The wind had swung round to ESE, a direction that should continue to bring new birds into the ringing site. The Meadow Pipit passage continued, as strong as ever and this wave of Reed Buntings had still not come to an end. Warbler and Robin numbers were down slightly. In addition, small flocks of finches passed overhead and we caught our first Brambling of the autumn.
Catching tailed off quickly and main nets were closed by 11am with the Meadow Pipit net continuing for an extra couple of hours. Meanwhile, life goes on out on the lagoon. There were three White-tailed Eagles on the shore along the same side as the observatory. We also noted Greylay HCX, a bird with a green neck collar.
We decided to try for Crakes and rails at the reed bed in the first few hours after dark, so took a few wagtails as they came in to roost before beginning to play Water Rail and Spotted Crake. We had no success this evening unfortunately.
Total 142 (12)
Meadow Pipit - 35
Blue-headed Wagtail - 1
White Wagtail - 6
Wren - 2
Dunnock - 2
Robin - 8 (1)
Redstart - 1
Sedge Warbler - 3
Reed Warbler - 6
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 1
Garden Warbler - 4 (3)
Blackcap - 15 (2)
Chiffchaff - 16
Bearded Tit - 1
Blue Tit - 2 (3)
Great Tit - 0 (1)
Chaffinch - 2
Brambling - 3
Greenfinch - 1
Reed Bunting - 32
17th September
The wind was a little different to forecast, not ESE but from the NE and bringing a chilly nip to the air. Margareta and Martin arrived to help and many birds were expected, but the wind was quite strong and this affected the catch. When the total was tallied up, there were just under a hundred new birds.
Margareta came rushing back after we'd closed, to say there was an Eagle Owl in the centre of Varberg. She showed us to the mature trees, by a restaurant, where the bird had been seen - and it was still present, being harried by Hooded Crows. We can now say we've been on a Swedish twitch!
In the evening we tried for Starlings, and wagtails as there are so few around - then owls later.
For all our efforts we caught a single recaptured Meadow Pipit.
Total 96 (8)
Meadow Pipit - 10 (1)
Wren - 3
Dunnock - 1 (3)
Robin - 16
Song Thrush - 1
Blackbird - 1
Redstart - 1
Reed Warbler - 7 (2)
Marsh Warbler - 1
Whitethroat - 1
Garden Warbler - 1 (1)
Blackcap - 10 (1)
Willow Warbler - 2
Chiffchaff - 10
Blue Tit - 6
Greenfinch - 1
Tree Sparrow - 1
Reed Bunting - 23
Brambling
Bearded Tit
White-tailed Eagle with Hooded Crows for company. Everything else made itself scarce!
We decided to try for Crakes and rails at the reed bed in the first few hours after dark, so took a few wagtails as they came in to roost before beginning to play Water Rail and Spotted Crake. We had no success this evening unfortunately.
Total 142 (12)
Meadow Pipit - 35
Blue-headed Wagtail - 1
White Wagtail - 6
Wren - 2
Dunnock - 2
Robin - 8 (1)
Redstart - 1
Sedge Warbler - 3
Reed Warbler - 6
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 1
Garden Warbler - 4 (3)
Blackcap - 15 (2)
Chiffchaff - 16
Bearded Tit - 1
Blue Tit - 2 (3)
Great Tit - 0 (1)
Chaffinch - 2
Brambling - 3
Greenfinch - 1
Reed Bunting - 32
17th September
The wind was a little different to forecast, not ESE but from the NE and bringing a chilly nip to the air. Margareta and Martin arrived to help and many birds were expected, but the wind was quite strong and this affected the catch. When the total was tallied up, there were just under a hundred new birds.
Margareta came rushing back after we'd closed, to say there was an Eagle Owl in the centre of Varberg. She showed us to the mature trees, by a restaurant, where the bird had been seen - and it was still present, being harried by Hooded Crows. We can now say we've been on a Swedish twitch!
In a leafy tree it's hard to see all of such a large owl at the same time.
For all our efforts we caught a single recaptured Meadow Pipit.
Total 96 (8)
Meadow Pipit - 10 (1)
Wren - 3
Dunnock - 1 (3)
Robin - 16
Song Thrush - 1
Blackbird - 1
Redstart - 1
Reed Warbler - 7 (2)
Marsh Warbler - 1
Whitethroat - 1
Garden Warbler - 1 (1)
Blackcap - 10 (1)
Willow Warbler - 2
Chiffchaff - 10
Blue Tit - 6
Greenfinch - 1
Tree Sparrow - 1
Reed Bunting - 23