Today was, what I would say, a kind of standard day. It was hot and the birds decided not to move anymore after 11.00 o'clock, so I closed the garden at 12.00 o'clock. Highlights of the morning were a new Vendehals / Wryneck (the second of this year) and a new Rødrygget Tornskade / Red-backed shrike. After showing some vistors, together with Hans, some birds I decided to take a nap.

Later in the afternoon I opened the nets at the little lake and it was a really exciting evening. Caught a Mudderklire (Common sandpiper) and at the same time a digesvale (Sand Martin) and half an hour later a bysvale (House Martin) and an additional Gul Vipstjert (Yellow Wagtail). There was no wind at all and the nets were not moving at all. I think this is the reason that I caught the martins in a relative open biotope.

The House Martin is an interesting species. It has feathers on his feet and tarsus (see picture). As far as I know the only little bird that has it (maybe there are more in the world). I once asked people what the reason could be that they have those feathers. There was one answer that made sense for me. The species is orginally a mountain species, maybe protecting from the cold??

Photo gallery

Today catches

In total 69 birds (61 new and 8 recaptures) and 18 different species.

With kind regards Robert