A consistent, brisk NE wind was a constant through the day but cloud cover came and went with a clear, sunny spell mid-morning before heavy cloud and a few drops of rain arrived; the nets were busy throughout the morning without ever being hectic as we managed 199 new birds comprising mainly 83 Robins, 22 Chiffchaffs, 38 Goldcrests (the first notable arrival of the autumn) and 27 Chaffinches amongst other bits.  

Today's totals - 1 Tree Pipit / Skovpiber;  5 Wren / Gaerdesmutte;  6 Dunnock / Jernspurv;  83 Robin / Roedhals;  2 Song Thrush / Sangdrossel;  11 Blackcap / Munk;  22 Chiffchaff / Gransanger;  1 Willow Warbler / Loevsanger;  38 Goldcrest / Fuglekonge;  1 Spotted Flycatcher / Gra Fluesnapper;  1 Tree Sparrow / Skovspurv;  27 Chaffinch / Bogfinke;  1 Greenfinch / Groenirisk

Goldcrest

The overhead passage was the highlight of the day as it started off pretty slow but as soon as the heavy cloud rolled in after the sunshine at least 5,000 Chaffinches began to pour over the garden, low to the east (an awesome 33,000 were counted at the point!!) – a brilliantly fantastic sight as the sky was sometimes black with birds passing overhead, calling loudly!   Other birds overhead included big flocks of Siskins (4,000+ at the point!) together with Bramblings, Greenfinches, Tree Pipits, Swallows, White Wagtails and Meadow Pipits etc. while odd bits included a decent flock of 50 Cranes calling loudly at dawn when there was also a mixed flock of White-fronted Geese and Bean Geese which headed SW, Grey Wagtail, a few Crossbills, 3 Stock Doves, a Red Kite and a few Sparrowhawks; a fantastic, classic autumn visible migration morning defining what it’s all about!

The very concentrated spell of passage wound down by lunchtime so we headed up to Bøtø where a great flock of 105 Cranes were the most impressive sight while the raptor list was also notable as it comprised 3 White-tailed Eagles, 2 Hen Harriers (including an adult male), a Marsh Harrier, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Red Kite, a Merlin, probably the same juvenile female Peregrine harassing the ducks and Lapwings then fighting with the Harriers and several Sparrowhawks, Kestrels and Common Buzzards.   Other bits of note were 2 Great White Egrets, 31 Dunlin, 4 Ruff, an Avocet and 7 Barnacle Geese with the Greylags before a drive across the fields north of Gedser produced more of the same with a Rough-legged Buzzard and 2 Hen Harriers with [another?] adult male.

Så er jeg i Gedser igen! :-) Men dog kun for en kort bemærkning, da jeg tager hjem igen mandag.
Da jeg jo ikke har været her, er det jo svært at sige, men jeg har fået at vide at der i dag har været noget mere blæst end de seneste dage! Det lå igennem dagen i øst-nordøstlig retning, og på trods af at vi havde håbet på, at en lille omslag ville være godt, var det en noget sløj morgen i haven... Kun 34 fugle blev det til. Men jeg har nu ingen klager, fordi jeg fik mig en ny mærkeart i form af en fin, ung landsvale!

  Landsvale (Hirundo rustica) Foto: Rasmus Gersholm Momme

Dagens mærkning:
Landsvale - 1

Rødhals - 20

Gærdesanger - 1

Munk - 4

Gransanger - 5

Løvsanger - 1

Fuglekonge - 2

Hvad haven ikke kunne levere, kunne odden derimod, og sammen med østenvinden kom mængder af ænder!
For mig der endnu ikke har oplevet så meget fugletræk, var det en mega fed oplevelse! Over 10.000 ederfugle og over 4000 pibeænder, plus en god sjat andre arter, krydret med Louis' gode beskrivelser og effektive kendetegn!
Der blev også set nogle små kjover, desværre ikke af mig, men dem tager jeg imorgen!

De musefælder som Johanne og Simon har stillet op i formiddags gav en brandmus, men da vi hældte den ned i en spand, hoppede den ligeså let ud igen... så her i aften, beredte med spand 2.0 med hjemmelavet papirslåg, fangede vi en (formentlig den samme) brandmus igen, og kunne denne gang nyde den i lang tid!

Brandmus (Apodemus agrarius). Foto: Rasmus Gersholm Momme

Johanne var så sød at lave æblekage, så jeg er godt færdig med mit andet stykke og er mere end klar til at gå i seng!

Mens de fleste nyder solen og varmen går vi her på fuglestationen og venter på efterårsvejret, det er 16 september og vi venter stadigvæk på den første gode efterårsdag.

På trods af endnu en dag med sol og varme lykkes det os at få ringmærket 67 fugle stærkt domineret af 39 Rødhalse, 7 Munke og 13 Gransangere. Variation af arter var ikke stor i dag og vi har kun mærket 9 arter.

Klokken ni fik vi besøg af et hold fra Højskolen Marielyst som var forbi for at høre om trækfugle, vi kunne kun fremvise Rødhals, Tornsanger og Gransanger for dem da der var lidt aktivitet i haven. Heldigvis er Hans og Benny gode til at fortælle en masse om trækfugle og om arbejdet her på stationen, så jeg er sikker på de gik glade herfra.

Hans og Benny fortæller. Foto: Johanne Øhlers Aagaard

Klokken 11 drog Simon og jeg mod Bøtø for at se om vi kunne være så heldige, at den Sorte stork der i går blev set ved Stevns skulle raste der. Der var ingen Sort stork, til gengæld så vi en Vandrefalk der kom flyvende og derefter landede for at tage et bad. Det var en stor flot hun fra i år som vi længe havde fornøjelsen af. Derudover er det værd at nævne to Dværgfalke, en Havørn, en Brushane, otte Strandhjejler, en Klyde, en Sortklire og fem Sølvhejrer. Efter et par timer kørte vi en tur rundt ved Birkemose på vejen hjem mod stationen for at forsætte Simons jagt på en Steppehøg, som han mangler på hans DK-liste. Vi fandt desværre ikke hverken Steppehøg eller andet spændende.

Efter lidt sen frokost, en is og lidt hvile var vi klar til en gåtur ad poststien, via Birkemose og tilbage langs stranden til Odden. Og endelig fik vi fornemmelsen af efterårsvind på stranden, det var skønt. På turen så vi en god blandet flok vadere som fløj forbi os flere gange, inden de landede så Simon kunne tage billeder og jeg kunne kikke nærmere på dem. I flokken var der lidt af hvert, tre Stenvendere, fire Islandske ryler, tre sandløbere og 11 Almindelig ryle.

Simon tager billeder af flokken med vadefugle på kort afstand. Foto: Johanne Øhlers Aagaard

Almindelig ryle og Sanløber i baggrunden. Foto: Simon Davies

Derudover kom der mange ænder forbi, primært Pibeænder, men der var også et par Krikænder, Spidsænder og Skeænder imellem. Hvor mange arter kan I finde på billedet herunder?

Endnu en flok med lidt af hvert. Pibeand, Krikand, Spidsand og skeand. Foto: Simon Davies

Total 67

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 1

Gærdesmutte / Wren - 1

Rødhals / Robin - 39

Rødstjert / Redstart - 1

Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat – 3

Tornsanger / Whitethroat - 1

Munk / Blackcap - 7

Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 13

Grå fluesnapper / Spotted Flycatcher - 1

Still sunny and warm with a light easterly breeze. Improved number of birds ringed with a total of 109 new birds, including 49 Robins (mainly early on), 21 Chiffchaffs and 12 Blackcaps and smaller numbers of other warblers. Numbers of Sparrowhawks passing overheard were noticeable with 2 (both males) finding their way into the nets. Two nice surprises occured around 0700 when a Marsh Warbler and a Red-breasted Flycatcher were caught.

Looks like the weather is set to stay wam and sunny over the next few days.

Here are todays totals:-

2 Sparrowhawk / Spurvehøg, 1 Tree Pipit / Skovpiber, 1 Wren / Gærdesmutte, 2 Dunnock / Jernspurv, 49 Robins / Rødhals, 2 Redstarts / Rødstjert, 2 Song Thrushes / Sangdrossel, 1 Marsh Warbler / Kærsanger, 4 Lesser Whitethroats / Gærdesanger, 1 Whitethroat / Tornsanger, 1 Garden Warbler / Havesanger, 12 Blackcaps / Munk, 21 Chiffchaffs / Gransanger, 5 Willow Warblers / Løvsanger, 2 Goldcrests / Fuglekonge, 1 Red-breasted Flycatcher / Lille Fluesnapper, 1 Great Tit / Musvit, 1 Tree Sparrow / Skovspurv.

The definite highlight out on the point after the ringing session was Gedser's second BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE / BLAA GLENTE which flew in from the west around 14:15, headed out to the tip looking like it wanted to go off south before changing its mind and moving back north over Birkemose.

Long distance record shots of the Black-shouldered Kite

Almost exactly the same day again as it was calm, clear, sunny and warm throughout with the easterly wind picking up through the day; the total of 50 new birds in the nets was again very similar to previous days with 16 Robins and 11 Chiffchaffs along with 2 Sparrowhawks and small numbers of other warblers.   There was again some good passage overhead during the first couple of hours with a bit more variety than yesterday including several Crossbill flocks with a steady stream of Chaffinches, Siskins, Redpolls, Linnets, Greenfinches, Tree Pipits, Meadow Pipits, White Wagtails, Yellow Wagtails and Swallows; a Red-throated Diver over the garden heading SW and 2 Honey Buzzards (which may have actually roosted somewhere in the garden) were the only different species.

Today's totals - 2 Sparrowhawk / Spurvehoeg;  1 Wren / Gaerdesmutte;  2 Dunnock / Jernspurv;  16 Robin / Roedhals;  1 Song Thrush / Sangdrossel;  4 Lesser Whitethroat / Gaerdesanger;  1 Whitethroat / Tornsanger;  2 Garden Warbler / Havesanger;  8 Blackcap / Munk;  11 Chiffchaff / Gransanger;  1 Willow Warbler / Loevsanger;  1 Greenfinch / Groenirisk

Sparrowhawk

                The point however (1300-1600) was much busier than previous days with good numbers of birds heading south highlighted by a juvenile Long-tailed Skua which flew past fairly close in; excellent numbers of duck went past in this period as well including 926 Wigeon, 121 Pintail, 116 Teal and 19 Shoveler and a few raptors were also seen – again on a broad front across the fields with my first 2 Rough-legged Buzzards of the autumn, 5 Red Kites, 61 Sparrowhawks, 5 Kestrels and single Honey Buzzard, Common Buzzard and Merlin.

                The most incredible sighting out on the point though was a brilliant PINE MARTEN which ran past me as I was stood right on the tip, it ran in from the north along the cliff top, within two metres of me and carried on round the buildings before diving into the bushes on the tip where it disappeared – a bloody PINE MARTEN, on the point, in the middle of the afternoon, migrating south, ridiculous!   Other birds offshore included 3 Little Gulls, an Arctic Skua, 12 Sandwich Terns, 118 Dunlin and a Snipe; a drive round the fields in the late afternoon looking for Pallid Harriers failed miserably with just a smart male Merlin and a few Common Buzzards of note.

Record shots as the Pine Marten ran past me on the point!

For more pictures from around Gedser www.wykebirding.blogspot.com

Gorgeous weather again today for those people spending their time at Gedser Odde on holiday, but not so good for the poor English ringer.  I've said that, but it is always good to ring in a different area and with good company.

Today has again been sunny with clear skies, but with the wind still coming  from the east and freshening in the afternoon.

When bird numbers are low it does give us time to look at the birds more closer. An example is the Song Thrushes / Sangdrossel caught over the last few days. In the UK our resident Song Thrushes are from a separate subspecies, Turdus philomelos clarkei. The nominate T. philomelos philomelos occurs in Northern Europe and Scandinavia. There are subtle differences in plumage with the clarkei  birds having a warmer brown tone to the upperparts with warmer buff flanks. In central England we tend to start catching greyer Song Thrushes from November onwards, when the Redwings arrive. It is nice to see the philomelos birds and confirm my thoughts about the origin of our winter visitors.

Here are the totals from Gedser today:

1 Sparrowhawk / Spurvehøg, 20 Robins / Rødhals, 1 Redstart / Rødstjert, 1 Song Thrush / Sangdrossel, 4 Lesser Whiethroats / Gærdesanger, 1 Whitethroat / Tornsanger, 1 Garden Warbler / Havesanger, 8 Blackcaps / Munk, 11 Chiffchaffs / Gransanger, 2 Willow Warblers / Gransanger, 2 Goldcrests / Fuglekonge, 1 Chaffinch / Bogfinke, 2 Greenfinches / Grønirisk

The weather continues to be warm and sunny with little cloud today. The easterly breeze picked up late morning onwards. The nets were a bit more productive than yesterday with 54 new birds and only a handful of recaptures. Robins still dominated the catch.

Today's total of birds ringed:-

1 Tree Pipit / Skovpiber; 29 Robins / Rødhals; 3 Redstarts / Rødstjert; 1 Song Thrush / Sangdrossel; 3 Lesser Whitethroat / Gærdesanger; 7 Blackcap / Munk; 4 Chiffchaff / Gransanger; 1  Willow Warbler / Løvsanger; 1 Goldcrest / Fuglekonge; 2 Spotted Flycatcher / Grå Fluesnapper; 2 Tree Sparrow / Skovspurv

Sunny and calm still but with some high cloud and a gentle breeze which swung right round the long way from southerly to easterly through the day; the nets were very quiet especially when compared to yesterday (there were many re-traps of yesterday’s birds) with 29 new birds caught including a Sparrowhawk, 2 Tree Pipits and 3 Redstarts.   Siskins were again the dominant species overhead along with Sparrowhawk, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Tree Pipit etc.

Ringing totals today - 1 Sparrowhawk / Spurvehoeg;  2 Tree Pipit / Skovpiber;  1 Wren / Gaerdesmutte;  10 Robin / Roedhals;  3 Redstart / Roedstjert;  1 Song Thrush / Sangdrossel;  1 Lesser Whitethroat  / Tornsanger;  1 Garden Warbler / Havesanger;  3 Blackcap / Munk;  2 Chiffchaff / Gransanger;  1 Greenfinch / Groenirisk;  1 Siskin / Groensisken;  1 Yellowhammer / Gulspurv

Sparrowhawk

                The afternoon’s main feature was good numbers of raptors passing through (probably the highest numbers so far this autumn); my totals – from walking across the fields to the north of Gedser (1300-1630) comprised 110+ Sparrowhawks, 13 Honey Buzzards, 10 Common Buzzards, 23+ Kestrels, 3 Marsh Harriers and single Osprey, Merlin and Hobby but these totals are a little snapshot of the numbers which passed through as they were moving on a very broad front and many other raptor shaped dots were in the distance either side of me!   The only other bird of note was a male Serin which was flying around the garden and Birkemose late afternoon.

For more pictures from around Gedser www.wykebirding.blogspot.com

Da vi stod op til en flot stjerneklar himmel forventede vi ikke at der ville være den store aktivitet i haven i dag. Vi blev heldigvis positiv overrasket allerede på første runde hvor der hang en del fugle i nettene, derefter stilnede det langsomt af. Blandt dagens ringmærkede fugle var flest rødhalse og gransangere, særligt at bemærke var 1 græshoppesanger, 2 spurvehøge og 3 rødryggede tornskader. Så på trods af det alt for gode efterårsvejr med høj sol og varme endte vi med 108 ringmærkninger, vi håber dog på at det snart bliver lidt mere efterårsagtigt i vejret så vi kan få flere fugle i nettene.

Græshoppesanger (Locustella naevia). Foto: Simon Davies

Der var heldigvis stadigvæk lidt fugle på runderne da der ankom en gruppe gæster der skulle høre om arbejdet her på fuglestation og vi kunne fremvise flere forskellige arter heriblandt de to spurvehøge til stor beundring for gæsterne.

Efter middag blev det meget varmt i haven hvilket resulterede i flere nulrunder hvorefter vi lukkede ned i nogen timer, inden vi til aften åbnede spurvehøg nettene for at se om der skulle gå spruvehøge til rast i haven.

Clausjannic og Nina havde lavet lækker svensk pølseret som vi spise sammen udendørs i den lune eftersåraften til derssert havde jeg lavet gammeldags æblekage med æbler fra haven, hvilket var en skøn afslutning på en god dag. 

Nu forsøger vi at fange den natugle der har siddet og kaldt i haven de sidste nætter – om det lykkes eller ej må i læse i morgen.

Total 108

Spurvehøg / Sparrowhawk - 2
Skovpiber / Tree Pipit - 1
Gærdesmutte / Wren - 1
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 4
Rødhals / Robin - 42
Rødstjert / Redstart - 7
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush - 1
Græshoppesanger / Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Kærsanger / Marsh Warbler - 1
Rørsanger / Reed Warbler - 2
Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethtoat - 4
Munk / Blackcap - 5
Gransanger / Chiffchaff - 23
Løvsanger / Willow Warbler - 5
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest - 2
Rødtoppet fuglekonge / Firecrest - 1
Rødrygget tornskade / Red-backed Shrike - 3
Skovspurv / Tree Sparrow - 2
Bogfinke /Chaffinch - 1

A bit misty and murky through the morning with a much fresher westerly breeze; the slight change in conditions brought a few more birds to the nets with 65 new birds caught highlighted by single Red-breasted Flycatcher (the third of the autumn), Firecrest and Wood Warbler along with a Sparrowhawk, 13 Robins, 11 Chiffchaffs, a Reed Warbler, 5 Redstarts and 2 Pied Flycatchers amongst others.   Overhead passage was slightly reduced in the murky conditions first thing with a few Finches including Siskins and Crossbills but mid-morning when it cleared a bit there was a big pulse of 600+ Chaffinches which passed over the garden heading SW in a handful of big flocks.   There was a Hummingbird Hawkmoth very briefly on the Buddleia by the front door late morning but disappeared almost instantly!

Today's totals - 1 Sparrowhawk / Spurvehoeg;  13 Robin / Roedhals;  5 Redstart / Roedstjert;  1 Song Thrush / Sangdrossel;  1 Reed Warbler / Roersanger;  4 Lesser Whitethroat / Gaerdesanger;  7 Whitethroat / Tornsanger;  7 Blackcap / Munk;  1 Wood Warbler / Skovsanger;  11 Chiffchaff / Gransanger;  9 Willow Warbler / Loevsanger;  1 Firecrest / Roedtoppet Fuglekonge;  1 Spotted Flycatcher / Gra Fluesnapper;  1 Red-breasted Flycatcher / Lille Fluesnapper;  2 Pied Flycatcher / Broget Fluesnapper

Firecrest

Wood Warbler

The afternoon reverted back to the warm, sunny, tropical weather of late but a look off the point late afternoon (1645-1815) was more productive than yesterday as quite a few Duck and Wader flocks headed south including 116 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, 20 Teal, 6 Pintail, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 129 Dunlin, 2 Grey Plover and a Bar-tailed Godwit; other birds included 2 Arctic Skuas, 48 Sandwich Terns, 3 Common Terns and a Great-crested Grebe while a steady stream of c700 Swallows piled south.

Grey Plover

For more pictures from around Gedser please see www.wykebirding.blogspot.com