22nd October
The day started late due to rain that hadn’t quite stopped
when it was time to drop nets. We feared
a third dull day although a Fieldfare that threw itself into the net in front
of us was very welcome.
Juvenile Fieldfare, female
Our numbers really improved when we discovered a large flock
of Blue Tits in the high net close to the Fuglehus. The flock not only kept us
occupied but also provided a further two birds ringed under the Swedish scheme.
We hadn't expected to need the keeping boxes again!
Ringing Totals: 72 (14)
Spurvehøg
/ Sparrowhawk – 1Rødhals / Robin – 3 (1)
Solsort / Blackbird – 3
Sjagger / Fieldfare 1
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 1
Vindrossel / Redwing – 2
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 2
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 13 (11)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 36 (2 controls, Sweden)
Musvit / Great Tit – 7
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow – 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 1
23rd October
No ringing due to heavy rain and strong winds.
24th October
After a day of strong winds and
persistent rain, yesterday, when ringing was not possible, this morning we were
back in the routine of opening nets in the dark, clearing the nets regularly
and hoping for something interesting for our efforts.
There had been quite a lot of thrushes
about the previous day and some stayed on, Blackbirds being reflected
particularly well in the records.
Mealy Redpoll
Adult male Goldfinch
First year male Brambling
There were a few more finches than usual and
a smattering of Robins, Goldcrests and tits. We knew that it may be worth
walking the beaches, looking for birds tired out by the earlier bad weather but
didn’t expect to find one in our very own pond. Chris went and got it, and not
long after being ringed it was back out in the grass, grazing well.
Juvenile Barnacle Goose
We saw five Waxwing just as we were furling after standard, but despite using a tape they could not be tempted into a net.
Ringing Totals: 82 (25)
Bramgås / Barnacle Goose – 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 5
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 2
Rødhals / Robin – 6 (9)
Solsort / Blackbird – 8 (4)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 2 (1)
Vindrossel / Redwing – 3
Munk / Blackcap – 0 (1)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 10 (9)
Sortmejse / Coal Tit – 1
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 21 (1)
Musvit / Great Tit – 4
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 5
Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 3
Stilits / Goldfinch – 2
Grønsisken / Siskin – 4
Gråsisken /Mealy Redpoll - 1
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 2
25th October
It feels as though autumn is rapidly yielding to winter. Despite the windy conditions and
menacingly grey clouds, we managed to complete the standard compliant session this morning. The
day brought a new influx of Goldcrests, most still with medium to high levels
of fat and the heaviest weighing in at 6.9g. There were also some new Robins
although they were carrying low fat levels and most need to feed up before the
next part of their journey. The species spread dropped to just 9, although that
is partly due to nets being wind affected, so more visible to the birds and
less likely to hold any larger birds that are caught.
Ringing Totals: 85 (12)
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 3
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 2
Rødhals / Robin – 20 (2)
Solsort / Blackbird – 3 (3)
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 48 (5)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 2
Musvit / Great Tit - 0 (2)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 4
Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 2
26th October
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 7 (1)
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 1
Rødhals / Robin – 13 (4)
Solsort / Blackbird – 6 (1)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 1
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 8 (1)
Rødtoppet Fuglekonge / Firecrest – 1
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 3 (1)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 7Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 1
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 4
Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 2
26th October
First year, female, Firecrest
The wind and rain got the better of us
this morning and nets were closed at 10:30am before squally showers and a
strengthening wind set in. Birds had been flying back and forth all morning,
with some large finch flocks deciding not to set out over the Baltic in the
current conditions. Many took refuge in the hedges and shrubs about the site
although relatively few found their way into our nets.
By the afternoon the garden was empty –
although we very much doubt that they’ve forged ahead with their migration. An
owl was seen, briefly, at around 10am – it’s a shame the nets are just too wind
affected to try for owls tonight.
Ringing Totals: 51 (8)
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 7 (1)
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 1
Rødhals / Robin – 13 (4)
Solsort / Blackbird – 6 (1)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 1
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 8 (1)
Rødtoppet Fuglekonge / Firecrest – 1
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 3 (1)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 7Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 1
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 1
27th October
Another day when it was far too windy. Had there been a lot of Goldcrests we would have had to close as it was also quite cold. We had some Blackbirds and finches with a late flourish of Blue Tits to bring the totals up to a respectable level.
Another day when it was far too windy. Had there been a lot of Goldcrests we would have had to close as it was also quite cold. We had some Blackbirds and finches with a late flourish of Blue Tits to bring the totals up to a respectable level.
male Sparrowhawk
Northern Bullfinch
Blue Tit
Ringing Totals: 61 (22)
Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk – 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 3
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 5 (2)
Rødhals / Robin – 4 (5)
Solsort / Blackbird – 10 (9)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 2
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 2 (5)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 17 (1)
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 9
Grønsisken / Siskin - 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch - 5
28th October
Another windy day, this time the wind coming from the North East and bitterly cold. After the clocks went back, we are again setting for 6:15am. Round one was low in numbers. Blackbirds and other thrushes were down, numbers of new Goldcrests and Robins were also low. Again our total was boosted by Blue Tits. Highlight was a Great Grey Shrike twinkled into one of our high nets by Chris. For anyone unfamiliar with the term, 'twinkling' means to cause a bird to move in a particular direction, for a specific purpose, by your own behaviour and movements. It's a rare skill!
We again tried for owls in the evening but had to stop due to rain.
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 5
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 1
Rødhals / Robin – 4 (7)
Solsort / Blackbird – 0 (3)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 4 (3)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 29 (3
Musvit / Great Tit – 4 (2)
Stor Tornskade / Great Grey Shrike - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 2
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 4 (1)
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 1
29th October
No mist netting today in the wind of 13 m/s gusting to 20 m/s and intermittentant rain. We tried hand netting and spring traps at two points during the day, having no luck other than a Common Gull at the harbour that couldn't be ringed due to a large wound in its chest that had not been visible in the dark. There were a few birds seen around the site, but most birds seemed to prefer the shelter offered by Gedser town.
30th October
Nets in use were very much limited by the changed wind direction, now from the South East.It was a slow morning and the total reached just 33, even with extra time after standard netting and five Meadow Pipits again from non standard nets.
Ringing Totals: 33 (18)
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 5
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 0 (1)
Rødhals / Robin – 4 (5)
Solsort / Blackbird – 5 (4)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 11 (2)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 1 (2)
Musvit / Great Tit – 0 (1)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 0 (1)
Grønsisken / Siskin - 2
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 1
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 1 (1)
31st October
The wind speed was too high for ringing this morning and a short session at the end of the day produced very little.
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 3
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 5 (2)
Rødhals / Robin – 4 (5)
Solsort / Blackbird – 10 (9)
Vindrossel / Redwing - 2
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 2 (5)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 17 (1)
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 9
Grønsisken / Siskin - 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch - 5
28th October
Another windy day, this time the wind coming from the North East and bitterly cold. After the clocks went back, we are again setting for 6:15am. Round one was low in numbers. Blackbirds and other thrushes were down, numbers of new Goldcrests and Robins were also low. Again our total was boosted by Blue Tits. Highlight was a Great Grey Shrike twinkled into one of our high nets by Chris. For anyone unfamiliar with the term, 'twinkling' means to cause a bird to move in a particular direction, for a specific purpose, by your own behaviour and movements. It's a rare skill!
Juvenile Great Grey Shrike showing retained greater coverts
One of today's Blue Tits, 1058 ringed at Gedser so far in 2018
Yellowhammer, first year
We again tried for owls in the evening but had to stop due to rain.
Ringing Totals: 56 (19)
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 5
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 1
Rødhals / Robin – 4 (7)
Solsort / Blackbird – 0 (3)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 4 (3)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 29 (3
Musvit / Great Tit – 4 (2)
Stor Tornskade / Great Grey Shrike - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 2
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 4 (1)
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 1
29th October
No mist netting today in the wind of 13 m/s gusting to 20 m/s and intermittentant rain. We tried hand netting and spring traps at two points during the day, having no luck other than a Common Gull at the harbour that couldn't be ringed due to a large wound in its chest that had not been visible in the dark. There were a few birds seen around the site, but most birds seemed to prefer the shelter offered by Gedser town.
30th October
Nets in use were very much limited by the changed wind direction, now from the South East.It was a slow morning and the total reached just 33, even with extra time after standard netting and five Meadow Pipits again from non standard nets.
In the afternoon we decided to look at
beaches, beaches that have been completely covered in water over the last
couple of days due to terrible weather conditions that forced water from the
Skagerrak Strait down into the Baltic. There is now a thick covering of weed in
many areas making it harder to find waders at night, when out lamping. There
was no sign of the 8 Sanderling that we've been seeing (but not catching)
regularly. There were 40 or so Little Gull feeding just off shore.
The beach at Birkemose
First year Little Gull
On the way back to the fuglehus, a flock of 49 Whooper Swans were seen coming into a grassy field.
Grazing Whooper Swans
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 5
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 0 (1)
Rødhals / Robin – 4 (5)
Solsort / Blackbird – 5 (4)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 11 (2)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 1 (2)
Musvit / Great Tit – 0 (1)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 0 (1)
Grønsisken / Siskin - 2
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 1
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 1
Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 1 (1)
31st October
The wind speed was too high for ringing this morning and a short session at the end of the day produced very little.
Since our arrival we have spent many, many evenings attempting to capture owls. This now runs into a great deal of net hours but despite our best efforts, and having seen one on site, we have still not managed to catch any. Other observatories also appear to be having low success with owls too. I think we can say with some certainty that there will be no October owls, this being the evening of the 31st although nets are still open.
So I shall just post the image of the jack o’ lantern that I made and still wish you all a Happy Owl’o’een and hope for better luck in November.
Ringing Totals: 1 (3)
Gærdesmutte / Wren - 0 (1)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1 (2)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1 (2)