Gedser, Denmark - 15th to 18th October 2018

15th October

We have a helper, VL, for the next few days so were less inclined to close nets to limit the number of tits caught as they forage around the site. This morning they arrived an hour earlier than they have done the last couple of days and we took what can only be described as a 'tit hit' as several flocks came into the site throughout the morning. Chris ringed at the net, recording ages of all birds, I ensured that the other species vulnerable to being in close proximity to the tits were removed and taken for processing in the ringing lab. I also took wing measurements and weight of the new birds that I processed.

All this was going on while having a large group visit the ringing station.

We had the added bonus of three tits, one being ajuvenile, with Swedish rings. Thre's a chance that we'll have firm information of how long that bird has taken to reach Gedser from Sweden, probably Falsterbo, but we could be wrong. We now have 5 Swedish Blue Tit controls from this autumn.

Juvenile male Bullfinch

Total: 400 (17)

Gærdesmutte / Wren –  5
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 1 (1)
Rødhals / Robin –  6 (6)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 5
Vindrossel / Redwing - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 15
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 43 (7)

Halemejse / Northern Long-tailed Tit 1
Sortmejse / Coal Tit – 1
Blåmejse / Blue Tit –  282 (3 Swedish controls)
Musvit / Great Tit –  30
Træløber / Treecreeper – 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 3
Grønsisken / Eurasian Siskin - 2

Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 2

Dompap / Eurasian Bullfinch – 2

16th October

After yesterday’s bumper crop of Blue Tits we had concerns that some that didn’t go may still be busying themselves about the garden. It wasn’t the Blue Tits themselves that were a bit of a worry, but that Goldcrests seem to be starting to move now and the last thing we need is Blue Tits and Goldcrests together in the nets.

The three of us took the first round, then Vagn and Chris settled down to ring while I stayed outside and monitored the birds, nets, weather, migration – everything worth monitoring, was monitored! There was also quite a bit of extracting to do too. Neither Blue Tits or Goldcrests are very early risers it seems, but they were in the garden in time for the 8’0’clock round. As we had suspected, there were Blue Tits but far less than yesterday and many Goldcrests.

Some birds were ringed at the net and we took yet another Swedish control Blue Tit. The final total exceeded that of the 15^th and as I write I can see rather a lot of crests picking over scrubs around the fuglehus, so I think we can expect more Goldcrests tomorrow and plenty of recaptures.l

Female Goldcrest (taken in 2015 - I was a bit busy today!)

Totals:  441 (12)

Gærdesmutte / Wren –  17
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 2
Rødhals / Robin –  27 (7)
Solsort / Blackbird – 2
Vindrossel / Redwing - 1
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 4
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 24
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 249 (1)
Rødtoppet Fuglekonge / Firecrest – 1
Sortmejse / Coal Tit – 1
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 91 (3 including 2 controls from Sweden and Denmark)
Musvit / Great Tit –  9
Gråspurv / House Sparrow - 1
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow –  4
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 1
Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 1
Grønirisk  / Greenfinch – 2
Stilits / Goldfinch – 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 2

17th October

The day began with a heavy mist hanging over the area. There was a lot of condensation on the nets and birds were slow to start moving about due to the conditions. There was no ringing at the net today and Goldcrests were carried back in bags rather boxes to help the ones that had absorbed moisture from the net to dry off better.

There was no sudden influx of birds, just a constant flow that took us to over 250 birds. Another control, this time a Goldcrest, was processed in the later part of the morning.

Totals:  257 (27)

Gærdesmutte / Wren –  13
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 1 (1)
Rødhals / Robin –  103 (9)
Solsort / Blackbird – 5 (1)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 2
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 3
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 5
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  112 (16 including a control  with a Swedish ring)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 2
Musvit / Great Tit –  3
Træløber / Treecreeper – 1
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow –  1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 1
Grønirisk  / Greenfinch – 2
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 1
Dompap / Eurasian Bullfinch – 1
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch - 1

18th October

We prepared for a busy day as the radar predictor showed much night and day migration for the date. In the morning we had fine mist, something that often happens at Gedser when none has been forecast, due at the moment to the high afternoon temperatures and much colder temperature at night. It was a slow start. We weren't certain whether birds might move later when the mist had cleared or if there may be birds yet to reach Gedser, building up for a mass arrival when the conditions are right. A few more birds began travelling through in the late morning.

After three busier days it seemed as though it was very quiet, although we  made it into three figures. No rarities again, no controls and no way of knowing if there will soon be many Goldcrests, and even Robins as their migration didn't really amount to much in September and yet there were over 100 yesterday.

Northern Bullfinch female, first year

Wing 92m Weight 27.5g

The wind is due to turn North Westerly tomorrow so that might make for an interesting situation.

Ringing totals: 105 (35) 

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren –  7
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 3
Rødhals / Robin –  23 (5)
Solsort / Blackbird – 2 (2)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 1
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 6
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 5
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest–  36 (22)
Halemejse / Long-tailed Tit - 2
Nordlig Halemejse / Northern Long-tailed Tit - 1
Sortmejse /Coal Tit - 1
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 4 (4)
Musvit / Great Tit –  4 (1)
Træløber / Treecreeper – 1 (1)
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow –  1
Grønirisk  / Greenfinch – 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 4
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch - 1