Gedser Fuglestation Open Day!

Rune arrived late last night in preparation for today's open day and after a somewhat restless night ;) we all awoke to conduct our standardised ringing session.

With very few birds in the garden due to easterly winds we opened quite a few nets. After ringing 51 birds guests began to arrive for the open day to experience bird ringing and bird migration first hand.

Gedser Fuglestation, Denmark, photo Jack Ashton-Booth

Barnacle Geese over Gedser Lighthouse, photo Jack Ashton-Booth

At least 100 people kindly attended and they all left with very happy faces and a new outlook on birds and what goes on with regards to bird conservation here at Gedser Fuglestation.

Rune giving one of many ringing demonstrations

Demonstrating the use of a mist net & extracting birds

Hans giving a ringing demo to guests

Rune educating future Danish ornithologists

Claus photographing Red Admirals

GEDSER FUGELSTATION would like to THANK Rune, Hans, the two Gerts, Claus, Rael, Jack, Thomas, Hugh, Brian, Maes and Louis for all their help and MOST IMPORTANTLY everyone who attended and for their very generous donations which sees the work we do continue!


Species that were caught, ringed and enjoyed by the public included Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Wren and Goldcrest.

After the event we all had a celebratory meal in the observatory to celebrate the days success and Hugh & Rune's achievements with their Masters.

Beer is not the Anser!

Good Times had by all, photo by Hugh Hanmer

 Bird news for today:

One of yesterdays Yellow-browed Warblers remains in the garden and was heard by staff members and seen by Claus.

Other notable birds in and around the garden included 2 Mistle Thrush, noticeably more Redpoll heading south, a single Firecrest, 1399 Chaffinch, 6+ Brambling, 60 Siskin, 3 Tree Pipits, 6 Meadow Pipits, 50 Linnet, 59 Swallows, 8 Rough-legged Buzzards, a Common Buzzard, 24 Tree Sparrows, 3 Common Crane and a single Rock Pipit south.

An afternoon seawatch between 15:40 - 17:30 produced:

Hugh, Rael, Rune and Jack Seawatching at the tip

Diver sp. 2

Black-throated Diver 1

Red-throated Diver 1

Great Crested Grebe 1

Dark-bellied Brent Geese 400

Barnacle Geese 162

European White-fronted Goose 5

Common Scoter 52

Velvet Scoter 11

Shoveler 5

Wigeon 1974

Migrating ducks, photo by Hugh Hanmer

Long-tailed Duck 1

Red-breasted Merganser 34

Pintail 118

Migrating mixed duck flock , photo by Hugh Hanmer

Teal 15

Tufted Duck 2

Greater Scaup 2

Eider 1453

Migrating Eider, photo by Hugh Hanmer

Arctic Skua 1

Sandwich Terns 8

Little Gulls 15

Black-headed Gulls 13

Sanderling 3

Dunlin 4

Calidrid sp. 5

MANY THANKS ONCE AGAIN FROM TEAM GFU