A decent day, fairly bright but with a brisk and very cold northerly wind; the feature of the morning was an excellent influx of 80+ Northern Bullfinches, at one stage the whole garden was full of their deep, musical calls – awesome!   We managed to catch 18 of them, they were all huge birds with wing lengths up to 98 and weights up to 37.8g – neither of which the computer liked!

                The day`s ringing total was a good 150 new birds, largely made up of a big catch of Redpolls with the aid of playback after the standardized session had finished; they were a real mixed bunch of birds from small dark Lesser Redpolls with wing lengths of 68 to huge, white Common Redpolls, one with a wing length of 82 (the computer didn`t like that either!).   The proportion ended up with 67 Common Redpolls and 47 Lesser Redpolls although some were more or less guessed at as they were in the middle of colour and biometrics.

Today`s totals -    3 Wren \ Gaerdesmutte;   1 Dunnock \ Jernspurv;   2 Blackbird \ Solsort;   3 Redwing \ Vindrossel;   1 Blue Tit \ Blamejse;   4 Chaffinch \ Bogfinke;   2 Brambling \ Kvaekerfinke;   1 Greenfinch \ Groenirisk;   1 Goldfinch \ Stillits;   67 Common Redpoll \ Nordlig Grasisken;   47 Lesser Redpoll \ Lille Grasisken;   18 Northern Bullfinch \ Stor Dompap

These two Redpolls were both very small (with a wing of 70mm); so is the bird on the left a very small Common Redpoll or a very pale Lesser Redpoll.....

                There was also a bit more action overhead through the morning with increased numbers of Chaffinches, Bramblings, Siskins, Goldfinches and Greenfinches heading east along with a Grey Wagtail, 200+ Woodpigeons, a couple of Waxwings heard, 2 Mistle Thrushes and a few Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings.   Wildfowl were also obvious (reflecting the passage offshore) with 10+ Whooper Swans, 16 Bewick`s Swans, 20+ Tundra Bean Geese and the odd Goldeneye and Wigeon whizzing over.

                A little walk mid-afternoon north along the coast was fairly quiet with 3 Little Gulls, a few flocks of Red-throated Divers and ducks still passing offshore and 12+ Curlew feeding in the fields.

Northern Bullfinch

More Gedser pictures at www.wykebirding.blogspot.com

Vinden havde stilnet af over natten og vi kunne åbne næsten alle net i haven og havde forhåbninger om at vejrændringerne kunne have ført noget spændende med sig. På første runde så det ud til at det skulle blive en dag med mange solsorte da der var gået fem i nettene og der fløj en del rundt i haven, desværre var der allerede på anden runde ingen fugle i nettene. Efter endnu et par sløve runder overlod Laila og jeg nettene til Simon for i stedet at prøve lykken på Odden. Hvor dagens hit var en trækforsøgende stor tornskade og en alk. Men jeg var også meget begejstret for de mange lommer, flest rødstrubet men også en eller to stortstrubet, som kom tæt nok på til jeg kunne kikke nærmere på dem og øve mig i deres kendetegn. Der var i dag færre dværgmåger end de sidste par dage men nogen af dem kom igen rigtig tæt på kysten så de kunne betragtes godt. Tæt på kysten kom desuden et par flokke med alm. ryle og sandløber. Desuden var der igen dag godt gang i andetrækket.

Ved middagstid da det begyndte at regne, gik jeg tilbage til haven for at hjælpe med at lukke nettene da der pludselig var en del gråsiskener i nettene, de må være blevet presset ned af regnen. Lidt senere klarede det lidt op og vi åbnede et par net hvilket gav omkring 30 gråsiskener inden det begyndte at regne igen. Dagens total endte dermed på 80 mærkninger domineret af 55 gråsiskener, men ellers med en pæn variation på 10 arter. De mange gråsiskener kom i primært i to flokke og gav os derfor lidt travlt i perioder. Der var desuden flere flokke af gråsiskener der røg over haven idag.

Lille gråsisken (Carduelis cabaret). Foto: Laila Aranda Romero

I formiddags lige inden jeg gik på Odden havde Simon en overflyvende bjerglærke da han var en tur nede på marken. Det er anden observation af bjerglærke herfra i år og kun 5 observation siden 2010 så det må vist siges at være noget af et Gedser hit. Jeg hørte den desværre ikke.

En køretur rundt bag om Gedser til Birkemose gav ikke meget andet end 20 strandhjejler på en mark og et par musvåger. Til eftermiddag hoppede jeg i regntøjet og gik en tur af Poststien, mod Birkemose og tilbage langs stranden rundt om Odden. Det er altid en skøn tur og gå ligegyldigt om solen skinner eller det regner og blæser. Det var ikke meget jeg så, men en enkelt strandhjelje og tre sandløbere blev det da til. Samt 3 juvenile og 2 adulte dværgmåger der fouragerede sammen med sølvmåger og hættemåger hvor bølgerne slog mod de store tangbunker der er blevet samlet på stranden. Jeg kunne betragte dværgmågerne på få meters afstand og det så næsten ud som om de dansede på vandet når de var nede og snappe efter føde ved overfladen.

Stemningsbillede fra min eftermiddagstur langs stranden.

Total 80

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 3
Solsort / Blackbird - 4
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1
Blåmejse / Blue tit - 2
Grønirisk / Greenfinch - 2
Stillits / Goldfinch - 5
Grønsisken / Siskin - 7
Stor Gråsisken / Common redpoll - 13
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser redpoll - 42
Stor dompap / Northern bullfinch - 1

Another wet and windy day that has allowed us to open just a few nets and for a couple of hours due to the rain. In addition, there was not much movements of birds around the garden; apart from 3 Red Kites and 1 Waxwing flying overhead. Therefore, we haven´t had a fruitful ringing day with 12 new individuals, being the Northern  Bullfinch the highlight for today

Totals: Wren  2  /  Robin  1  /  Blackbird  1  /  Goldcrest  2  /  Chaffinch  1  /  Northern Bullfinch  5 

Lucky us, there have been mucho more going on at the tip. We got a SMS from Louis as they've just spotted the first King Eider Duck of the Autumn which made the day look very promising. And of course, we decided to join them and learning from such as experienced bird observer ;). Thanks so much for teaching me!!!!! Muchas gracias!!!!! It´s been great and a good fun ;) and I'l looking forward for the next time :)!!!!. I don´t have the right figures with me, as I'm more into to improve my identifcation skills rather than making properly the census; but roughly, there were important movements of Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders, Common Scoters, Velvet Scoters, Wigeons, Mallards, Teals and Little Gulls; along with small numbers of Pintails, Gadwalls, Red-throated Divers, Great Crested Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, 1 Gannet , 1 Pomarine Skua and 3 Kittiwakes.

Vi stod op til regn og blæst. Efter at have ventet en time kunne jeg klokken 7 åbne lidt net i haven de steder hvor jeg kunne finde læ for vinden. På første runde var der to flotte hanner stor dompap den ene med ring fra igår og den anden skulle vise sig at blive dagens eneste ringmærkede fugl. Der var ikke meget liv i haven kun lidt spredte småflokke af fugle fløj over haven. På anden runde var der genfangst af en blåmejse og gårdsdagens rødtoppede fuglekonge. Efter et par nul runder overtog Simon nettene og jeg gjorde klar til at gå en tur på Odden. Inden jeg nåede på Odden kom han ind og fortalte om en enkeltbekkasin han havde trådt op i haven, ærgerligt den ikke lige røg i et net.

Jeg nåede ikke at være på Odden længe inden Simon kom derud og kunne berette om lutter nulrunder. På Odden var det heldigvis bedre med fuglene end i haven og de kom rigtig tæt på kysten, hvilket var rigtig fedt. Især en stor del af dagens mange dværgmåger kom tæt på, men også havlitter kom inden for fotograferings afstand. Derudover så vi bl.a. tre alke, ti rødstrubede lommer, en sortstrubet lom og en canadagås. Der var også ok gang i andetrækket mest ederfugle og pipeænder, men også en del krikænder, gråænder og en enkelt spidsand.

Dværgmåger (Hydrocoloeus minutus). Foto: Simon Davies

Havlit (Clangula hyemalis). Foto: Simon Davies

Klokken 12 vendte vi tilbage på stationen for at få varmen og lidt frokost. På vejen tilbage så vi en knortegås på marken. Efter frokost gik jeg en tur langs stranden rundt om Odden og tilbage af poststien i håb om at finde en sortgrå ryle. Det eneste jeg så var dog en enlig rastende bjergirisk, tre hvid vipstjert og en masse måger der fouragerede langs kysten hvor bølgerne skyllede op, heriblandt flere dværgmåger.

Knortegås (Branta bernicla). Foto: Simon Davies

Total 1

Stor dompap / Northern bullfinch - 1

Today, we can state that the winter has arrived, or at least, it seems to me the perfect gorgeous winter day: no wind at all, no clouds, sunny and bit cold. And of course, we've waked up with a nice frost on the grass as it's a must ;)!!! I love these days!!!. We were looking forward to see what today would bring us as the forecast was promising and perfect for ringing. Unfortunately, we've enjoyed another slowly day with a total of 40 new individuals ringed, but it's been quite diverse on species (13 different), making more interesting and enjoyable day. Our highlights for today have been the male Firecrest, the Long-Tailed Tits and the Bramblings.

Totals: Wren  2  /  Robin  2  /   Blackbird  3  /  Goldcrest  1  /  Firecrest  1  /  Long-tailed Tit 13  /  Blue Tit  8  /   Great Tit 1  /  Brambling  2  /  Greenfinch  3  /  Goldfinch  1  /  Siskin  1  /  Northern Bullfinch  2 

Still breezy but with fewer rain delays some nets could be open all morning but it was still pretty quiet – seems like we used up all the birds in October; although the 21 new birds did include three huge female Sparrowhawks (all of which exceeded the maximum weight that the computer has on file as I was entering the data!).  

Today`s totals -   3 Sparrowhawk \ Spurvehoeg;   1 Robin \ Roedhals;   1 Blackbird \ Solsort;   2 Goldcrest \ Fuglekonge;   9 Blue Tit \ Blamejse;   1 Great Tit \ Musvit;   1 Tree Sparrow \ Skovspurv;   2 Chaffinch \ Bogfinke;   1 Greenfinch \ Groenirisk  

                The garden was again almost empty apart from a Long-eared Owl seen at first light and a pretty normal sounding Bullfinch, neither of which were caught; there was noticeably more life overhead through the morning with small flocks of Chaffinches, Bramblings and Siskins coming and going with smaller numbers of Redpolls, Greenfinches and Reed Buntings also passing over.   Also of note overhead were 25+ Twite (an overdue Danish tick!), 2 Woodlarks and a handful of raptors including 4 Red Kites, 8 Common Buzzards, a first year White-tailed Eagle and 10+ Sparrowhawks while big flocks of Barnacle Geese moved around the fields.

                Not much else to mention with a walk round Kroghage producing single Black Redstart, Stonechat and White Wagtail – it definitely feels more wintery than autumnal now….

Common Buzzard

A really quiet day with hardly anything to talk about; wind and rain limited any ringing to just a couple of nets for a couple of hours in the morning but the garden seemed empty of birds anyway – felt more like winter than autumn.

Today`s totals -    4 Blackbird \ Solsort;   1 Blue Tit \ Blamejse

                Single Rough-legged Buzzard and Hen Harrier were at Bøtø in the afternoon with a few White-fronted Geese with the Greylags and 2 Little Gulls (an adult and a first winter) were feeding in the surf on the outskirts of town.

Adult and 1K Little Gulls

More Gedser pictures at www.wykebirding.blogspot.com