Not so many birds in the garden today and the session would have been really quiet without the arrival of a large flock of Blue, Great and Coal Tits at around 10am. Leading species today was Blue Tit with 27 ringed.

We received news of the Norwegian Dunnock that we captured just three days go. It was ringed in its first year on the 14^th of September last year at Dividalen FS, Målselv, Troms.

There was also a report of some dead Mute Swans on the beach. Chris and Ole went to investigate, finding that the birds were extremely emaciated and weighing well below their normal body weight. Other birds present showed no indication of sickness. It is believed that the birds may have been migrating, and unable to feed successfully in the windy weather that we have had of late. Much of the seagrass in the shallower water has been torn up and washed onto the beaches while coastal waters are very stirred up and unclear. One of the dead swans had been ringed under the Gdansk, Poland scheme bearing ring number AH9082. People are advised not to approach or touch any dead or sick birds that may be on the beach as there have been concerns of bird flu being present in the area although no signs of the contagion were observed today. The appropriate authorities have been notified.

Totals: 61 (12)

Spurvehøg/ Sparrowhawk – 1
Jernspurv / Dunnock - 1
Rødhals / Robin – 6 (9)
Sangdrossel / SongThrush – 2
Munk / Blackcap – 1
Gransanger / Chiffchaff – 5
Fuglekonge / Goldcrest– 0 (1)
Sortmejse / Coal Tit – 2 (1)
Blåmejse / Blue Tit - 27
Musvit / Great Tit – 16 (1)