As soon as I arrive the weather changes!

On my arrival in Denmark yesterday it was glorious conditions - the sun was shining, there were light winds and it was nice and warm (relatively warm any way!) but during my very pleasant first night at Gedser ringing station the wind increased dramatically with overnight rain which had moved through by dawn but the blazing force 7 North-westerly wind remained which unfortunately meant that we couldn't open any nets; a real contrast to the nice, spring-like days Gedser has been enjoying of late!

   A look out at the tip instead produced good numbers of Ducks with hundreds of Eider, Red-breasted Mergansers and Long-tailed Ducks milling around, seemingly unsure whether to continue migrating in the rough conditions or not - flying north, then south, then resting on the sea; all very confused but creating a great spectacle!   In amongst them were smaller numbers of other species including Shoveler, Teal, Common Scoter, Brent Goose and a single Velvet Scoter while a Sandwich Tern was also of note; a brave few passerines were also seen coming in from the south, battling against the strong wind including three White Wagtails, a couple of Meadow Pipits and a few Starlings.

   Other birds through the day included a few Finches heading north including Siskin, Redpoll and Greenfinch and a big female Peregrine caused excitement in the afternoon.   So, a busy first day here at the station - even with no ringing, with a few jobs completed including mending one of the canopy nets, spreading wood-chips around some of the wetter pathways and various other little maintenance tasks all of which led to a productive time!

Simon Davies - ringing here at Gedser until mid-June