08/11/13 Gaviota tridáctila

Another standardised ringing session was got underway during the morning of the 8th despite a couple of members of the team catching up on sleep having spent the night manning the owl nets.

110 birds were caught including some really nice species which are always a privilege to see in the hands:

Wren 4

Dunnock 2

Robin 5

Blackbird 2

Chiffchaff 1

Goldcrest 12

Long-tailed Tit 7

Bluetit 17

Eurasian Treecreeper 1

Greenfinch 10

Siskin 27

Common Redpoll 3

Mealy Redpoll 5

Lesser Redpoll 2

Eurasian Bullfinch 4

Northern Bullfinch 6

In the afternoon the team headed to the tip to take advantage of the sunny weather and despite very little moving on the sea another adult Kittiwake put in an appearance as it headed south at mid distance.

Not only was this the 1st Kittiwake seen in Gedser for many of the team but was in fact a LIFER for Barbara which we were all really happy about! The strange thing was she had just been asking about Kittiwakes so luck was clearly on her side.

Adult Winter Kittiwake south past Gedser Tip, photo by Jack Ashton-Booth

Other avian highlights concerned an 'Eastern Chiffchaff' photographed by Louis in his garden showing some traits attributed to Siberian Chiffchaff 'tristis' . However the bird was uttering a call not dissimilar to the calls uttered by abietinus and maybe originates from a zone of integration between the two forms. Either way its one stunning looking Phyllosc!

Photo courtesy of Louis Hansen

Photo courtesy of Louis Hansen

Photo courtesy of Louis Hansen

After our afternoon birding session we returned to the station for coffee and Danish pastries kindly supplied by Jess and gawped at some incredible photos of Great-grey Owl he had taken on his Scandinavian adventures! It was a bitter sweet moment really given that the last thing the team needed was to be reminded of how beautiful owls were!

Many thanks from the GFU team and a very happy Barbara!