Blackbirds, with many being recaptures.
Age 3 male Blackbird (1k Solsort)
There wasn't too much damage after the storm, we had one net down due to the net working too far down the pole until it went over, but the other nets were still safely furled with nothing more than leaves caught on a few.
A fallen tree just missed the storage shed.
Totals: 22 (10 )
Tårnfalk / Kestrel - 1
Rødhals / Robin - 0 (1)
Solsort / Blackbird - 4 (7)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 3
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 5 (1)
Grønsisken / Siskin - 5
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 1
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch - 1 (1)
We have thoroughly enjoyed our autumn at Gedser and have met some wonderful people who put so much time and effort into making the observatory a success. It is a superb ringing site with plenty of nets and sheltered areas so that it is usually possible to open some nets, whatever the direction of the wind. It has been fantastic to monitor the progress of birds on migration, processing mainly passerines, with such obvious visual migration going on all around us. During the time we have been here, 10th September to 15th November, a total of 7547 birds were ringed, 5881 of these by Chris and myself with 2745 of these being Goldcrests. It has been brilliant! Thanks to everyone involved with the fuglestation - you are all fantastic.
Chris in the ringing lab - such a luxury, we usually ring out of our car boot.
One of my favourite birds of the autumn.
We hope to come back again one day.But, much as we would love to, we can't be here every year so there are volunteering opportunities here for licenced ringers.
Gedser is one of only three main observatories on Denmark and is located at the most southerly point of Scandinavia. It is an important departure point for raptors and passerines and the observatory is just a short walk from the tip, a viewpoint for staggering numbers of ducks and geese passing close to the coast. Busiest ringing days are during Autumn - late September into October with large volumes of common migrants such as Robin, Siskin and Goldcrest, although every year is different. Our stay in Autumn 2015 was remarkable for the numbers of Goldcrest that passed through, 700+ on one day alone. More unusual species should be encountered although we somehow only got one Yellow-browed warbler when so many were turning up in Western Europe and the UK - and there was also a Red-flanked Bluetail! If you think that this could be the place for you next migration season, have a look at either our or the Gedser Fuglestation blog for more information. We're also happy to answer any questions and provide details of the fuglestation management.
http://www.gedserfuglestation.dk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=143&lang=da