Gedser gets in on the Yellow-browed influx!

A great morning during our Standardised ringing with Rael getting the ball rolling with a Red-throated Pipit south. This was followed by a Red-breasted Flycatcher calling from in the garden and news from Raels nets that he had caught the years 1st Yellow-browed Warbler amidst a sudden wave of Chiffchaffs.

The 1st of 2 Yellow-browed Warblers caught Today, photo by Gert

abietinus type Chiffchaff, photo Hans

After standardised ringing we put a Yellow-browed Warbler tape lure on as we had heard at least 2 birds around the garden during net checks. It didn't take long for another to be caught which confirmed our suspicions.

The 2nd Yellow-browed Warbler of the day

With it being a weekend, the sun shining and a Steppe Eagle seen the day before it was not surprising that a few birders were at the tip. We put the news out that we had caught a second bird and within a few minutes we had an assembled crowd who went away very happy indeed having seen 6 grams of Siberian beauty!

Yellow-browed Warbler Twitch at Gedser Fuglestation

With migrant phylloscs and growing migrant tit flocks around the garden it didn't come as any real shock when Hugh extracted a Treecreper out of the high net. Another great addition to the autumn ringing list and a nice lesson in in-hand racial separation.

Treecreeper being closely scrutinised, photo by Rael Butcher

Plan view of Treecreeper

In total 102 birds were ringed during the day and the other 99 birds ringed away from the aforementioned individuals included:

Wren 4
Dunnock 2
Robin 15
Song Thrush 5
Garden Warbler 2
Blackcap 4
Chiffchaff 56
Goldcrest 2
Blue Tit 5
Tree Sparrow 1
Chaffinch 1
Brambling 1
Linnet1

Hans & Gert working on the Wood Shed

Hans, Gert and Jack worked around the garden in preparation for tomorrows open day and Hugh and Rael went to the tip and had a one and a half hour sea-watch. Their efforts produced:

Shoveler 34
Wigeon 387
Red-throated Diver 1
Tufted Duck 3
Long-tailed Skua 1 (juvenile)
Barnacle Goose 140
Eider 1273
Goosander 4 (with another over the garden midday)
Caspian Gull (yesterdays 1st Winter)
Harbour Porpoise 4

On a non-avian note Red Admirals are very evident at the moment in and around the fermenting fruit and berry bushes in the garden. Also a handful of ladies and the odd Comma ,Queen of Spain Fritillary and Silver Y are frequenting the garden.

many thanks

Jack, Hugh and Rael