09-10-2013 'KUPP-KUPP-KUPP'

The 9th saw only 15 birds ringed which is the slowest morning so far this autumn.

Birds extracted from the nets, processed and ringed included:

Sparrowhawk 1

Wren 1 

Dunnock 3

Robin 1

Blackbird 1

Song Thrush 1

Chiffchaff 5

Blue Tit 1

Siskin 1

The same was true of visible migration with very little moving over the garden apart from a single Two-barred Crossbill in with one of the many flocks of Common Crossbill heading south.

The Common Crossbills have also been a great carrier species for a recent influx of Parrot Crossbill to Gedser with a handful of birds seen during the day.

Putative male Parrot Crossbill flying alongside a Common Crossbill. Note how Bull necked and robust the front end of the bird appears in flight in comparison to its leaner cousin to it's right. The depth of the bill and culmen angle appear different in the two birds as well as the Common Crossbills more angular (less rounded) head! photo by Louis Hansen

Flocks of these superb finches would occasionally land in the tops of the Spruce Trees in the west of the garden allowing for close examination.

Migratory party of Common Crossbills taking a breather, photo by Jack Ashton-Booth

Bull Grey Seal with an almost thicker neck than the aforementioned beast above, photo by Louis Hansen