0.05% SUCCESS and thats before trying for Tengmalm's Owls!

09-11-2013:

With the sea lapping across the road due to the increased wind strength it seemed only right to pay a visit to the shop to get the weekly provisions in as birding and ringing was somewhat limited. However Barbara and Jack soon regretted the decision on realising it was a Saturday and the shop was packed with people. In all of the haste of trying to get out of a busy shop some non-alcoholic wine (0,05% vol) was bought which was a rather frustrating realisation on a blustery wet evening whereby owl netting was a write off!

Barbara had without doubt the best bird of the day with when she picked up a BLACK GUILLEMOT flying over the sea and an adult male Hen Harrier through Gert's scope which she was very kindly allowed to borrow. Other observations made at the tip between 10:00-13:00 are as follows:

Bean Goose 4 S

Bean Geese passing Gedser Tip one moody evening, photo courtesy of Barbara Reguera

Grey Goose sp. 2 S

Eider 102 S

Red-breasted Merganser 173 S

Shoveler 13 S

Teal 19 S

Long-tailed Duck 37 S

Velvet Scoter 4 S

Wigeon 18 S

Pintail 4 S

Goldeneye 9 S

Common Scoter 185 S

Scaup 12 S

Pochard 2 S

Gadwall 5 S

Aythya Sp. 22 S

Tufted Duck 8 S

Red-throated Diver 4 SV

Merlin 3 S

Redpoll sp 5 S

Stock Dove 3 S

Swallow 2 S

Lesser Black-backed Gull (intermedius) 1 SV

Little Gull 43 S

Arctic Tern 2 S

Whilst we were vis-migging a small double panel net was erected in a sheltered spot behind the southern hedge line in the hope of catching a few Twite.

Unfortunately the sun set on the 9th as did our chances of catching any Twite so we returned to the Fuglestation and met Jesper for the first time who had just arrived for a week.

10-11-2013:

The team spent the majority of the morning within the garden as it was optimal conditions for mist netting with still conditions and some light passage overhead. Sure enough these conditions soon delivered and 41 birds were ringed including some really nice special species.

Long-eared Owl 1

Wren 4

Robin 2

Blackbird 7

Redwing 1

Goldcrest 2

Blue Tit 1

Brambling 1

Mealy Redpoll 2

Lesser Redpoll 7

Bullfinch 10 (7 Northern)

Reed Bunting 1

Great-grey Shrike 2

Whilst we were ringing a Fuglestation committee meeting was underway to discuss some current and future ideas. Not only was great catching up with familiar and some not so familiar faces but to share a bird as beautiful as a Great-grey shrike with other people is what its all about!....their smiles said it all!

1st Winter Great-grey Shirke, photo courtesy of Barbara Reguera. This bird showed some characteristics likened to more eastern birds somewhere between excubitor & homeyeri

After a well deserved lunch some of the team headed to the tip to see if many birds were moving south or over the sea. Although masses of birds were not observed 4 PURPLE SANDPIPERS  feeding on the rocks was a lovely discovery and is scarce bird here in Gedser. Also a Great-grey Shrike was seen to come off the sea near the farms just north of the tip.

Purple Sandpipers resting on the rocks at the tip, photo courtesy of  Barbara Reguera

Whilst some of the team were birding at the tip some very kind folk who were picnicking  came and offered us some very tasty apple cake in return for some Christmas sweets. Many thanks to them and we wish them very best wishes in the future.

Another very spontaneous event  that took place during quite an eventful afternoon was the arrival of a very low flying Danish military helicopter. The children accompanied by the lovely people above were waving at the helicopter as it flew out to sea and the pilot decided to turn around and fly extremely low over the tip to give the children a wave. This action was clearly well received on hearing their reception of cheers and waves given by the kids and was in all fairness quite an impressive sight.

Photo courtesy of  Barbara Reguera

The day didnt really end there though with the owl nets erected and the tape lure put on throughout the whole night. Ironically the only owl caught that day was a bird caught in a passerine net just minutes before owl nets were erected.

11-10-2013

The night team went to bed at 05:00hrs having done an all nighter for owls and swapped with the morning shift who took over the nets and kept them open throughout the whole day.

With Hugh, Jesper and Lars manning the nets a few of the team split up and went their separate ways to make the most of the day. Barbara walked north to see some woodland and then met Rael at the tip and Jack walked west to the harbour in search of migrants & gulls.

Bird Observed during the day included:

Eider 465 S
Long-tailed Duck 61 S
Red-breasted Merganser 47 S & 10N
Wigeon 4 S
Gavia sp. 90 S
Balck-thorated Diver 10 S
Red-throated Diver 6 S
Velvet Scoter 6 S
Common Scoter 181 S
Goldeneye 1 S
Mallard 3 S
Greater Scaup 156 S
Grebe sp. 1 S
Red-necked Grebe 2
Barnacle Geese 20 ø
White-fronted Geese 9 S
Bean Geese 42 S
Redpoll 35 S
Reed Bunting 1S
Siskin 1S
Great-grey Shrike 1 TR (just north of tip)

Birds ringed during the day totaled 128 birds including:

Sparrowhawk 1

Long-eared Owl 1

Skylark 1

Wren 2

Robin 3

Blackbird 10

Fieldfare 1

Redwng 2

Goldcrest 2

Bluetit 8

Tree Sparrow 1

Chaffinch 2

Brambling 1

Greenfinch 2

Goldfinch 1

Siskin 43

Redpoll 5

Mealy Redpoll 23

Lesser Redpoll 13

Bullfinch 4 (3 Northern & 1 European)

Yellowhammer 1

Reed Bunting 1