It was our last Tuesday in Gedser. On next one we will be on our way to Blåvand. It was a really good day however – we ringed two times more birds than yesterday! We caught only 4 recaptures (not counting the current day retraps – birds than got their rings today and already managed to fall in the net again some time later), and one of them was the Dunnock ringed in Keldsnor which we already met yesterday. It was very successful day not only because of the numbers – we also caught some cool species: Black Redstart (first one this year), Eurasian Treecreeper (the one that we ringed yesterday), Yellowhammer and two Goldfinches (male and female, both hatched last year, so we had an awesome opportunity to compare them and learn how to identify their sex).
Banding birds in the morning was although not the only ornithological activity that we undertook today. After closing the nets me and Agata went on a small trip to the eastern part of Lolland. Our main goal was to find seals, but we saw some nice bird species instead. We begun at Holten Strand, where in place of sea mammals we observed Teals (Krikand), Wigeons (Pibeand), Mallards (Gråand), Shelducks (Gravand), Mute Swans (Knopsvane), Oystercatchers (Strandskade) and Cormorants (Skarv). We also sighted a Tern (first one that we saw this year), but it was a bit too far to identify what species that was. After spending there some time, we drove few kilometers in North-Western direction and stopped by Røgbølle and Hejrede Lakes. There, among other species that we already saw today, we spotted some Goldeneyes (Hvinand), a lot of Tufted Ducks (Troldand), some Great Crested Grebes (Toppet lappedykker) and a Red-necked Grebe (Gråstrubet lappedykker). It was a great birdwatching day then!
When we came back to the Station, Susanne was waiting for us with a delicious lasagna that she prepared. I couldn’t stop myself and was taking one piece after another, but I do not regret any bite of it! I think we might expect a lot of birds tomorrow, so during the rounds we will burn the calories anyway.

Lovely pair of Goldfinches - male on the right and female on the left. Just look at these gorgeus faces! Photo: Susanne Primdahl

Black Redstart. It's polish name is ´´Kopciuszek´´, what literaly means ´´Cinderella´´ in english. Photo: Agata Balicka

The fierce predator (starring: Chiffchaff) won't leave it's prey (some Ant) even when extracted from the net or held by a human. Photo: Maciej Wozniak

People at the station: Agata Balicka, Maciej Wozniak, Susanne Primdahl

Complete list of birds caught today (ringed/recaptured):
Gærdesmutte / Wren: 4/0
Jernspurv / Dunnock: 3/1
Rødhals / Robin: 23/1
Husrødstjert / Black Redstart: 1/0
Solsort / Blackbird: 3/0
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush: 1/0
Gransanger / Chiffchaff: 8/0
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest: 1/0
Rødtoppet Fuglekonge: 2/0
Træløber / Eurasian Treecreeper: 0/1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch: 1/0
Stillits / Goldfinch: 2/0
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer: 0/1

Total: 49/4