Quackers

Today, as the title suggests, was quackers. All about them too. Records were again broken, more of that later.

Ringing was quieter than previous days. Only 41 ringed, I say only, I mean it's down on recent days.

Willow Warbler 11
Redstart 11
Whitethroat 5
Blackcap 3
Reed Warbler 3
Pied Flycatcher 2
Garden Warbler 2
Sparrowhawk 2
Robin 1
Firecrest 1

 

Firecrest 2k+ female.  Craig Brookes

So what was quackers? Apart from Louis chasing a Red-breasted flycatcher down a road on a bicycle, I'm referring of course to ducks and a record breaking number at that! Today in 12 hours of observation (Louis mainly, with me later on) counted an impressive 5873 migrating Wigeon, a new day record for early September. Also 2800+ Common Scoter throughout the day which was rather impressive. In my book are the following, Eider 91, Pintail 109, Teal 94, Shoveler 43, Gadwall 1, Common Tern 22, Arctic Tern 18, Commic Tern 6, Black Tern 3, LITTLE TERN 1, Little Gull 72, Arctic Skua 27, Long-tailed Skua 3, Dunlin 42, Bar-tailed Godwit 2, Sanderling 1, Redshank 1, Ringed Plover 1, Oystercatcher 5, Mallard 1, Red-breasted Merganser 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Red-throated Pipit 1, Crossbill 3 and Siskin (1 flock - not visible).

Duck mix. Mainly Wigeon - Louis Hansen

Eiders - Louis Hansen

Resting
Spotted Flycatcher 1, Red-Breasted Flycatcher 1, Jay 4, Hobby 1, Kestrel 2, Marsh Harrier 3, Sparrowhawk 4, Merlin 1, Starling 50, Velvet Scoter 6, Golden Plover 250, Long-tailed Skua (same as prev days) and a male Wheatear.

In the evening we were invited down into Gedser town, for a fantastic farewell meal. Thanks Louis, a superb spread and fantastic company, as always! On the way back from Gedser we flushed not 1 but 2 Nightjars from the road, so now the nets are up and the churring can be heard throughout the peninsular!

Blog Craig Brookes

Photo (Firecrest) - Craig Brookes
Photo (ducks) - Louis Hansen.

Get to Gedser.

Needless to say, there was no ringing today.

Waking to phenomenally wet and windy conditions early this morning, I rolled over and returned to bed. I had planned to go bird watching around Gedser all day but in these conditions that just wasn't an option, visibility was less than 1km and the torrential rain along with howling Westerly winds decided for me.

Early afternoon, after a slow rise I decided that the weather was now fit enough for some migration counting at the tip; I knew there would be challenging conditions but shelter can normally be found around the exhibitions house or huddled behind a bush, I opted for the former and found a pleasantly still micro-climate overlooking the sea.

I watched from 13:45 - 18:00, wave after wave of rain showers passed by and Gedser Odde certainly felt Mother Nature's wrath. Visibility fluctuated during the day from a 'pea-souper' as we say back home ( Zero visibility) to almost 10km. Blue sky appeared once, late afternoon but the sun stayed hidden all day. After all this moaning you could be expecting me to carry on with a negative frame of mind, quite the contrary. I had a fantastic afternoon, just watching, quietly, migration in full flow!

Okay, numbers were not exceptional, but the views of some of the birds I had today were just jaw-dropping. The Long-tailed Skua of previous days continues to perform; today it chased a sandwich tern over the building at the tip calling, coming within 5 metres of me. Sensational. It repeated 'the hunt' as I left the tip this evening flying along the road at head height missing me by only a few feet. 3 Merlins harassed the Sand Martins nesting on the cliffs and also gave prolonged, fantastic views.

Arctiv Skua 1cy - Louis A. Hansen

Long-tailed Skua 1cy - Louis A. Hansen

Merlin 1cy - Louis A. Hansen

Migrants noted today were:

Honey Buzzard 8
Marsh Harrier 2
Kestrel 3
Osprey 4
Merlin 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Pintail 10
Wigeon 7
Eider 21
Common Tern 9
'Commic' Tern 1 (Common or Arctic)
Knot 1
Dunlin 1
Grey Plover 3
Swallow 18
House Martin 7

Resting birds today were:
Wheatear 17
Long-tailed Skua 1 - aforementioned juvenile.
Common Gull 3
Sandwich Tern 32
Black-headed Gull 6
Eider 78
Greater Black-backed Gull 2
Common Scoter 1 (ad male)
Whimbrel 1
Yellow Wagtail 180 - resting in the harvested crop field at the tip.
Sparrowhawk 4
Merlin 3 (all juveniles, hunting together)
Marsh Harrier 1 adult
Osprey 1 returned and perched for over 1 hour.
White Wagtail 12
Herring Gull 6
Greylag Goose 13
House Martin 25
Sand Martin 50
Cormorant 85

A Harbour Seal put in a brief appearance in the slack water, between the millpond-like Western side of the tip and the rough swelling Eastern side.

Today was one of those bird watching days when you're torn whether to leave or not, the "What will I miss?" ticks over in your head. As the autumn wears on, Gedser will become even more alive with birds than it already is as millions of birds pour out of Scandinavia and onto Southern Europe or further afield, now's the time, get to Gedser and see for yourselves!

 Below is a photo of a Lesser Blacked-backed Gull from yesterday. Very under recorded here in Gedser, please if you are down here, glance over the gulls so you don't miss a special one.

Lesser Black-backed Gull 1cy (Larus fuscus)

Photos (all from Yesterday) - Louis A. Hansen

Blog: Craig Brookes

A fantastic day!

I was very glad to be able to open some nets this morning, sitting here alone in bad weather is never any fun! So, with nets set I returned to the warm house wondering what today may deliver? First net round quiet only 7 birds, better than nothing though and 2 of them were very large Blackbirds; always nice to catch them. I also heard a Firecrest briefly. Next round, sure enough the Firecrest was sat in a net near where I had heard him previously. Throughout the morning only 31 birds were ringed in total but it was a very enjoyable day, migration was fairly steady overhead with some nice species mixed in and the ringing very relaxed. Totals as follows: Waxwing 2, Wren 1, Robin 2, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 3, Goldcrest 1, Firecrest 1, Coal Tit 1, Blue Tit 7, Great Tit 2, Chaffinch 5, Greenfinch 1 and Bullfinch 2. A really good spread of species!

Firecrest - 1cy Male

At around 11 I saw a large flock of Waxwings circling near to one of the high-nets which was closed due to wind. I put it up however and watched. Within 2 minutes a couple of these stunning birds had jumped into the net.

Waxwing - 1cy Male

Migrants today were mainly finches and buntings. Chaffinch/Bramblings numbered 700+ , Greenfinch 30, Goldfinch 25, Siskin 30, Woodlark 3, Waxwing 17, Yellowhammer 20, Reed Bunting 1 and Blue tit 40. A single Parrot Crossbill returned Northwest before 8am.

Grounded migrants - Kestrel, Buzzard, Red Kite, Mute Swan, 15 Blackbirds, 3 Song Thrushes, 2 Mistle Thrush, 5 Coal Tit, 7 Goldcrest, 24 Woodpigeon, 106 Woodpigeon. 180 Waxwing roamed around the lighthouse garden and a further 800+ Waxwings rested in the town centre at Gedser.

Photos and Blog: Craig Brookes

Hoping for better weather

With the weather of recent days putting an end to any ringing activities, today, again I took a little time for some bird watching.

With gloomy grey skies and light rain most of the day migration was very quiet. Only 30 Chaffinch/Brambling were seen to head out to sea. Seawatching was normal, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders, Common Scoters and the other regulars. On the beach however I did find a Purple Sandpiper nestled in amongst some rocks. This bird will have travelled to Gedser from further North, maybe Svalbard or Norway and may spend the winter months here if conditions are fit; though it may continue South later in the season. Below is a picture of a Purple Sandpiper taken here at Gedser by Louis A. Hansen.
 

Purple Sandpiper -

Sortgrå Ryle - Calidris maritima Photo Louis A. Hansen

Again a Waxwing or 2 were heard in the garden though not seen.

Photo: Louis A. Hansen
Blog: Craig Brookes

More of the same

Today was much as yesterday in terms of species around, only quieter. 68 birds in total were ringed today, totals as follows. Goldcrest 33, Robin 19, Blackbird 3, Chiffchaff 3, Dunnock 3, 2 of each Sparrowhawk, Wren and Song Thrush. A single Treecreeper was the first we've seen during October and only the 5th of the year. Unfortunately it didn't have short toes!

Treecreeper 1cy

Migration wise today quieter than yesterday 5 Red Kite, 40 Golden Plover, 4 Pintail, 3 Rough-legged Buzzards, 20 Sparrowhawks and the stars of the day, 4 LAPWING!

Photo and Blog: Craig Brookes

Return of the Blue Tits?

This morning the ringing was fairly slow. Only 49 birds from 8 hours of nets open. The totals from today's ringing session were, Sparrowhawk 6, Robin 3, Blackbird 1, Goldcrest 2, Coal Tit 2, Blue Tit 29, Great Tit 4, Tree Sparrow 1, Greenfinch 1. The Blue Tits soon arrived in force around lunch time, luckily they stuck to one side of the garden and many flew straight over.

In the late afternoon Me and Craig went and watched migration at the point, some notable sightings were, 8 Common Scoter, 19 Wigeon, 84 Eider, 2 Red-Throated Diver, 1 Black-Throated Diver, 2 Brent Geese, 3 Black Headed Gulls, 2 Scaup and we were able to watch 2 Purple Sandpipers resting on the rocks. A grey seal also was a nice surprise.

Goldcrest - Regulus regulus

Above is a picture of one of the Goldcrest from recent days.

Photo:Asbjørn Jensen
Blog: Heather McGinty and Craig Brookes

Jay day

This morning ringing was quiet, as was migration. 1 species however turned up in force, the Jay. At least 90 Jays were noted passing before midday. Ringing as mentioned was slow, 34 new birds is all.
Blue Tit 6, Goldcrest 4, Robin 4, Sparrowhawk 4 and JAY 4, 3 of each Great Tit and Song Thrush and singles of Wren, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Redpoll and Bullfinch. Rune also joined the ringing today and with his help we were able to measure all birds fully. Below is a picture of 1 of today's 4 Jays.

Jay - Garrulus glandarius

Notable sightings today: 90+ Jay, Common Buzzard 6, Red Kite 1, Raven 4. Grey Wagtail 1 over the garden. 

Gert and Rune started the work on a new elevator net. Rune's friend came to stay at the station. Jon left mid morning, hopefully he enjoyed his stay here. We must thank Jon for all of his migration counts over the past few days as very few people brave the conditions as he did.

Photo: Heather McGinty
Blog: Craig Brookes

Pea-Super

A Pea-souper today, you couldn't see a thing. But the title reads 'super' this reflects the days ringing.

So the first net round in the dense fog and the dark yielded a little over 70 birds. The day turned out to be quite good although the dense mist failed to clear many birds were in the garden and so found the nets.

In total 118 New birds were ringed.
86 Robins,
13 Redpoll,
8 Sparrowhawks,
6 Greenfinch,
4 Wrens,
1 Dunnock.

Many more Sparrowhawks hunted in the garden but obviously didn't feel like migrating in such horrible conditions when they had an all you can eat Robin-buffet in the garden.

We also controlled (caught an already ringed bird) 2 birds from 2 different countries.

The first a Juvenile Robin which was originally ringed in Poland.

The second a Juvenile Greenfinch which was originally ringed in Sweden.

I wouldn't have been able to cope with so many birds in such a short time if it wasn't for the help I recieved from Frants, Benny and Hans. Thanks guys.

Craig Brookes

Emptiness

This morning (1st November) it was clear that overnight many birds had left Gedser and therefore Scandanavia for warmer climes. Whilst setting the nets only the resident Robin and a few Blue Tits were heard.

Throughout the I only managed to catch 12 new birds in 11 hours (Dawn until dusk). These were, 4 Robins, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit and 1 Great Grey Shrike. A few recaptures were represented by a Robin, a Blackbird and some Goldcrests.

Lanius excubitor

"Only girls wear gloves."

The weather was great this afternoon and this lead to quite a good passage of raptors. At least 10 Common Buzzards "Braved it" to make the crossing as did a number of Rough-legged Buzzards and no fewer than 40 Sparrowhawks. Finches represented by 35+ Bullfinch, 200+ Chaffinch, 200+ Brambling, 800+ Siskin, 150+ Greenfinch, 50+ Redpoll and 20+ Goldfinches. Buntings represented by 2 Yellowhammer and a lone Reed Bunting.

I tried to catch Tengmalm's or Pygmy Owl in the evening/morning of the 2nd and failed. It at least seems there was some migration of passerines overnight though so the standardised ringing should be better.

Photo: Craig Brookes
Craig Brookes