and sure enough the birds followed......COMMON CRANES OVER GEDSER!

The nets were again quiet resulting from the persistence and strength of the easterly wind!

Only 31 Birds were ringed during the day and some of these were ringed after our standardised ringing session going to show just how fruitless the nets were!

The 31 birds comprised of:

Wren 5

Dunnock 3

Robin 12

Chiffchaff 5

Goldcrest 2

Chaffinch 1

Siskin 3

Birding however couldn't have been more different though with a fantastic day had by all at Gedser with a RECORD CRANE PASSAGE totaling a incredible 2240 birds.

Gedser lighthouse with Common Cranes overhead, photo by Hugh Hanmer

 Flocks could be seen from left to right with birds over land and sea on their way to stop over site in German.

Cranes were all over the peninsula with these photographed by Hans over his garden in Gedser Town

One of many sizable flocks of Common Cranes over Gedser, photo by Rael Butcher

Cranes just overhead, photo by Rael Butcher

 At times the sky was full of birds and I'm sure their calls will still be heard when our heads hit the pillow! A SIMPLY MAGICAL NOISE and a SIMPLY MAGICAL DAY!!!

Cranes leaving the tip south at sea, photo by Rael Butcher

Cranes heading south over Gedser, photo by Hugh Hanmer

However birds didnt stop there though and an outstanding supporting cast to the cranes came in the following forms:

Yellow-browed Warbler 1 (calling from in the garden)
Olive-backed Pipit 1 (heard flying south over the tip)
Rustic Bunting 1 (a ticking bunting thought most likely to be this species flew south before taking cover for the rest of the day in the Blackthorn where it was heard infrequently and represents the 1st record for Gedser)
King Eider 1 (a female bird flew south past the tip alongside a female eider and a small group of male birds)
Serin 1 (flew south calling before flying west)

Other Bird highlights observed by the GFU team mainly in around the Garden and between the tip include:

Hen Harrier 2

European White-fronted Goose 76

Barnacle Geese 103

Barnacle Geese trying to land, photo by Hugh Hanmer

Woodpigeon 702 

Stock Dove 1 

Tree Sparrow 99

Siskin 756 

Goldfinch 32

Linnet 80

Brambling 56

Tree Pipit 8

Sparrowhawk 15

Red Kite 4

Red Kite over the garden, photo by Hugh Hanmer

Rough-legged Buzzard 3+

Common Buzzard 2

Mistle Thrush 9 South & 8 North

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

Skylark 9

Yellowhammer 8

Brown Hare at Gedser tip, always a pleasure to see, photo by Hugh Hanmer