Hoping for better weather

With the weather of recent days putting an end to any ringing activities, today, again I took a little time for some bird watching.

With gloomy grey skies and light rain most of the day migration was very quiet. Only 30 Chaffinch/Brambling were seen to head out to sea. Seawatching was normal, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders, Common Scoters and the other regulars. On the beach however I did find a Purple Sandpiper nestled in amongst some rocks. This bird will have travelled to Gedser from further North, maybe Svalbard or Norway and may spend the winter months here if conditions are fit; though it may continue South later in the season. Below is a picture of a Purple Sandpiper taken here at Gedser by Louis A. Hansen.
 

Purple Sandpiper -

Sortgrå Ryle - Calidris maritima Photo Louis A. Hansen

Again a Waxwing or 2 were heard in the garden though not seen.

Photo: Louis A. Hansen
Blog: Craig Brookes

Return of the Blue Tits?

This morning the ringing was fairly slow. Only 49 birds from 8 hours of nets open. The totals from today's ringing session were, Sparrowhawk 6, Robin 3, Blackbird 1, Goldcrest 2, Coal Tit 2, Blue Tit 29, Great Tit 4, Tree Sparrow 1, Greenfinch 1. The Blue Tits soon arrived in force around lunch time, luckily they stuck to one side of the garden and many flew straight over.

In the late afternoon Me and Craig went and watched migration at the point, some notable sightings were, 8 Common Scoter, 19 Wigeon, 84 Eider, 2 Red-Throated Diver, 1 Black-Throated Diver, 2 Brent Geese, 3 Black Headed Gulls, 2 Scaup and we were able to watch 2 Purple Sandpipers resting on the rocks. A grey seal also was a nice surprise.

Goldcrest - Regulus regulus

Above is a picture of one of the Goldcrest from recent days.

Photo:Asbjørn Jensen
Blog: Heather McGinty and Craig Brookes

Mr Grey

Today there was no standardised ringing due to really wet conditions at dawn and for most of the morning. At around 11 o'clock we managed to open a few nets before the wind picked up too much. We ringed 49 birds in total today, Goldcrest 20, Blue tit 9, Great tit 6, Robin 4, Chiffchaff 3, Song Thrush 2, Dunnock 2, Sparrowhawk 1, Reed Bunting 1 and bird of the day Great Grey Shrike. Below is a picture today's Great Grey Shrike (Stor Tornskade)

Great Grey Shrike - Lanius excubitor

Purple Sandpiper - Calidris maritima

Other interesting observations today include 3 Tree Pipit (Late), 3 Bullfinch, 3 Grey Wagtails, 17 Red Kites, White-tailed Eagle and a Purple Sandpiper.

Photos: Heather McGinty (Great Grey Shrike) & Jon Friis (Purple Sandpiper)

Blog, Craig Brookes