A successful day.

Last night we hosted an "Owl event" for local people to come and see Tengmalm's Owls. It was a great success with 3 Owls shown to the group and a further 2 caught after they had left. (5 in total, including a "Controlled" bird, ringed at Falsterbo this season).

Tengmalm's Owl

Thankfully after last nights Owls, Anders saved the day and said he could take the ringing session this morning! It was a bitterly cold morning and Anders and Heidi did a great job with handling all the birds. A couple of highlights for them made up for all their efforts. A Waxwing (Silkehale) was the 1st of the season and hopefully not the last and in the last round a Firecrest (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge). Anders and Heidi left after a few great days of ringing I really hope they enjoyed it as much as we did having them here! In the evening me and Heather walked along the coast route back from Gedser and whilst blundering along with our shopping I spotted a Barnacle Goose (Bramgås) getting close to a fence. I dropped the shopping and ran for it, after a short burst (All of my energy) I had caught the Goose. It was quickly ringed and released back onto the field before dusk, a first for Gedser I think?

Ringing totals. Waxwing 1, Wren 1, Dunnock 4, Robin 8, Blackbird 6, Fieldfare 1, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 1, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 1, Firecrest 1, Long-tailed tit 28 (Nordlig and Sydlig) Blue tit 7, Great tit 3, Tree Sparrow 1, Greenfinch 4, Goldfinch 1, Siskin 2, Redpoll 1, Bullfinch 1 and as mentioned above Barnacle Goose 1.

Firecrest 1cy female

Waxwing 1cy female

Tomorrow is Heather's last day and she will head home after the ringing session. It's been fantastic having an experienced pair of hands around all the time and we've been able to keep up great standards of data collection thanks to her quick extraction and scribing rates. I'll be flying solo (almost) until the end of the Season.

Blog Craig Brookes
Photo's: Craig Brookes and Heather McGinty

Owl fest

Last night we tried again to catch some Owls. We were very successful with 5 Owls caught during the night. 2 Long-eared Owls and 3 Tengmalm's Owl were ringed and more large owls were seen in the garden (Probably Long-eared). We closed the nets at 2 am as passerines were falling out of the gloomy night sky and I thought today's ringing would be much busier than in fact it was. With just 7 nets set today we managed 86 new birds.

Wren 10, Dunnock 1, Robin 18, Blackbird 1, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 3, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 5, Goldcrest 39, Blue tit 1, Great tit 1, Tree Sparrow 2, Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 1 and Reed Bunting 1.

Long-eared Owl - Asio otus (Male left, female right)

Tengmalm's Owl - Aegolius funereus

I think today's ringing totals may have been affected by visitors wandering around the nets in the garden. I must urge the rules here at Gedser that visitors are more than welcome here but please follow the guidelines regarding where to walk. It is fine to walk through the garden along the access track but PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE NETTING AREAS.

Some good birds were seen today, Hawfinches, Yellowhammers, Bullfinches, Reed Buntings and Crossbills all in good numbers also a few Rough-legged Buzzards and Red Kites moved through. A Red-breasted Flycatcher was heard in the garden today also.

Photos and Blog: Craig Brookes

Owls about that then.

Last night we finally broke the duck when trying to catch Owls. In fact, it was the most successful evening I can remember here at Gedser. In total we caught 1 Long-eared Owl and 3 Tengmalm's Owls. It was thought that there were at least another 2 Tengmalm's Owls sounding in the garden though these were not caught!

Long-eared Owl - Asio otus

Tengmalm's Owl - Aegolius funereus

 
This morning then we set limited nets after yesterday's Blue tit day. With only 4 nets open today we still caught 188 or so birds. Blue tits dominated with 113, Sparrowhawk 1, Wren 4, Robin 12, Chiffchaff 16, Goldcrest 39, Great Tit 1, Tree Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 1.

Migration was superb today with 20 Rough-legged Buzzards, 12 Buzzards, 4 Red Kite, 100+ Sparrowhawk, 3 Woodlark, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Heron, 1 SERIN, 8 Crossbill. Chafflings were well into the 1000's today and Greenfinch, Siskin and Goldfinch each into their 100's.

Photo and Blog: Craig Brookes

The Prediction

Yesterday, we hinted that there could be more Blue Tits on their way. This afternoon we were proved right! After a relatively slow start (30 or so birds) we were slowly pushed to the limit by Blue Tits appearing everywhere. We lost our nerve and closed many nets; just in time as a "Blue-blanket" swept through the garden very low for about 5 minutes, probably 1000 birds moved through. During the next 2 hours my notebook reads 3000+ Blue Tits. Large flocks drifted over the garden before turning round and heading inland, they'll be back tomorrow no doubt. Today then we suffered 212 Blue Tits plus 40 other birds, of note 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Redpoll and 1 Blackcap. We also "Controlled" 2 Swedish ringed birds, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Great Tit. Below is a picture of a Redpoll, juvenile male.

Redpoll -Carduelis caberet

We were joined at ringing today by Nicholas and Clausjannic, both are training to ring and enjoyed their experience today. Clausjannic also began filming the day's work at Gedser.

Migration was heavy today with many finches passing low over the garden. Highlights were 8 Bullfinch, 2 Hawfinch and 14 Crossbill. Chafflings were into the 1000's and Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Siskin all in their hundreds. JAYS HAD A MASSIVE PUSH TODAY WITH OVER 150 MIGRATING

Photo and 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

Jay day

This morning ringing was quiet, as was migration. 1 species however turned up in force, the Jay. At least 90 Jays were noted passing before midday. Ringing as mentioned was slow, 34 new birds is all.
Blue Tit 6, Goldcrest 4, Robin 4, Sparrowhawk 4 and JAY 4, 3 of each Great Tit and Song Thrush and singles of Wren, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Redpoll and Bullfinch. Rune also joined the ringing today and with his help we were able to measure all birds fully. Below is a picture of 1 of today's 4 Jays.

Jay - Garrulus glandarius

Notable sightings today: 90+ Jay, Common Buzzard 6, Red Kite 1, Raven 4. Grey Wagtail 1 over the garden. 

Gert and Rune started the work on a new elevator net. Rune's friend came to stay at the station. Jon left mid morning, hopefully he enjoyed his stay here. We must thank Jon for all of his migration counts over the past few days as very few people brave the conditions as he did.

Photo: Heather McGinty
Blog: 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

Trying.

Last night I attempted to catch Tengmalm's Owls for the first time this season, none were caught. However last night at Falsterbo they caught 30 Tengmalm's and the previous day at bingsmarken another 30 were caught so they should definitely be in Denmark by now. There were signs of a Teng in the garden but no proof unfortunately. This morning then after and clear calm night the nets were all opened. No birds were in the garden at first light and it was silent! The days ringing total finished on 39 new birds as follows. Goldcrest 24, Robin 4, Blue Tit 3, Chiffchaff 2, Wren 2, Song thrush 1, Great tit 1, Sparrowhawk 1 and Jay 1. Below is a picture of today's Jay.

Notable sightings were 17 Red Kites migrating.

Photo and Blog: Craig Brookes