As we opened the nets in the pre-dawn light we all thought it was going to be good day - bird wise.  But we were trying not to say this because we did not want to curse it.  Clearly we did not curse it as the table of today's captures show!  Three hundred and fifty-two birds is a good total.  We were all stunned and pleased with the totals and variety, even though it was hard but enjoyable work.

From the off Anne and Henrik's pliers were "hot" with there ringing.  And Chris was busy extracting.  In the first three hours Chris did not complete a net round without having to return to the ringing hut to get more bags.

So what can be learnt and gained from such totals as this.  By its self this total does not tell us a great deal -  this does not matter.. But when these figures are incorporated into the season*s total and examined at the end of the year they will give a good insight into how birds having been doing in their breeding efforts this year.  Then those figures can be compared with year on year totals and so gain an insight into bird population flctuations through time.  This type of analysis is a key component of an observatory's work.

Vendehals, foto: Joakim Matthiesen

And one has to admit, it would be churlish to do otherwise, we all enjoyed some highlights in the day's totals.  We were all impressed with the number of redstarts.  Anne got another ringing tick - great-spotted woodpecker; and Joakim was pleased to ring his first ever whinchat.  While Henrik and Chris just "loved" the quantity and work.

In the evening the day was deliciously topped off by cooking meatballs in a mushroom sauce and a cake that Anne had purchased to celebrate the number of ringing ticks she has had lately!  

A wonderful day!

People at the station: Anne Hermanns, Henrik Jørgensen, Jimmy Skat Hansen, Chris Sharp, Joakim Matthiesen and Ole Friis Larsen.