New species for the year

Well, I said I thought that Ring Ouzel was just waiting around for this morning to be ringed, and it turned out I was right. This morning we caught and ringed a beautiful male - definitely the highlight of the day! Ring Ouzels are not a common bird at the station, with only 17 individuals ringed at Gedser Fuglestation since 1994. So exciting stuff for the station!

The male Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) ringed this morning at Gedser Fuglestation

Also of note is that we caught the first Blackcap for the year. The Blackcap and Ring Ouzel made a brilliant morning out of what would have otherwise been an average catch. The morning got off to a steady start, but then a cold and windy change later in the morning saw the flow of birds slow to a mere trickle. In total, 40 new birds were ringed and 25 retraps were measured.

The first Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) of the year was a great little male

We also were pleased to see some of the first birds in the new pond at the station which was only just established in the winter, including a Brent Goose (Knortegås). This is a promising sign for the pond attracting many birds and exciting sightings in the future, especially once some vegetation is established.

A Brent Goose enjoying the new pond at Gedser Fuglestation

Johanne and I spent the cold and windy afternoon with Gert bird-watching around the island. Highlights included seeing a Little Ringed Plover (Lille Præstekrave) and Ruff (Brushane), and seeing a few of the first Barn Swallows (Landsvale) and Greenshanks (Hvidklire) of the year.

All up a terrific day at Gedser Fuglestation!

Breakdown 14/04/2015:
Wren (Gaerdesmutte) - 7
Dunnock (Jernspurv) - 13
Robin (Rødhals) - 9
Ring Ouzel (Ringdrossel)- 1
Song Thrush (Sangdrossel)- 2
Blackcap (Munk) - 1
Chiffchaff (Gransanger) - 1
Great Tit (Musvit) - 1
Treecreeper (Træløber)- 1
Tree Sparrow (Skovspurv) - 1
Chaffinch (Bogfinke) - 3
TOTAL = 40


Lizzy Joyce