Between the rain and windstorm

We were up in time to drop nets well before first light but delayed our start as the rain had not quite cleared as the forecast indicated it would. When the time came to drop nets there were some nets that were too wind effected to use but we still had enough for standard and also deployed the large mesh sparrowhawk nets.

The species count was low but we finished on 80+ birds, mainly Fuglekonge (Goldcrest) and Siskin (Grønsisken) but thanks in part to some good afternoon captures of  Lille Gråsisken (Lesser Redpoll) with the assistance of audiolures.

  Gråsisken hun (redpoll female) 

 Gråsisken han (redpoll male)

Totals: 87 (8)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren - 4
Rødhals / Robin - 13 (1)
Solsort / Blackbird - 3 (1)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 27 (5)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 0 (1)
Musvit / Great Tit - 0 (1)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 1
Grønsisken / Siskin - 20
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 14
Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch - 3

5th November

There was rain at our usual time to set the nets and as the radar showed more rain at 9am we did not try for standard ringing this morning. When the rain had stopped we went out to take a look at our new noisy neighbours. It was difficult to estimate numbers but they certainly were enjoying what remained of the sugar beet, recently harvested.

There was clearly a new influx of Goldcrest (Fuglekonge) so we dropped just two nets and kept a very close eye on them in the rather cold wind. We were catching for approximately 75 minutes during which time there were no retraps.

Totals: 41

Rødhals / Robin - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 31
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 5
Grønsisken / Siskin - 4

Yesterday's Perleugle, Sprawks in black and white and a Swedish control

For anyone who missed the update on yesterday's blog - we did a second Tengmalm's Owl (Perleugle) last night. This bird had flight feathers of all the same age so it is a bird hatched this year.

 

 Tengmalms Owl Age 3 (Perleugle 1k)

 

 

After 5 hours trying for owls last night, with one caught and a second bird seen on a hawthorn bush close to nets, it was a very cold morning as we both found out when we dropped the nets before dawn. A bit later as we did our first round, it was to what sounded like a fanfare played on toy trumpets, by players who really needed some practice. From the repeated, monotone call, we knew that a small flock of Northern Bullfinch (Stor Dompap) were moving through the site. As well as being larger in size than either of the two species found in Denmark or the UK, they also have a louder and quite distinctive call. Four individuals were captured throughout the morning, all being first year (1k) birds.

 Northern Bullfinch juvenile male (Stor Dompap 1k han)

 Northern Bullfinch juvenile female (Stor Dompap 1k hun)

The Sparrowhawks (Spurvehøg) juveniles we are seeing now include a morph different to the rufous ones seen in September and October.

 Juvenile female Sparrowhawk (1k hun Spurvehøg) with black and white colouration.

 Rufous colouration on two different individuals for comparison.

There were a lot of recaptures today, one being TM4755, a Goldcrest (Fuglekonge) with a Swedish ring.

Flocks were again seen heading for the tip intent on making the crossing. A large flock of Barnacle Geese (Bramgås) were feeding on the beet field just north of the observatory at the end of the day. There is rain forecast for the next two days so we shall wait to see whether ringing is possible.

Good birding.
Denise

Totals:  37 ( 29 )

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 2

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 1
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 1
Rødhals / Robin - 3(6)
Solsort / Blackbird - 2 (3)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush -0
Munk / Blackcap - 0 (1)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 5  (15)

Rødtoppet - Fuglekonge / Firecrest - 0 (1)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 1 (1)
Musvit / Great Tit - 4 (2)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 1
Grønsisken /Siskin - 11

Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll -2

Stor Dompap / Northern Bullfinch - 4

Fog stops migration for flocks, and second Perleugle (up dated)

This morning was misty and cold. A few flocks were moving overhead but several, including a flock of circa 70 Sjagger (Fieldfare) did not migrate, instead staying in the local area although rather restless. None of the finch flocks or the Sjagger (Fieldfare) were very interested in the ringing garden and during standard we had to be content with mainly Fuglekonge (Goldcrest) and Rødhals (Robin).
Once standard ringing finished we could use audiolures and just one Sjagger (Fieldfare), the third for the year, was captured. This bird has small black centres to the grey feathers on the head indicating that it is a female. A second indication is that the tail feathers are dark brown rather than black.

 1k hun Sjagger (1st year female Fieldfare)

We also tried for Grønsisken (Sisken) and Gråsisken (Redpoll), attracting both species and some Kværkefinke (Brambling).

1k han Kværkefinke (First year male Brambling). 

The yellow axillary feathers can only be seen (with difficulty) when the bird is in flight.

Our daylight ringing was completed with the capture of four Gulspurv (Yellowhammer) coming in to roost.

2k+ han Gulspurv (Adult male Yellowhammer)

We are still playing for owls most nights, but had no success last night.
We caught our second Tengmalm's Owl (Perleugle), a first year bird at 20:30 tonight.

 

Perleugle 1k (Tengmalm's Owl age 3)

 

Good birding.
Denise

Totals: 83 (30)

Perleugle / Tengmalms Owl - 1

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 1 (1)
Rødhals / Robin - 20 (8)
Sjagger / Fieldfare - 1
Solsort / Blackbird - 0 (5)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush -0 (2)
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 31 (10)

Rødtoppet Fuglekonge / Firecrest - 0 (1)
Musvit / Great Tit - 0 (2)
Kværkefinke / Brambling - 7
Grønsisken /Sisken - 13

Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll -2
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer - 3 (1)

Sanglærke after dark

A very slow morning in extremely calm conditions. Towards the end of standard ringing we began to catch Fuglekonge (Goldcrest) without rings, so it seemed that there had been another small influx of what has been our most numerously caught bird this autumn.
We did some late afternoon ringing with the help of audiolures, but only succeeded in getting a few more Fuglekonge. At dusk we switched our efforts to catching owls again, playing a mixed tape of Perleugle (Tengmalm's) and Sanglærke (Skylark) calls. The first check of the nets revealed that a Sanglærke (Skylark) had been drawn to the tape and captured.

1k hun Sanglærke (Adult female Skylark)

Standard ringing produced singles of Lille Dompap (Bullfinch), Lille Grå Sisken (Lesser Redpoll), Munk (Blackcap) and Gransanger (Chiffchaff ). There have been a few days without the last two species, could these be the last of the season?

Could this be the last Gransanger of the year?

We are currently still trying for owls and will update you on our progress tomorrow.

Good birding.

Denise

Totals: 43 (15)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 1
Sanglærke / Skylark - 1

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 0 (1)
Rødhals / Robin - 5 (3)
Solsort / Blackbird - 1 (5)
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 1
Vindrossel / Redwing - 2
Mink / Blackcap - 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 1
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 27 (5)

Rødtoppet Fuglekonge / Firecrest - 0 (1)
Bogfinke / Chaffinch - 1

Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 1
Lille Dompap /Bullfinch - 1

November rolls in

Only a couple of weeks of the ringing programme left now. Catching was steady today with the flock of Long-tailed Tits (Halemejse) from yesterday, returning to the ringing garden having joined up with another flock. In the afternoon we left a few nets up and played audiolures for Repoll (Gråsisken) and Redwing (Vindrossel). The figures show how one recording was much more successful than the other.
The past few days I have sometimes struggled for interesting images to post - today I have no such problems. At first I was going to lead with some pictures of the adult male Long-eared Owl (Skovhornugle) that we caught last night, then decided it would have to be the Firecrest (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge) that we captured first thing this morning. But this afternoon we have attracted some Redpoll (Gråsisken), mostly Lessers (Lille) and one Common (Nordlig).

 Common and Lesser Redpoll (Nordlig & Lille Gråsisken) Both adult males (2k+ han)

The first bird out of the nets today was a juvenile female firecrest ( 1k hun Rødtoppet Fuglekonge).

 First year female Firecrest ( 1k hun Rødtoppet Fuglekonge)

We also caught a couple of immature female Sparrowhawks (Spurvehøg).

 Both juvenile females (1k hun) but very different colouration.

Whenever the weather is suitable we have been trying for owls after dark. Here is the adult male Long-eared owl (2k+ han Skovhornugle) that was captured last night.
 

We caught another one, this time an adult female, tonight.

Adult female Long-eared Owl (2k+ hun Skovhornugle)

Good birding.
Denise

Totals: 58 (21)

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 2
Skovhornugle / Long-eared Owl - 1

Gærdesmutte / Wren -3
Rødhals / Robin - 2 (4)
Solsort / Blackbird - 3 (3)
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 10 (5)

Rødtoppet Fuglekonge / Firecrest - 1
Halemejse / Long-tailed Tit - 9 (9)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 2
Musvit / Great Tit - 2

Grønsisken / Siskin -15
Nordlig Gråsisken / Common Redpoll - 1
Lille Gråsisken / Lesser Redpoll - 7