Sometimes it seems that sporting cliches can be aptly applied to bird ringing: it's in the net; rain delayed start; and that was certainly the case today: when rain stopped play.  But before ringing for the day was abandoned we managed several hours of ringing, with the first two rounds being particularly rewarding with some quality in the bags; this was when most of the sixty-two birds were caught.

The catch had several highlights: another wryneck and red-backed shrike; and the first red-breasted flycatcher of the year.  The later species delighted everyone, particularly Chris who on arriving at the station had been asked if there were any species he particularly wanted to ring, his response was: the Scandinavian sub-species of long-tailed tit and to see (not necessarily ring), a red-breasted flycatcher - a bird he had only seen briefly, skulking behind bushes.  Today he got a good view of one, in the hand as he ringed the adult female.

In the last couple of weeks there have been a good number of red-backed shrikes ringed, mostly juveniles, like today's new specimen.  In the ringing station's grounds there are two breeding pairs and most of the chicks have gone into the nets.  If today's new red-backed strike is one of those we will probably know when the rain stops, as the individuals tend to sit in quite promenient places.

An attempt at catching tawny owls failed last night - though a bird did bounce out of the net leaving  five or six downy feathers.  Our attempts at trying to catch some of the larger species are not proving too successful but we'll re-group and go again. 

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