Fantastiske observationer på odde - Eleonorafalk

Those of you whom have regularly read the blog for the observatory, or followed the fuglestation's sightings over the years, will know that Gedser can be a place of magnificent birding; today was such a day.

Having been held back and blocked from migrating for a number of days by unfavourable conditions, last night the wind ebbed and swung northwesterly pushing migrants through the night towards their wintering grounds. We knew we would be in for a decent morning as the nets went up in the dark and robins ticked and flitted around the lamp beams.

Throughout the day 159 new birds were ringed, the highest day so far, in this (a quiet) autumn season!

Rødhals (Robin), Erithacus rubecula, 1st calendar year ­©Denise Lamsdell

Rødstjert (Redstart), Phoenicurus phoenicurus. 1st calendar year male ­©Denise Lamsdell

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk 6
Skovpiber / Tree Pipit 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren 1
Jernspurv / Dunnock 20
Rødhals / Robin 33
Rødstjert / Redstart 23
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush 2
Gulbug / Icterine Warbler 1
Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat 5
Havesanger / Garden Warbler 1
Munk / Blackcap 5
Gransanger / Chiffchaff 38
Løvsanger / Willow Warbler 10
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest 1
Grå Fluesnapper / Spotted Flycatcher 3
Broget Fluesnapper / Pied Flycatcher 3
Blåmejse / Blue Tit 2
Bogfinke / Chaffinch 4

With a brisk northwesterly wind throughout the morning, passerines and raptors spilled over the garden with big pushes from Bogfinke (Chaffinch), Grønsisken (Siskin) and Vispjert Sp.& Piber Sp. (Wagtails and pipits); at least 2 rødstrubbet piber (Red-throated Pipit)  were around the garden during the standardised time slot. Spurvehøg and Tårnfalk (Sparrowhawk and Kestrel) passed in good numbers with over 400 Sparrowhawks throughout the day and nearly 100 migrating Kestrels, simply incredible! Nothing hugely rare, but great numbers of common migrants!

At around 09:40 a text received to the station phone alerted us to a mega from the tip, lucky observers out there, including many regulars had connected with an ELEONORAFALK (Eleonora's Falcon) migrating steadily south! This time the bird was too distant for photographs to be taken, however click here  for pictures of the previous Eleonorafalk in Gedser. This record represents only the 4th or 5th of this species in Denmark though it is the second for Gedser!!!

After such excitement the day couldn't really be bettered, but a fantastic show of migration by many species was a sight to behold. The highlights of the supporting cast (according to observers notes) were as follows:

Aftenfalk / Red-footed Falcon 1 Juvenile
Lærkefalk / Hobby 6
Dværgfalk / Merlin 3
Tårnfalk / Kestrel 90 A Great single day count for Gedser
Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk 420 A Great single day count for Gedser
Hvepsevåge / Honey Buzzard 30
Musvåge / Common Buzzard 20
Fjeldvåge / Rough-legged Buzzard 1+
Fiskeørn / Osprey 3
Blå Kærhøg / Hen Harrier 2 Adult female migrating, male resting
Steppehøg / Pallid Harrier 1 Juvenile
Rød Glente / Red Kite 1 Resting
Havørn / White-tailed Eagle 1 Resting
Landsvale / Swallow  20'000+ migrating across a broad front for most of the afternoon. Birds could be heard and not seen, simpy impossible to number very accruately given the spectacle of all other birds throughout the day.
Red-throated Pipit 5
Rock Pipit 5
Mursejle / Swift 10 (Notable for lateness)
Småspove / Whimbrel 2
Teiste / Black Guillemot 1 Juvenile
Gråsisken / Redpoll 2 (First of the autumn)
Grønsisken / Siskin 500+
Almindelig Kjove / Arctic Skua 2
Lille Kjove / Long-tailed Skua 1 Juvenile 18:18 in the evening, the last bird in the notebook from today.

The forecast for tomorrow could mean we're in for some more fantastic migration, hopefully so, check back then to see.

Craig