The ringing:

Today, there was a little improovement to yesterday. In the morning, we had 14 birds in the nets. Just four newly ringed though. In the afternoon, Henrik caught the 15th bird of today by hand: it was a newly fleged Blackbird "Solsort" which was so small, that it couldn´t even fly. Henrik ringed it and then it was released. Young Blackbirds "Solsort" leave their nests a few days before they can fly. Their parents will still come and feed them and after a few days, they will fly like the big.

1K Blackbird "Solsort"

The moths:

The windy night did not make many moths fly. It was a bit sad opening the trap and just finding two of the most common moth species. On our trip to Stor Klinteskov near Møn, I managed to catch a few, so the list is a little longer. For this blog, a picture of Hypochalcia ahenella “Bakkehalvmøl”.

Hypochalcia ahenella “Bakkehalvmøl”

Trip to Klinteskov on Møn:

Today some of us went on a trip to Klinteskov on Møn to see different species of orchids and a lot of other flowers. We were also looking for butterflies and other insects but there weren’t many because it was windy with some showers. The area was different compared to most of Denmark as it had hills covered in bushes, trees and meadows with varying species of flowers and trees. There were a few species of birds as well like the Thrush Nightingale "Nattergal" and the Eurasian Skylark "Sanglærke".

Cynoglossum officinale "Hundetunge"

Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. fuchsii "Skov-gøgeurt"

People: Hans Lind, Henrik Jørgensen, Ole Friis Larsen, Jasper Mosmann, Lara Chrenkova, Hanelie Sidhu

Nye tal viser, at Gedser Fuglestations blog er set eller endda læst 1,9 millioner gange, siden vi begyndte at skrive dagbogen/bloggen for ni år siden. Vi skriver cirka 280 dage om året. Det betyder, at dagbogen i gennemsnit bliver set 750 gange hver dag. Tusind tak til alle, der viser vores arbejde på fuglestationen den store interesse.

The Ringing: Cold wind and quite some leaves in the nets, a cloudy sky, me taking my hat on. That nearly sounds like autumn! Just the fact, that most leaves were green, the Swifts “Mursejler” on the sky and the brood patches on quite some of the few birds I had in hand today did not really fit into that picture. No, it is supposed to get summer… Also the new ringed birds of today gave more the feeling of autumn or early spring. But with a little surprise, very little, just 5,3 grams. In the second round,

A very late Firecrest on Sunday morning.

I took a Firecrest “Rødtoppet Fuglekonge” out of one of the nets. Gedser is definitely the best place for Firecrests “Rødtoppet Fuglekonge”, but it is mainly early spring, from mid-March to the beginning of April, that we are getting them in the nets. So this was nice, but there was not much following. One new Great Tit “Musvit” and a few recaps, among them a Garden Warbler “Havesanger”, that Hans ringed in May 2018!

The moth: The first rainy and then windy night did not make many moths flying. I will show Grapholia funebrana "Blommevikler", as I think we did not catch it before.

Grapholia funebrana "Blommevikler"

There was also Scopalia ambigualis in the trap, it is quite common in the traps now, so maybe you can also find and recognise it.

Scopalia ambigualis

Hans took his trap back home today, he also wants to catch moth in his garden, so from now on I will just catch with one trap.

News of the station: Yesterday evening, Ole arrived at the station to attend today´s board meeting and do some night counts.

Around noon, Henrik also came, he will be here until the end of the month.

And in the afternoon, we welcomed Lara at the station. She is a student and will stay here for her school internship for the next week.

Styregruppen samlet i stationens mødelokale  til af årets to-tre ordinære møder.

Mere nyt fra fuglestationen: Søndag var der møde i fuglestationens styregruppe, hvor vi diskuterede økonomien og forskellige andre ting af betydning for stationens drift. Referaterne fra møderne er til at læse på fuglestationens hjemmeside, efterhånden som de er skrevet og godkendt. I mødet lørdag talte vi blandt andet om, at vi mangler frivillige til at hjælpe med havearbejdet, som er en forudsætning for, at ringmærkerne kan komme rundt til nettene, samt for, at haven ser nogenlunde ens ud fra år til år af hensyn til den standardiserede ringmærkning. Vi planlagde også nogle af stationens arrangementer i efteråret.

People: Ole Friis Larsen, Henrik Jørgensen, Jasper Mosman, Hanelie Sidhu, Hans Lind, Mads and Tina Elley, Gert Jeppesen, Bo Kayser, Anne Marie Reith, Søren Mygind, Lara Chrenkova

The ringing:

Again, a cold June morning started when Jens and I went out opening the nets. Jens got two recaps and two new birds today, but for me it was 07.15 until I got my first and only bird to handle today, a recapture Blackbird “Solsort”.

Jens left today after ringing and checking the tip, hopefully, there will be some more birds at his next stay at the station.

The moths:

There were 16 moth species in the traps today, one difficult Oligia needed to remain unidentified. The other moth were all species I knew already quite well so due to the lack of birds, I was already finished with identifying all moth by 06.00.

That was effective, but I would not have minded a bit more work…

My favourite species of today were Phalera bucephala “Måneplet” and Aphomia sociella “Humlevoksmøl”.

Phalera bucephala “Måneplet”

Aphomia sociella “Humlevoksmøl”

There should be at least one bird picture in a bird observatory´s blog, but I just did not have one until Gert and I did a short trip to look for butterfiels at the dyke of Gedesby strand this afternoon. There were not many butterfly species flying but we saw this beautiful Stonechat "Sortstrubet Bynkefugl", so here it is, the bird picture. Mission completed for today!

Stonechat "Sortstubet Bynkefugl", Foto: Gert Jeppesen

People: Jens Friis-Walsted, Gert Jeppesen, Tina Elley, Jasper Mosman, Hanelie Sidhu

The ringing:

Today, there was a little bit improovement compared to the last days. In total, we got twelve birds during standard time. The day started well, in the first round, I took out two first calendar year Blackbirds “Solsort”. I am always amazed, when I see them in their plumage from the nest. And to be honest, sometimes I whish they would just keep their spotted breasts and the orangish spots on the coverts.

1K Blackbird "Solsort"

But then, it would not be special any more, so let time take its course.

Maybe we are getting some more birds in the nets now, as the juveniles leave their nests? In the afternoon,

Jens managed to catch the third 1k of the day, a Hooded Crow “Gråkrage”!

The moths:

When I went to the moths trap by the house this morning, I got really excited and amazed! There was a big, quite colourful and beautiful moth sitting on the wall by the trap, that I had never seen before. This is even better than catching a Acheronita atropos “Dødningehoved aftensværmer”, I thought by myself, I was very happy about that moth. Soon I found out, that it was Cerura vinula “Hermelinskåbe” that came to the trap tonight. It is not a rare species, actually it has been found all over Denmark, especially at the coasts, but most sightings have been here in Sjelland.

Cerura vinula “Hermelinskåbe”

But there were also other new moth species in the traps today. I will show Lomaspilis marginata “Sortrandet måler” and Dysstroma truncate “Jordbærmaler”.

Lomaspilis marginata “Sortrandet måler”

Dysstroma truncate “Jordbærmaler”

People: Jens Friis-Walsted, Jasper Mosman, Hanelie Sidhu

The ringing:

At the moment, mostly means keeping yourself fit by walking regularly the same route through the garden. We are always very disciplined, keeping the times. We are getting rewarded by being kept moving, I am sure, as a ringer, you do all the necessary steps a person should do a day. A very healthy job. Sometimes, we find a bird in the net, that is also a big reward, for all the steps. There will come days at the station, when all the nets will be full of birds and we will feel their weight around our necks, when we bring them to the lab. But this is not now. Today four new birds. One was a female Black Redstart “Husrødstjert”, a nice bird and just the fourth ringed in this season. Usually, they do not come to the garden so often.

Black Redstart “Husrødstjert”

The moths:

First of all, yesterday´s blog is updated with the moth list, it was 22 species, so quite good!

Today, there was less, 16 species and one needed to be left unidentified. Some groups a very difficult and difficult individuals can just be identified by genital analysis to be sure.

My favourite – and I think also a new species – was Paraponyx stratiotata “Vandpesthalvmøl”. I found out, that the larvae lives quite deep in the water and feeds on water plants.

Paraponyx stratiotata “Vandpesthalvmøl”

Another quite easy to recognise species of today was Campaea margeritaria “Perlemåler”.  

Campaea margeritaria “Perlemåler”

News of the station:

The grass in the garden is short again, thanks to Henning Gammel, who mowed the lawn this afternoon.

People: Henning Gammel, Tina and Mads Elley, Gert Jeppesen, Jasper Mosman, Jens Friis-Walsted, Hanelie Sidhu

The ringing:

The morning was a bit windy and cold again. It brought us more recaps than new ringed birds, but some nice species as Red-backed Shrike “Rødrygget Tornskade” and the first first calendar year bird of the season, that flew into the net: A Starling “Stær”.

1k Starling "Stær"

A new species for Denmark:

After ringing, Gert came to the station. Soon, he got a notification on bird alarm, that a Pygmy Cormorant “Dværgskarv” was seen at Lystrup. It is a new species for Denmark and after a short time, Gert decided, we should see it. When Gert, Jens and I arrived at Lystrup, there were already many birders and I was a very cooperative bird, it was sitting on top of a dead tree all the time, very well visible for all.

Pygmy Cormorant "Dværgskarv"

The moth:

There were quite some moth species in the traps today, many I find every morning so it is usually easy to identify them. One species, that is in the traps regularly and usually very easy to identify is Oligia strigilis “Hundegræsugle”.  Today I found a very dark moth of which I was wondering, if it was a new species for me, but after consulting the identification apps, books and Gert, I found out, that it was just Oligia stigilis “Hundegræsugle”. I will show a picture of how I am used to it and this dark one today, to show, how much variation there can be in some species.

Today´s very dark Oligia strigilis.

Oligia strigilis how I am used to it.

I will also put a picture of Aspilapteryx tringipennella in this blog, Robert has already used a picture of it in one of the previous blogs, but I think, it is quite nice to see it sitting on my thumb, to really see how small this micro moth is.

Aspilapteryx tringipennella

Even though, identification with the help of apps still works even for this size. They don´t need to stay a mystery, it is also worth looking at them!

It was quite a long day and I am very tired, so tomorrow, this blog will be updated with the list of the moth species of the day.

People: Jasper Mosman, Hanelie Sidhu, Jens Friis-Walsted, Gert Jeppesen

The ringing:

Although we are at the southernmost point of Denmark, it is everything else than the warmest and sunniest place here. Actually, this morning it was quite cold, but it was not as windy as yesterday and it was a bit cloudy, so we got some more birds than yesterday, 14 in total. This is not a number we are hoping for, but honestly, the season is nearly over and birds are already breeding, so we can´t really expect higher numbers than we had in May. Of course you never know and rarities can show up, so let´s be optimistic. Here a pretty picture of a recap Lesser Whitethroat “Gærdesanger”, that went in the net today. It kind of also fits to the topic of the day, as later in the afternoon, I met the volunteers from Skagen Fuglestation on zoom to give an aging session of Lesser Whitethroat “Gærdesanger”, that I had promised to prepare when I left Skagen about a month ago.

Lesser Whitethroat "Gærdesanger"

The moths:

18 moth species were in the two traps toady. My favourites were Calliteara pudibunda “Bøgenonne” and Acronicita tridens/psi “Treforkugle/Psi-ugle”.

Calliteara pudibunda “Bøgenonne”

 This is a male of Calliteara pudibunda, as it is greyish, while the female would be lighter and more sandy coloured.

Acronicita tridens/psi “Treforkugle/Psi-ugle”.

Acronicita tridens can not be differentiated from psi according to outer characteristics. Psi is a lot more common than tridens though, which would be quite rare here, so it is by far more likely, that it is psi that was in the trap today.

People: Jasper Mosman, Gert Jeppesen, Hans Lind, Tina Elley, Hanelie Sidhu Jens Friis-Walsted and Karsten

The ringing:

After yesterday, it looked like warm summer weather had arrived at Gedser, this morning started very cold and windy.

Light at the tip this early morning

Later in the morning, the wind slowed a bit down and it did not feel so cold any more. But it was not a good day for birds in the nets. That gave Jens, Karsten an me a lot of time to look for the Rose-coloured Starling “Rosenstær”, that had been seen this morning! Unfortunately, we did not have success. After two new birds in the nets and three recaptures as well as a few cut branches, we closed the nets after the five standard hours.

The stars of today, out two new birds: Chaffinch "Bogfinke"...

... and Chiffchaff "Gransanger"

After ringing, we went to Gerts place where some Blue Tit "Blåmejse" nestboxes are occupied and I got some more birds to ring, there were 11 Blue Tit "Blåmejse" chicks in two nestboxes.

The moths:

The windy night and light on just in one of the traps did not give many moths. I will go after finishing the blog to pug in the second trap again.

But it was some nice moth in the trap and unless yesterday, they were not so flighty, which made it way easier to take pictures. My favourite was definitely Macrothylaci rubi “Brombærspinder”. It carries this name, as one of the feeding plants of their caterpillars is the blackberry. This is a female, the male is more reddish and its antennae are bigger.

Macrothylacia rubi "Brombørspinder"

People: Jasper Mosman, Gert Jeppesen, Hans Lind, Hanelie Sidhu, Jens Friis-Walsted and Karsten

The ringing:

The others were expecting it to be good today with birds in the nets, so I was really hoping for that. When I opened the nets, there was already bird song and activity in the garden. The first round was also okay with six birds, we had days where it brought just one or even zero birds. So I was hoping there would be some more birds in the following rounds, but there did not come more.

The “Overshooters” had breakfast at the tip, watching some birds and so the garden was mine and the birds and moth and hares. Soon I noticed, that it was and would stay everything else than wild in the nets with birds, but actually, it was with branches with young leaves which stretched themselves cheeky into the nets. But these I did not appreciate in the nets, so I decided to tame them a bit cutting the branches while I was doing the last zero rounds through the garden. Now the birds can come – hopefully. The most common species today was the Icterine Warbler “Gulbug”, with four new ringed and two recaptures. For the rest, see today´s list:

The moth:

Today I just had light on in one of the traps, but I was satisfied with the outcome. I had 15 different moth species in the trap, plus one photographed and identified at Bøtø. I will put pictures of two in the blog. The first one I want to show to you is Trichophaga tapetzella “Tapetmøl”. Gert was surprised that I caught it, it is quite rare to catch it. So a species to celebrate. If you find it in your wardrobe near some old fur coats, then I am not sure if it is. Because, in that case, it won´t be just a hazard. Because that species lives on dead skin with fur… Eventhoug, it is quite nice to look at.

Trichophaga tapetzella “Tapetmøl”

Another species, that I thought was very nice and is for sure not  pest is Mythimna pallens “Halmugle”, this species feeds on different grasses.

Mythimna pallens “Halmugle”

People: Tina and Mads Elley, Gert Jeppesen, Jens Friis-Walsted, Hanelie Sidhu and the "Overshooter"- birders

The ringing:

This morning was a little improvement to last morning, but just a little. Jens ringed the 9^th Common Rosefinch “Karmindompap” of the season, it was in the net with one of the Common Rosefinches “Karmindompap” we had already some days ago.

Common Rosefinches "Karmindompap"

Also some of the birders who are here for the Overshooter Weekend came to them. As we catch so few of them this spring and we already noticed, that they are not doing so well this year, I will call a new Dunnock “Jernspurv” in the ringing the other highlight of the morning.

Dunnock "Jernspurv"

The moth:

Not many moths and not many species were in the traps this morning. They were also quite flighty already early in the morning, and also later, as it got quite warm today, so I am wondering, if there were some, that escaped before I saw them. A new one in the traps and for me today was Macaria brunneata “Okkergul Blåbærmåle” and it was also very numerous.

Macaria brunneata “Okkergul Blåbærmåle”

Phlogophora meticulosa “Agatugle” is a very common species but can be seen actually the whole year round, it will especially be very common in autumn, so I chose to show it, it is a good species to remember.

Phlogophora meticulosa “Agatugle”

Morning observation:

There were many people out today, that came for the Overshooting weekend. Highlights of the obs were a Serin “Gulirisk”, a Golden Oriol “Pirol” and some Honey Buzzards “Hvepsevåge”.

Observations of the they of observers in the area can be seen here

People: Tina and Mads Elley, Gert Jeppesen, Jens Friis-Walsted, Hanelie Sidhu, Overshooter-birders