At last, some decent weather for netting birds. The gales of recent days has blocked small migrants from travelling to their wintering grounds and the let up in the weather today allowed them to get moving again. We knew we had a decent number of birds from calls heard while setting the nets, Goldcrests featuring heavily.

Ringing Totals: 262 (16)

Engpiber / Meadow Pipit – 6
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 5
Rødhals / Robin – 8 (6)
Solsort / Blackbird – 0 (3)
Vindrossel / Redwing – 0 (1)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 195
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 6 (2)
Musvit / Great Tit – 3 (2)
Nordlig Træløber / Treecreeper – 2
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 4
Grønirisk / Greenfinch – 2
Stilits / Goldfinch – 2
Grønsisken / Siskin – 1
Gråsisken / Mealy Redpoll – 11
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 9
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch – 2
Dompap / Western Bullfinch – 1 (2)
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer – 3
Rørspurv / Reed Bunting - 1

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 31^st  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)

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.

The beach at Birkamose

In the afternoon we decided to look at the beaches, beaches that have been completely covered in water over the last couple of days due to the terrible weather conditions allowing no chance to lamp waders at night. There is now a thick covering of weed in many areas with no sign of the Sanderling that we've been seeing. There were around 40 or so Little Gulls feeding just offshore.

 First year Little Gull

Little Gull adult

As we drove back to the observatory a flock of 49 Whooper Swans landed in the fields between Birkamose and the lighthouse.

Whooper Swans

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)

Kuling 10-14 sekundmeter fra øst, bidende koldt og regn det meste af tiden umuliggjorde netfangst på fuglestationen i dag. Jeg kørte derud ved godt 9-tiden for at hente nogle fugleinfluenzaprøver, der skulle sendes.

Chris og Denise havde lige stoppet deres bil mellem Frisenfelt og fyret, Chris kom ud med en ketcher i hånden, men han opgav hurtigt foretagendet. Der har i nogle dage stået en ung blisgås på marken, og det var den de gerne ville prøve at få fat på, men desværre uden held.

Efter at jeg havde sendt prøverne af sted, sad jeg derhjemme ved computeren, da jeg hørte et svagt bump på ruden: Ud og kigge, og på fliserne lå en fuglekonge på siden. Den kom med ind, fik en lille tår vand i næbbet og blev sat i en kasse. Efter et kvarter var den frisk, fik en ring om højre ben og fløj lystigt af sted, ud på nye eventyr!

Så en "nul-dag" blev det da ikke i dag. Det kan kun gå fremad i morgen!

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 covert

One of the Blue Tits from today. The yearly total currently stands at 1058.

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

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 – 7
Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 1
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll – 1

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
Great Tit - 0 (2)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch – 4
Kvækerfinke / Brambling – 2

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

Brambling, juvenile male

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.

First year Barnacle Goose

Last thing, just as we were closing after standard, five Waxwing (Silkehale) flew across the garden towards the lighthouse. We did try a taped call but had no luck in encouraging them back.

Ringing Totals:  81 (25)

Bramgås / Barnacle Goose – 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 5 
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 2
Rødhals / Robin –  6 (9)
Solsort / Blackbird – 7 (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

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.

First year female Fieldfare

Our numbers really improved when we discovered a large flock of Blue Tits in the high net close to the Fuglehus. That not only kept us occupied but also provided a further two birds ringed under the Swedish scheme.

We hadn't expected to use the keeping boxes again this season

Ringing Totals: 71 (14)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk – 1
Rødhals / Robin – 3 (1)
Solsort / Blackbird – 2
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

The second of two lack lustre when ringed new birds totalled less than 50 on each day. Retrapped Goldcrests far outweighed new birds on both days although most Robins appeared to have moved on.  The species count at 13 was low and would have been lower still were it not for a small party of tits that dropped in and foraged through the shrubs and hedgerows.

2k Sparrowhawk female

Ringing Totals: 46 (35)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk – 1
Engpiber / Meadow Pipit - 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren – 3 (1)
Jernspurv / Dunnock – 1
Rødhals / Robin – 4 (5)
Solsort / Blackbird – 1
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush – 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 20 (24)
Sortmejse / Coal Tit – 5
Blåmejse / Blue Tit – 3 (2)
Musvit / Great Tit – 4 (1)
Grønirisk / Greenfinch – 2