Breaking records.

Today, as we'd hoped was much better for birds, the wind swung from Southwest to Northwest yesterday funneling migrants down to Gedser through the night. This morning, opening nets, we were hopeful.

It wasn't as good as we've been waiting for and we did have to work at it all day to reach the 100 mark, finally finishing on 125 new birds today.

Willow Warbler 29
Garden Warbler 27
Whitethroat 24
Lesser Whitethroat 12
Icterine Warbler 6
Blackcap 5
Marsh Warbler 4
Pied Flycatcher 3
Linnet 3
Reed Warbler 2
Redstart 2
Chiffchaff 2
with singles of  Sparrowhawk, Tree Pipit, Spotted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer.

Sparrowhawk 1cy Female - Craig Brookes

Nothing record breaking there though, so what was it.

The record broken today (as far as we are aware) is the Common Whitethroat (Tornsanger) Longevity record. Previously in Denmark being around 5years. Today, I re-captured a bird originally ringed back in 2006! A massive 6 Years 11 Months and 21 days after ringing (Therefore falling 9 days short of the British record) this now Adult Female was caught in good health and showing signs of recent breeding (Brood patch/ Rugeplet). More amazingly, the bird was caught in exactly the same net as she was originally ringed back in 2006 by Jesper Brinkman. Congrats Jesper, (and me I suppose).

Aside all of the ringing work done today, we've also had visits from Hans, bringing materials for the lab. Benny and his dog, helping around generally. Brian and his Wife, painting the ringing lab. Also Gert, whom has spent most of the day sealing and finishing off the windows inside the ringing lab.


Birding highlights:100+ Tree Pipits over, 25+ Yellow Wagtails, 50 Crossbills, Grey Heron and 7 Greylag geese (odd).


Photo and blog. Craig Brookes

Almost perfect...

This morning there were many birds in the garden, we were very optimistic after seeing the first few nets sagging with birds, however rain came in too quickly and we resorted to drinking coffee and watching the rain hit the window. It was 10.30 before we opened the nets again and from here we only ringed until 2. 158 birds ringed today then, could have been much more had we kept all of our nets open and the rain didn't come. Robin 50, Chiffchaff 29, Song Thrush 24, Dunnock 15, Wren 9, Blue Tit 6, Goldcrest 6, Chaffinch 5, Great Tit 5, Reed Bunting 4, Tree Sparrow 2, Redwing 2, Blackcap 1 and Brambling 1. Thanks to Benny and Brian for their help today. It's always nice to have many hands to make light work of the birds.The picture of a Bullfinch below is not from today, but I have included it as many are starting to pass overhead now on their migration South.

Bullfinch 2cy+ Male

Other notable sightings today include 300 Barnacle Geese, 10 Whooper Swan and 380 Eider moving South. Also 3 Common Buzzards and 4 Red Kites seen by the garden.

Photo and Blog by Craig Brookes

Rain stops play, temporarily.

When setting the nets predawn it was clear that there was many birds grounded due to last nights bad weather. Song Thrushes and Robins Ticked in the dark and some thrush sp. were whizzing around the Lighthouse. The day wasn't as busy as it could have been, had rain not put an end to the ringing mid morning. We did manage the standard 5 hours though, just. 90 birds caught today was reasonable including Chaffinch (30), Robin (17), Chiffchaff (10), Song thrush (7), Goldcrest (7), Dunnock (5), Blue Tit (only 4, plus a control of a Swedish ringed bird), Brambling (4), Blackcap and Wren (2), Blackbird (1) and a very unseasonal Redstart (1). Migration was halted by the reduction in visibility and rain and so around 200 Mistle Thrush were grounded around the Obs. A juvenile Marsh Harrier and a Jay the only other notable sightings.

 

Brambling 1cy Female

In the afternoon I opened 4 nets for an hour, well that was the plan. Within 20 minutes these nets had filled with Blue tits. The total of Blue tits then was pushed up to 83 plus another Swedish control. A Sparrowhawk attended the party too and I managed to grab him before he flipped out. Total birds at the day's end, 172!
Photo and Blog: Craig Brookes.

Empty Easterlies

This morning a brisk wind gripped the garden. The hedges swayed in the wind. A limited amounts of nets were opened and dawn broke. It was then clear there had been a clear-out. Throughout the day only 5 birds were caught in 10 hours of netting. These were 3 Robins (Erithacus rubecula), 1 Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), 1 Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus c. collybita) and 1 Sparrowhawk  (Accipiter nisus.) Only one recapture from recent days was represented by a Robin.

Sightings included a few Crossbills, Yellowhammers and Bullfinches. Raptors represented by a Red Kite, a Buzzard, a Rough-legged Buzzard, few Sparrowhawks and a young White-tailed Eagle.

Reports of Pygmy Owl's in Northern Denmark are becomming promising and hopefully we can catch one soon.

Craig Brookes

Monday 7th November

Last night (6th Nov) we tried to catch Owls. The wind looked good for us and by 10pm we had caught two. A Long-eared Owl first and then a Tengmalm's Owl. I tried for the rest of the night but failed to catch, see or hear any more.

Tengmalm's Owl - Perleugle- Aegolius funereus

This Morning then (7th) was very quiet. The wind restricted the amounts of nets we had up but I'm not too sure that made much of a difference. The Garden was silent at dawn. No Goldcrests, no Robins, nothing. Throughout the entire morning I managed to catch 12 birds. 4 Robins, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Blackbirds and a Dunnock.

Interesting sightings came in the form of a Long-eared owl leaving the garden (possibly the bird we caught last night?), a Red Kite, 3 Rough-legged Buzzards, few Sparrowhawks again and a notable passage of Yellowhammers and Bullfinch.

Photo: Craig Brookes
Posted by: Craig Brookes

2 in a week.

Today very quiet in the garden.

15 Robins, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Siskin, 1 Blackbird and 1 Common Redpoll (Ssp. flammea).

The title refers to a control (the recapture of an already ringed bird) Robin. Earlier in the week we caught a Robin from Poland and today I caught a Robin from Germany. I imagine this isn't too much of a surprise and it happens quite often? We will have to wait for the ringing information but I would guess this bird bred further North of Gedser and is in fact migrating South again.

It was very quiet bird wise but a few Red kites drifted over. One in particular very high and imagine this didn't turn around as others seemed too? Also a couple of Rough-legged Buzzards and Sparrowhawks but it really seems to be quieting down now, raptor migration wise.

I will try to catch Owls again tonight after the sightings of Long-eared's in the garden during the past week.

Craig Brookes.