Seldom slow.

With weather similar to yesterday, again I was reluctant to open all nets. At first light the garden was absolutely buzzing with birds. Rødhals (Robins) and Jernspurv (Dunnocks) ticked and rattled as they awoke and began heading out of the garden, probably numbering in their hundreds for both. Gransanger and Løvsanger (Chiffchaff and Willow warbler) Phwipt from seemingly every bush!

This morning was one of those when anybody present, birder, ringer or general public could not help but be captivated by the spectacle. As the sun rose on a beautiful morning around 2000 Hirundines decended onto the freshly mown field outside and evidently there had also been a huge insect hatch. Landsvale (Swallow) and Bysvale (House Martin) made up the majority but a couple of late Mursejler (Swift) sythed the thin air snapping up some breakfast, all the while the Rødhals and Jernspurv jangled, with Skovpiber and Gul Vipstjert (Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail) tseeping their way south en masse. 5 Tårnfalk (Kestrel) juveniles made an absolute mess of trying to catch an avian breakfast and seemed to opt for diced mouse out in the cut meadow. So, autumn in full swing I donned the rubber boots and headed out into the dewed grass.

The first round was by far the busiest of the morning with 50 birds immediately after first light. Thankfully, it slowed thereafter and throughout the standardised period I ringed 85 new along with a few recaps.

Skovpiber (Tree Pipit) 1
Gærdesmutte (Wren) 1
Jernspurv (Dunnock) 11
Rødhals (Robin) 27
Rødstjert (Redstart) 5
Gærdesanger (6)
Tornsanger (Whitethroat) 5
Havesanger (Garden Warbler) 1
Munk (Blackcap) 6
Sydlig Gransanger (Chiffchaff) 5
Løvsanger (Willow warbler) 11
Grå Fluesnapper (Spotted Flycatcher) 4
Broget Fluesnapper (Pied Flycatcher) 2

Interesting birds resting but not caught were one Spætmejse (Nuthatch) and one Husskade (Magpie) - Yes, those two birds really are oddities out here on the tip! 'One man's trash is another man's treasure'.

After the excitement of the ringing and the beautiful weather Gert arrived for some birding at the tip. We expected a lot would be happening out there.

Out on the tip in four hours I had a relatively varied migration watch. Nice numbers of some ducks and the pace is most certainly quickening.

Sortand (Common Scoter) 805
Splitterne (Sandwich Tern) 20
Pibeand (Wigeon) 403
Krikand (Teal)158
Fjordterne (Common Tern)31
Fløjlsand (Velvet Scoter) 7
Gråand (Mallard) 7
Knarand (Gadwall) 7
Spidsand (Pintail) 25
Ederfugl (Eider) 178 Mainly males!
Havterne (Arctic Tern) 1
Fiskeørn (Osprey) 2
Almindelig Kjove (Arctic Skua) 9
Hjejle (Golden Plover) 7
Dobbeltbekkasin (Snipe) 2
Almindelig Ryle (Dunlin) 29
Stenvender (Turnstone) 2
Islandsk Ryle (Knot) 8
Gul Vipstjert (Yellow Wag) 58
Spurvehøg (Sparrowhawk) 2
Trane (Crane) 2
Rørhøg (Marsh Harrier) 2
Troldand (Tufted duck) 4
Knortegås (Brent Goose) 39
Skeand (Shoveler) 10
Gråstrubet lappedykker (Red-necked Grebe) 3
Toppet Skallesluger  (Red-breasted Merganser) 10
Stor Skallesluger (Goosander) 1
Hvepsevåge (Honey Buzzard) 1
Lærkefalk (Hobby) 1
Gravand (Shelduck) 3
Sule (Gannet) 1

There was also 1000's of hirundines feeding on recently emerged insects over the fields by the tip.Gulls and birds of prey also joined the feast with 6 Tårnfalk, 5 Spurvehøg, 5 Musvåge (Common Buzzard) and 2 Ravn (Raven).

Another memorable day in Gedser.