NO MORE ENGLISH COURSES!!

16-11-2013:

First morning I am alone, and was too much wind. No birds on the nets today. I walked to the tip and after until the harbor to watch something more, but today wasn't a good day I think. Day to remind the wonderful english guys! I miss you!

The most interesting on the day I watched was a Purple Sandpiper and two White Wagtails by the beach, some Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks, Merganser...

The really good team from Gedser!

17-11-2013:

The day was marveleus. The weather was perfect, sunny and not windy. Later on the mornig Gert came and told me if I would like to go somewhere farther birdwatching, and I said of course YES!!! we went near Majbølle where we ate while we were watching Tufted ducks, Teals, Shovelers, Pochards, Greater Scaups, Goldeneyes, a Grey heron, a lot of swans and of course geese flying everywhere. Later to Rommes Nakke: some  Curlevs, PINTAILS  ( the most wonderful duck ever!), Tufted ducks, a lot of Wooper and Mute swans, one White-tailed eagle and more geese (White fronted, Grey, Barnacle and Bean). The last stop was in Fladet: Lapwins, Grey Geese and Golden plovers the mostly part of observations there. Some White-fronted goose looked very small....but that is it, just White-fronted. Thanks Gert for the nice afternoon we spent with your telescope!

I tried owls at night, couldn't be more perfect the conditions, but absolutly nothing!

Birds ringed during the day totaled 31 birds including:

Dunnock 1

Blackbird 1

Bluetit 1

Tree Sparrow 1

Chaffinch 1

Brambling 1

Siskin 20

Mealy Redpoll 2

Lesser Redpoll 3

18-11-2013:

The high nets are excelents! I opened the nets early in the morning and didn't look would be a good day to catch birds, but Redpolls began to come into the garden, so I played on the speakers and that was the reason I caught a lot of Redpolls. Gert came and could help me to process the birds much more faster. Hans and me took down already 4 nets I will not use the time I am here.

The most interesting things on the day  that I could see from the garden was a Red Kite flying around, flocks of geese ( white fronted goose the best one) and some Waxwings flew over and disappeared....:(((

Birds ringed during the day totaled 75 birds including:

Sparrowhawk 1

Robin 3

Blackbird 1

Fieldfare 1

Goldcrest 1

Goldfinch 1

Redpoll 3

Mealy Redpoll 56

Lesser Redpoll 7

Days with three Brits

Summarizing several weeks with Hugh, Jack and Rael (alphabetic) is almost impossible.

However, we would like to mention a couple things and let a few photos do the rest of the “talking”.

They have been extreme friendly, helpful and energetic – beyond anything we have seen before – and we have had our fair amount of ringers and birders. Not only were they highly qualified and skilful ringers but also very skilled viz miggers - which is a rare combination. What also stands out as a shining star was and is  Jack’s incredible skills with various machines to clear scrubs, trim trees etc. It was absolutely superb and the energy he put into it is beyond words – a simple thanks you is NOT enough.

Jack fighting the "elements" from day one at the bird station

Hugh fighting the darkest part of the garden - great job

A mist net ride which we had almost given up due to the speedy growth of the trees - 

so naturally it became a challenge for Jack - and he won after almost four days - with Hugh's help 

The number of square meters of lawn at the station is very big - so here Rael takes one of his many tours with the "oriole" (was baptised by the UK-trio) 

Coming from various parts of the UK each had their favourite species or species groups but coming to Gedser almost blew their mind (see e.g. http://gedserfuglestation.blogspot.dk/2013/09/wildfowl-passage-enough-to-give-you-se.html)). They experience some really stunning migration days e.g. a day with 299 roughlegs and a day with +2400 cranes. When not really accustomed to “avalanches” of land and day migrating speceis we can see that Gedser was a really good experience for them. Even though they are all globetrotter and have seen many species around the world.

A good and nice warm day with souring birds coming in from the north -
here with two "local" birders

Very windy day so we are hiding in the SE corner - here Hugh is flanked by celebrity Klaus Malling Olsen and two "local" birders 

The small round leading to the tip always produces some thing to see

Another day in the SE corner - this day scores of ducks were passing by

There were days where frustration among Hugh, Jack and Rael was high as they were bent over the mist nest while scores upon scores of migrants were heard hurled overhead. However, Hugh, Jack and Rael stayed as calm as they could and did their job - namely stayed focused and did the ringing and mind you  their ringing was top of the class! Guess that all ringers at GFU learnt a lot from them and learnt that quality is in higher demand than quantity.

Words that were heard from the UK-trio every day when they ventured out to the tip was: mental, wicked, and awesome. Living in a place like Gedser makes you spoiled and one forgets that it is not all parts of the world that have a visual migration – so mental, wicked, and awesome were indeed words a Brit could use about the viz mig at Gedser.

The top for birding in Denmark - Hugh is testing it

Gedser one of the best places to watch eiders -
some days they come close to the clay "cliffs" at Gedser - Jack is testing it

A Great Grey Shrike in the bushes - and the UK-trio got very excited -
Rael is trying to capture it with his camera

We will never forget you guys. To Hugh all the best of luck with your academic career, to Jack good luck with your many hobbies especially your art work and also your job. To Rael from the bottom of our hearts we wish you all the best of luck in your fight for life and of cause for your birds.

And last but not the least important! To Hugh’s, Jack’s and Rael’s girl friends, families and other friends – THANK you for letting the “boys” come to Gedser :-)

The Gedser Team,

Ps:

Do visited Spurn Bird Observatory also – or at least the homepage (http://www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/) and remember their bird festival in September 2014.

Dinner - we had too few of these together - but when we had them it was great fun

0.05% SUCCESS and thats before trying for Tengmalm's Owls!

09-11-2013:

With the sea lapping across the road due to the increased wind strength it seemed only right to pay a visit to the shop to get the weekly provisions in as birding and ringing was somewhat limited. However Barbara and Jack soon regretted the decision on realising it was a Saturday and the shop was packed with people. In all of the haste of trying to get out of a busy shop some non-alcoholic wine (0,05% vol) was bought which was a rather frustrating realisation on a blustery wet evening whereby owl netting was a write off!

Barbara had without doubt the best bird of the day with when she picked up a BLACK GUILLEMOT flying over the sea and an adult male Hen Harrier through Gert's scope which she was very kindly allowed to borrow. Other observations made at the tip between 10:00-13:00 are as follows:

Bean Goose 4 S

Bean Geese passing Gedser Tip one moody evening, photo courtesy of Barbara Reguera

Grey Goose sp. 2 S

Eider 102 S

Red-breasted Merganser 173 S

Shoveler 13 S

Teal 19 S

Long-tailed Duck 37 S

Velvet Scoter 4 S

Wigeon 18 S

Pintail 4 S

Goldeneye 9 S

Common Scoter 185 S

Scaup 12 S

Pochard 2 S

Gadwall 5 S

Aythya Sp. 22 S

Tufted Duck 8 S

Red-throated Diver 4 SV

Merlin 3 S

Redpoll sp 5 S

Stock Dove 3 S

Swallow 2 S

Lesser Black-backed Gull (intermedius) 1 SV

Little Gull 43 S

Arctic Tern 2 S

Whilst we were vis-migging a small double panel net was erected in a sheltered spot behind the southern hedge line in the hope of catching a few Twite.

Unfortunately the sun set on the 9th as did our chances of catching any Twite so we returned to the Fuglestation and met Jesper for the first time who had just arrived for a week.

10-11-2013:

The team spent the majority of the morning within the garden as it was optimal conditions for mist netting with still conditions and some light passage overhead. Sure enough these conditions soon delivered and 41 birds were ringed including some really nice special species.

Long-eared Owl 1

Wren 4

Robin 2

Blackbird 7

Redwing 1

Goldcrest 2

Blue Tit 1

Brambling 1

Mealy Redpoll 2

Lesser Redpoll 7

Bullfinch 10 (7 Northern)

Reed Bunting 1

Great-grey Shrike 2

Whilst we were ringing a Fuglestation committee meeting was underway to discuss some current and future ideas. Not only was great catching up with familiar and some not so familiar faces but to share a bird as beautiful as a Great-grey shrike with other people is what its all about!....their smiles said it all!

1st Winter Great-grey Shirke, photo courtesy of Barbara Reguera. This bird showed some characteristics likened to more eastern birds somewhere between excubitor & homeyeri

After a well deserved lunch some of the team headed to the tip to see if many birds were moving south or over the sea. Although masses of birds were not observed 4 PURPLE SANDPIPERS  feeding on the rocks was a lovely discovery and is scarce bird here in Gedser. Also a Great-grey Shrike was seen to come off the sea near the farms just north of the tip.

Purple Sandpipers resting on the rocks at the tip, photo courtesy of  Barbara Reguera

Whilst some of the team were birding at the tip some very kind folk who were picnicking  came and offered us some very tasty apple cake in return for some Christmas sweets. Many thanks to them and we wish them very best wishes in the future.

Another very spontaneous event  that took place during quite an eventful afternoon was the arrival of a very low flying Danish military helicopter. The children accompanied by the lovely people above were waving at the helicopter as it flew out to sea and the pilot decided to turn around and fly extremely low over the tip to give the children a wave. This action was clearly well received on hearing their reception of cheers and waves given by the kids and was in all fairness quite an impressive sight.

Photo courtesy of  Barbara Reguera

The day didnt really end there though with the owl nets erected and the tape lure put on throughout the whole night. Ironically the only owl caught that day was a bird caught in a passerine net just minutes before owl nets were erected.

11-10-2013

The night team went to bed at 05:00hrs having done an all nighter for owls and swapped with the morning shift who took over the nets and kept them open throughout the whole day.

With Hugh, Jesper and Lars manning the nets a few of the team split up and went their separate ways to make the most of the day. Barbara walked north to see some woodland and then met Rael at the tip and Jack walked west to the harbour in search of migrants & gulls.

Bird Observed during the day included:

Eider 465 S
Long-tailed Duck 61 S
Red-breasted Merganser 47 S & 10N
Wigeon 4 S
Gavia sp. 90 S
Balck-thorated Diver 10 S
Red-throated Diver 6 S
Velvet Scoter 6 S
Common Scoter 181 S
Goldeneye 1 S
Mallard 3 S
Greater Scaup 156 S
Grebe sp. 1 S
Red-necked Grebe 2
Barnacle Geese 20 ø
White-fronted Geese 9 S
Bean Geese 42 S
Redpoll 35 S
Reed Bunting 1S
Siskin 1S
Great-grey Shrike 1 TR (just north of tip)

Birds ringed during the day totaled 128 birds including:

Sparrowhawk 1

Long-eared Owl 1

Skylark 1

Wren 2

Robin 3

Blackbird 10

Fieldfare 1

Redwng 2

Goldcrest 2

Bluetit 8

Tree Sparrow 1

Chaffinch 2

Brambling 1

Greenfinch 2

Goldfinch 1

Siskin 43

Redpoll 5

Mealy Redpoll 23

Lesser Redpoll 13

Bullfinch 4 (3 Northern & 1 European)

Yellowhammer 1

Reed Bunting 1

08/11/13 Gaviota tridáctila

Another standardised ringing session was got underway during the morning of the 8th despite a couple of members of the team catching up on sleep having spent the night manning the owl nets.

110 birds were caught including some really nice species which are always a privilege to see in the hands:

Wren 4

Dunnock 2

Robin 5

Blackbird 2

Chiffchaff 1

Goldcrest 12

Long-tailed Tit 7

Bluetit 17

Eurasian Treecreeper 1

Greenfinch 10

Siskin 27

Common Redpoll 3

Mealy Redpoll 5

Lesser Redpoll 2

Eurasian Bullfinch 4

Northern Bullfinch 6

In the afternoon the team headed to the tip to take advantage of the sunny weather and despite very little moving on the sea another adult Kittiwake put in an appearance as it headed south at mid distance.

Not only was this the 1st Kittiwake seen in Gedser for many of the team but was in fact a LIFER for Barbara which we were all really happy about! The strange thing was she had just been asking about Kittiwakes so luck was clearly on her side.

Adult Winter Kittiwake south past Gedser Tip, photo by Jack Ashton-Booth

Other avian highlights concerned an 'Eastern Chiffchaff' photographed by Louis in his garden showing some traits attributed to Siberian Chiffchaff 'tristis' . However the bird was uttering a call not dissimilar to the calls uttered by abietinus and maybe originates from a zone of integration between the two forms. Either way its one stunning looking Phyllosc!

Photo courtesy of Louis Hansen

Photo courtesy of Louis Hansen

Photo courtesy of Louis Hansen

After our afternoon birding session we returned to the station for coffee and Danish pastries kindly supplied by Jess and gawped at some incredible photos of Great-grey Owl he had taken on his Scandinavian adventures! It was a bitter sweet moment really given that the last thing the team needed was to be reminded of how beautiful owls were!

Many thanks from the GFU team and a very happy Barbara!

WHAT A LOAD OF BULL! 6th & 7th/11/2013

A fantastic couple of days was had by all of the  GFU team with the skies filled with the calls Nordic gems. what was equally special was the fact we could get some nets open. Although we couldn't open enough nets to conduct a standardised ringing session on the 6th it did mean we could tape lure species of our choice. This was a no brainer really given Hawfinches, Waxwings and Northern Bullfinch were passing through and over the Fuglestation.

The returns for our netting efforts on the 6th produced 45 birds:

Wren 1

Robin 2

Blackbird 1

Redwing 1

Goldcrest 12

Chaffinch 5

Greenfinch 1

Common Redpoll 1

Mealy Redpoll 6

Lesser Redpoll 7

Northern Bullfinch 8

Birds observed in and around the garden on the same day included 3 Goldeneye S,  4 Hawfinches S, 87 Waxwings, 25+ Bullfinch.

The total number of birds ringed during the course of the day on the 7th was 91 birds and comprised of the following species. These birds were caught during a standardised session apart from the long-eared owls which were as a result of  a whole night manning owl nets:

Sparrowhawk 2

Long-eared Owl 2

The night shift studying one of the long-eared Owls

 Wren 3

Dunnock 2

Robin 15

Blackbird 6

Blackcap 1

Chiffchaff 2

Goldcrest 4

Blue Tit 7

Great Tit 2

Chaffinch 5

Goldfinch 1

Siskin 7

Common Redpoll 2

Lesser Redpoll 2

Mealy Redpoll 6

Euraisian Bullfinch 2

Northern Bullfinch 20

Bird Highlights observed whilst ringing around the garden on the 7th included 18 Waxwing, 1 Hawfinch, 2 Grey Wagtail and 15 Red-throated Divers (a 12 & a 3) that flew over the house to the south west calling.

We hope you enjoy reading the blog!
 Thanks ever so much for your time, Hugh, Rael ,Jack, Lars and Barbara

A BRIDGE OF PIGEONS! 05/11/2013

With wind becoming as familiar as the leaves falling of the trees only a few nets were once again opened and the length of time since a standardised ringing session was conducted gets ever wider. A total of just three birds found themselves in the only sheltered mist nets and include the following:

Tree Sparrow 1

Brambling 1

Bullfinch 1

Despite the strength of the wind the direction was clearly favourable with birds suddenly starting to stream over the Fuglestation and soon enough Denmark added another bridge to its already extensive collection which took the form of c7000 Woodpigeons. None of us had ever seen anything quite like it with the vanguard of the flock appearing to be in Germany and the birds at the rear just passing the Gedser Lighthouse. It was truly a special moment we will cherish for the rest of our days!

Although the Woodpigeons did eventually ease off other species continued to stream south and the following counts highlight just how special Gedser is and again reinforces that you must visit if you LOVE vis mig!

SV-South West
SØ-South East
TR-Migrating then Resting
BR-Female Type

FU- Foraging

S-South

TF-Migrating then Foraging

N-North

Ø-East 

OF-Overhead

NØ-North East
V-West

Visible Migration was recorded between 09:00-13:00 & 14:50-16:50

Mute Swan 32 SV

Swan Sp. 12 SV

Wild Swan Sp. 4 V

Bean Geese 62 S

Barnacle Geese 666 TR/FU

Tufted Duck 5 SV

Common Scoter 21 SV

Mallard 13 SV

Teal 2 SV

Eider 1389 SV

Red-breasted Merganser 33 S
Red-breasted Merganser 44 (North/Roost Movements)

Wigeon 141 SV

Shoveler 7 SV

Brent Goose 1 SV

Red-throated Diver 4 SV

Diver Sp.5 SV

Long-tailed Ducks 2 SV

Velvet Scoter 2 SV

Aythya Sp. 1 SV

Goosander 2 V

Caspian Gull 3 (two 1st winters FU and an Adult S)

Little Gull c30 FU

Golden Plover 83 SV

Wood Pigeons 14,780 S

Columba Bridge!

Pigeons for as far as the eye can see!

Stock Dove 81 S

Short-eared Owl 1 (in off)

Jackdaw 110 V 

Rook 10 V

Hooded Crow 2 V

Heron 1 SV

Merlin 2 S

Red Kite 3 (1 FU & 2 S)

Common Buzzard 10 (3 S & 7 TR)

Rough-legged Buzzard (3S & 5 TR)

Kestrel 7 (4 S & 3 TR)

Sparrowhawk 156 S

Great-spotted Woodpecker 1 SV

Skylark 76 S

Fieldfare 200 S

Mistle Thrush 4 S

Hawfinch 3 SV

Waxwing 1 S

Meadow Pipit 98 S

Rock Pipit 1 SV

Common Crossbill 124 S

Parrot Crossbill 2+ S

Fringilla Sp. 1689 S

Chaffinch 480 S

Brambling 200 S

Greenfinch 103 S

Linnet 122 S & 60 TR

Rael Vis-Migging!

 Twite 109 S & 30 TR
Tree Sparrow 16 S & 21 U-turned

Bullfinch 36 (5 Northern) S

Reed Bunting 45 S

Grey Wagtail 2 S

Alba Wagtail 2 S (1 TR)

Yellowhammer 10 S

Redpoll 481 S

Siskin 777 S

Goldfinch 139 S