The wind had freshened again and after some low catch days, the only thing certain to come to the observatory today was the brand new dishwasher arriving with Gert and Hans sometime after 9am. If only birds could be as punctual!

There would probably be some more Robins to join the growing number of previously processed birds that remain in the garden, feeding up before making the crossing to Germany, and perhaps a few more Chiffchaff, but the question that’s keeping us on our toes is when will the Blue Tits arrive? There have been very large catches at observatories to the North of Gedser and it seems to be just a matter of time before they find their way into our ringing rides, grabbing at the nets and biting the fingers that gently extract them.

As well as strong wind, there were also a few spots of rain but we managed to complete the session. Although not too many birds, and flocks were seen heading for the tip and then changing direction and disappearing in the direction of the town, we did catch our first Brambling and Redwing of the season. As for Blue Tits, there was just one so we must wait to see what tomorrow brings.

We are the Lamsdells, Chris and Denise, back at Gedser from the UK, for our second autumn. We were first here in 2015 when we staffed the station from September to mid-November. That was the time we affectionately refer to as the ‘year of the Fuglekonge’, so what might 2018 have in store for us?

Although we have not ringed at Gedser for a couple of years, our ringing had kept us busy with autumn 2016 spent at Getterön Fågelstation, Sweden and spring visits to Delaware Bay, USA supporting the Red Knot project in 2017 and 2018. We also work three sites local to our home and run a project on adult survival rates of Whitethroats. We are also involved in the primary stages of securing funding and implementation of a new ringing scheme in the Gambia.

Totals: 35 (9)
Gærdesmutte / Wren - 3
Rødhals / Robin - 11 (9)
Sangdrossel / SongThrush - 6
Vindrossel / Redwing - 1
Munk / Blackcap - 1
Gransanger / Eurasian Chiffchaff - 9
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 1
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 1
Kvækerfinke / Brambling - 1