A brisk wind

With a brisk wind sweeping across the garden from the Southwest there was little hope of many new birds this morning. As Standardised ringing came to a close we had totaled only 9 new birds.

3 Pied Flycatcher
2 Willow Warbler
2 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Icterine Warbler
1 Whitethroat

We decided to close the nets for the rest of the day as we expected the forcasted  showers to arrive, they didn't.

Spotted Flycatcher from recent days. Craig Brookes

Birding highlights were again the Crossbills with 70 Resting in the garden briefly and another 100+ migrating along with the resting 70. Also 2 Kestrels were back. Oystercatcher Migrating over and an adult Great Black Backed Gull hawked the shoreline. Resting were 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 (extra) un-ringed Pied Flycatcher, 3 Redstart, 4 Garden Warbler, 1 Treecreeper and 40 Starling.

Not really butterfly weather, but the Silvered-washed fritillary was still around and a few Painted Ladies also.

Photo and Blog: Craig Brookes

Contrasts

In total contrast to yesterday's perfect weather conditions, this morning was horrendous. The wind swung trees around as rain smashed off the windows. As a result. It was 6 before we managed to open any nets. We fulfilled the standardised 5 hours with little to show for our efforts. Just 11 birds.

6 Willow Warbler,
1 Garden Warbler,
1 Linnet
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Redstart and
1 Thrush Nightingale.

It rained sporadically throughout the afternoon.

Notably on the migrant front, 200+ Crossbill flew over the garden. Also 6 Tree Pipit and a Sparrowhawk, Autumn is here. A Silver-washed Frittilary was a new garden.

Tomorrow looks promising,ringing wise. Check back tomorrow to see how we've done.

Blog - Craig Brookes

God afslutning på et godt ophold

Denne morgen var Heidis og min sidste på stationen, for denne omgang. Svag vind fra vest og nordvest havde domineret nattens mulm og mørke og derfor regnede vi med en god dag ved nettene. Ganske rigtigt var der pænt med fugle hele morgenen og formiddagen og således endte vi på 131 nymærkninger fordelt på 21 arter.

Spurvehøg (Accipiter nisus) 1 (efterårsæsonens første)
Hvid Vipstjert (Motacilla alba) 1
Jernspurv (Prunella modularis) 1
Nattergal (Luscinia luscinia) 2
Rødstjert (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) 6
Sivsanger (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)  2
Kærsanger (Acrocephalus palustris)  18
Rørsanger (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) 4
Gulbug (Hippolais icterina) 10
Gærdesanger (Sylvia curruca) 19
Tornsanger (Sylvia communis) 17
Havesanger (Sylvia borin) 10
Munk (Sylvia atricapilla) 1
Skovsanger (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) 1
Løvsanger (Phylloscopus trochilus) 27
Broget Fluesnapper (Ficedula hypoleuca) 3
Grå Fluesnapper (Muscicapa striata) 1
Rødrygget Tornskade (Lanius collurio) 2
Grønirisk (Carduelis chloris) 1
Tornirisk (Carduelis cannabina) 3
Gulspurv (Emberiza citrinella) 1

På sydspidsen var Louis, Benny og Gert m.fl. så heldige at se Gedsers (måske) første Hvidvingede Terne!
Ved middagstid drog Heidi og jeg tilbage til Fyn, efter en rigtig god periode, med mange storslåede oplevelser på Danmarks sydspids. Vi kan til enhver tid anbefale andre unge fuglekiggere og ringmærkere at bruge en ferie eller weekend på Gedser Fuglestation. Du vil næsten uanset årstid få mange gode oplevelser med det imponerende fugletræk og du vil lære rigtig meget!
Hvis det har interessere kan du skrive en mail til: gfu@gedserfuglestation.dk.

GFU-blog v. Anders Odd Wulff Nielsen

Friday 9th August

A fairly busy day, all things considered.

In the morning we caught 63 new birds as follows.

Nattergal (Thrush nightingale) 1
Rødstjert (Redstart) 3
Kærsanger (Marsh Warbler) 2
Rørsanger (Reed Warbler) 1
Gulbug (Icterine Warbler) 8
Gærdesanger (Lesser Whitethroat) 3
Tornsanger (Whitethroat) 8
Havesanger (Garden Warbler) 4
Skovsanger (Wood Warbler) 1
Løvsanger (Willow Warbler) 14
Grå Fluesnapper (Spotted Flycatcher) 3
Broget Fluesnapper (Pied Flycatcher) 3
Musvit (Great Tit) 6
Grønirisk (Greenfinch) 1
Tornirisk (Linnet) 3
Karmindompap (Rosefinch) 1
Gulspurv (Yellowhammer) 1

We also took some time cutting and clearing the garden in certain areas, but it just seems to keep growing.

In the evening we went to town, well Gedser for a bite to eat to celebrate the 'last supper' with Anders and Heidi who are leaving us on Saturday!

2 White Storks and 2 Sparrowhawks were the best migrants. A Marsh harrier was also seen near the tip.

Wrong winds

Today (8th August) the wind blew strongly and from the wrong direction, bringing rain and no birds.

We were unable to fulfill standardised for the first time in a long while and instead opted to just open the nets for a short period (in marginal conditions) during a visit from a local school group.

We managed to catch just 6 birds.

1 Marsh Warbler
1 Redtart
1 Icterine Warbler
1 Willow Warbler
1 Pied Flycatcher
1 Lesser Whitethroat

Craig posing with two young Common Rosefinches. Who's the prettiest?

Heidi left temporarily and Thorkild arrived from Mysore, India. In the evening, a meeting was held at the station.

Highlights today were Green Sandpiper, 100 Crossbill, 100+ Swift, Whimbrel and Curlew.

Blog: Craig Brookes
Photo: Anders Odd Wulff Nielsen

Hard at work

Today, myself and Anders had a fairly busy day.

With the prospect of rain in the early hours we were reluctant to open too many nets, by 6 am the rain clouds had passed and we were able to open all the nets in the garden. Throughout the day, we caught 57 new birds.

Gærdesanger (Lesser Whitethroat) 17
Gulbug (Icterine Warbler) 6
Tornsanger (Whitethroat) 4
Rørsanger (Reed Warbler) 4
Grønirisk (Greenfinch) 4
Rødstjert (Redstart) 3
Løvsanger (Willow Warbler) 3
Tornirisk (Linnet) 3
Kærsanger (Marsh Warbler) 2
along with singles of...
Nattergal (Thrush Nightingale)
Husrødstjert (Black Redstart)
Sivsanger (SedgeWarbler)
Havesanger (Garden Warbler)
Munk (Blackcap)
Skovsanger (Wood Warbler)
Gransanger (Chiffchaff)
Blåmejse (Blue Tit)
Træløber (Treecreeper)
Rødrygget Tornskad (Red-backed Shrike)
and Skovspurv (Tree Sparrow).

Treecreeper 1st CY - Craig Brookes

Wood Warbler 1st CY - Craig Brookes

We also undertook some much needed maintenance work on the garden,with some bushes and grass being removed. In doing so, we came across at least 2 naked people resting along the beach, nice!

Migration highlights included 30 Curlew, 25 Whimbrel, 200+ Crossbill, 1+ Dunlin (Heard pre dawn), 1 Snipe, 1 Kestrel and 2 Black Kite!

Heidi returned with fresh supplies and smiles and we look forwards to tomorrow having a visit from 35 people. Though the weather may put a hold on any ringing, we'll still have high spirits, if we get a lie in of course.

Photos and Blog, Craig Brookes