Once again! I’m back... - couldn’t resist not going to the best birding location in Denmark for this time of the year. And it isn’t really summer before you are here! So yeah…. summer time in Gedser! The place to be without any doubts. Left everything behind me in Jutland yesterday, picked up Ramón in Kastrup and went directly to Gedser. Once again lovely welcoming when we arrived - and as an extra bonus, some grill leftovers from all the hard garden workers was found in the kitchen --- Life is good - thank you all. 

The garden looked amazing, the nets looked almost amazing, we looked amazing - so pretty much everything at the southern tip of Denmark is at the moment amazing. So with a lot of energy Ramón and I went out of bed this morning. We wanted to get a preseason day today having time to start everything up and getting Ramón into the daily routine here at Gedser Bird Observatory. And already before 6:30 AM the day was saved with 26 birds on first round and 23 on the second! Which is good here in mid july. Normally when I have been here in July I have ringed on good days around 30 but it seems this year wants it differently. It was mainly silvia warblers but also chiffchaff was playing very good along. Probably some youngsters from the near area but still I was surprised with this amount of chiffchaff’s. Normally I only get like one here and one there in july and august but a lot of willow warblers but it seems that Chiffchaffs are doing good this year!!! 

Today’s high count and big winner - a Common Chiffcaff 1cy.

And as a little welcoming present a common rosefinch. There gave Ramón a new ring species. 

Todaýs Common Rosefinch.

A german family with friends came for visit in the late morning and went on some netrounds with us. Luckily the birds didn’t stop showing well so there were plenty of space for Hans using his German and us showing how we are doing ringing. Everything in perfect conditions. 

We closed the nets around noon after a round with only 3 new ringed birds and just to mention that we were pretty happy with today’s result. Look at it here below:

Today’s ringing:

Landsvale / Barn Swallow - 3
Hvid Vipstjert / White Wagtail - 1
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 2
Rødstjert / Common Redstart - 3
Kærsanger / Marsh Warbler - 1
Gulbug / Icterine Warbler - 13
Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat - 4 / and 2 recaptures
Tornsanger / Common Whitethroat - 12 / and 2 recaptures
Havesanger / Garden Warbler - 8
Munk / Eurasian Blackcap
Gransanger / Common Chiffchaff - 14 / and 1 recapture
Løvsanger / Willow Warbler - 2
Blåmejse / Eurasian Blue Tit - 3
Musvit / Great Tit - 1
Korttået Træløber / Short-toedTreecreeper - 1
Tornirisk / Common Linnet - 2
Karmindompap / Common Rosefinch - 1

Total: 81 (+ 5 recaptures)

Gert also came for some garden work around noon and to say hello. And he timed it well because both Ramón and me were very tired after lunch so even though we wanted to do a lot this afternoon we ended up resting after our traveling the whole day yesterday and our waking up at 3.50 today. 

We did a little walk to the tip though before sunset and got a little bit of birds over the water. It was great feeling the summer experince of the southern tip of Denmark with sand martins flying around, common eiders laying close to shore, goldfinches calling constantly, wagtails jumping around and a lovely common swift made us feel alive for a bit before it went straight south towards Germany. 

Common Swift - 19th of July Gedser Odde.

A total count of the birds today can be found here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S58300218

Now we are more than ready to start the autumn season tomorrow. Both Ramón and me are excited and really have no idea if Gedser have more mid july surprises for us! Can we start the season with a Melodious Warbler - or can a River Warbler save the day??

No matter what - the alarm is sat to 03:50 - and GFU is ready!

Stay tuned.

Best regards -- Anton Liebermann