How delightful it is, sometimes, to be wrong! 

Our expectations with the continued heat was that there would have been little bird movement and our catch would be low.  In the end we caught a pleasing 68 birds of 20 species.  Never large numbers in a round just a steady flow of birds that allowed a pleasant pace of ringing and much appreciation of the birds' features.  As in previous days the majority of birds were juveniles.

Late yesterday we had noted an increasing number of raptors flying over the garden towards the point, and presumably onto Germany.  The raptors were mostly buzzards and sparrowhawks with a few marsh harriers.  From early on this morning an increasing number of sparrowhawks was noted in, and going over the garden.  Consequently there were rising hopes of potentially catching one of these hawks.

At the start of the third round Chris went sprinting - off, not only to Stav's surprise but his too.  A well known fact is that Chris does not run, long ago the philosophy was adopted that: why run there is always another bus; but is there going to another sparrowhawk?  Sadly this rare olympian effort failed, the large female sparrowhawk managed to free herself from the net when Chris was two metres from the finish-line.

Throughout the day good numbers of raptors were seen, mostly sparrowhawks and buzzards but several honey buzzards, kestrels and marsh harriers too.  Given these observations a raptor net was set in the garden ready to come into action tomorrow.

During the afternoon some "dead - heading" (the removal of dead flowers) was done to several bushes that are attractive to butterflies, bees and other pollinators.  Hopefully this will extend the visits from the array of butterflies and moths which are currently frequenting the garden including: red admirals, peacocks, small torteshell, green-veined white, silver-wash fritillary and most excitingly many hummingbird moths.

Yesterday's nocturnal efforts failed.  But undaunted the group will try for nightjars again tonight.

People at the station: Henrik Jørgensen, Chris Sharp, Daniel Bloche, Stav Shay and Esben Hansen.