A BRIDGE OF PIGEONS! 05/11/2013

With wind becoming as familiar as the leaves falling of the trees only a few nets were once again opened and the length of time since a standardised ringing session was conducted gets ever wider. A total of just three birds found themselves in the only sheltered mist nets and include the following:

Tree Sparrow 1

Brambling 1

Bullfinch 1

Despite the strength of the wind the direction was clearly favourable with birds suddenly starting to stream over the Fuglestation and soon enough Denmark added another bridge to its already extensive collection which took the form of c7000 Woodpigeons. None of us had ever seen anything quite like it with the vanguard of the flock appearing to be in Germany and the birds at the rear just passing the Gedser Lighthouse. It was truly a special moment we will cherish for the rest of our days!

Although the Woodpigeons did eventually ease off other species continued to stream south and the following counts highlight just how special Gedser is and again reinforces that you must visit if you LOVE vis mig!

SV-South West
SØ-South East
TR-Migrating then Resting
BR-Female Type

FU- Foraging

S-South

TF-Migrating then Foraging

N-North

Ø-East 

OF-Overhead

NØ-North East
V-West

Visible Migration was recorded between 09:00-13:00 & 14:50-16:50

Mute Swan 32 SV

Swan Sp. 12 SV

Wild Swan Sp. 4 V

Bean Geese 62 S

Barnacle Geese 666 TR/FU

Tufted Duck 5 SV

Common Scoter 21 SV

Mallard 13 SV

Teal 2 SV

Eider 1389 SV

Red-breasted Merganser 33 S
Red-breasted Merganser 44 (North/Roost Movements)

Wigeon 141 SV

Shoveler 7 SV

Brent Goose 1 SV

Red-throated Diver 4 SV

Diver Sp.5 SV

Long-tailed Ducks 2 SV

Velvet Scoter 2 SV

Aythya Sp. 1 SV

Goosander 2 V

Caspian Gull 3 (two 1st winters FU and an Adult S)

Little Gull c30 FU

Golden Plover 83 SV

Wood Pigeons 14,780 S

Columba Bridge!

Pigeons for as far as the eye can see!

Stock Dove 81 S

Short-eared Owl 1 (in off)

Jackdaw 110 V 

Rook 10 V

Hooded Crow 2 V

Heron 1 SV

Merlin 2 S

Red Kite 3 (1 FU & 2 S)

Common Buzzard 10 (3 S & 7 TR)

Rough-legged Buzzard (3S & 5 TR)

Kestrel 7 (4 S & 3 TR)

Sparrowhawk 156 S

Great-spotted Woodpecker 1 SV

Skylark 76 S

Fieldfare 200 S

Mistle Thrush 4 S

Hawfinch 3 SV

Waxwing 1 S

Meadow Pipit 98 S

Rock Pipit 1 SV

Common Crossbill 124 S

Parrot Crossbill 2+ S

Fringilla Sp. 1689 S

Chaffinch 480 S

Brambling 200 S

Greenfinch 103 S

Linnet 122 S & 60 TR

Rael Vis-Migging!

 Twite 109 S & 30 TR
Tree Sparrow 16 S & 21 U-turned

Bullfinch 36 (5 Northern) S

Reed Bunting 45 S

Grey Wagtail 2 S

Alba Wagtail 2 S (1 TR)

Yellowhammer 10 S

Redpoll 481 S

Siskin 777 S

Goldfinch 139 S