Moose antlers in village
Bedstraw Hawk-moth Caterpillar
Tree Sparrow
Male Yellowhammer - a little cracker!
Female Bullfinch - a ringing tick for Kay
Gannets
Sunday, 29 September 2013
| Week-ending 29th September 2013 | ||
| Species | Kay | Chris |
| Treecreeper | 8 | 0 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler | 1 | 1 |
| Goldcrest | 74 | 15 |
| Chiffchaff | 18 | 0 |
| Chiffchaff abietinus | 1 | 0 |
| Red-breasted Flycatcher | 8 | 5 |
| Icterine Warbler | 2 | 3 |
| Lesser Whitethroat | 121 | 11 |
| Pied Flycatcher | 9 | 0 |
| Marsh Warbler | 0 | 1 |
| Common Redpoll | 63 | 0 |
| Common Redpoll flammea | 41 | 0 |
| Common Redpoll cabaret | 11 | 0 |
| Redstart | 25 | 1 |
| Bluethroat | 0 | 2 |
| Reed Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Robin | 286 | 55 |
| Marsh Tit | 4 | 1 |
| Sedge Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Siskin | 37 | 0 |
| Spotted Flycatcher | 32 | 5 |
| Whinchat | 2 | 0 |
| Wren | 15 | 0 |
| Willow Warbler | 174 | 15 |
| Coal Tit | 5 | 2 |
| Dunnock | 6 | 0 |
| Wood Warbler | 5 | 1 |
| Blackcap | 221 | 23 |
| Blue Tit | 19 | 3 |
| White Wagtail | 13 | 1 |
| Wheatear | 1 | 0 |
| Chaffinch | 19 | 4 |
| Garden Warbler | 45 | 5 |
| Tree Pipit | 8 | 1 |
| Goldfinch | 0 | 0 |
| Whitethroat | 16 | 7 |
| Rustic Bunting | 0 | 1 |
| Brambling | 2 | 0 |
| Reed Bunting | 4 | 0 |
| Yellow Wagtail | 1 | 0 |
| Common Rosefinch | 4 | 2 |
| Great Tit | 26 | 3 |
| Nuthatch | 1 | 0 |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | 1 | 1 |
| Greenfinch | 64 | 3 |
| Thrush Nightingale | 3 | 1 |
| Tree Sparrow | 2 | 0 |
| Bullfinch | 1 | 0 |
| Yellowhammer | 5 | 0 |
| Red-backed Shrike | 18 | 4 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 20 | 1 |
| Blackbird | 9 | 1 |
| Nightjar | 0 | 0 |
| Song Thrush | 53 | 5 |
| Cuckoo | 1 | 0 |
| Sparrowhawk | 8 | 2 |
| Kestrel | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 1518 | 186 |
A tricky week this week as the wind has been quite strong, limiting the number of nets we could safely open. it has also turned cold, with ground frost on a couple of mornings. This is good though, as it will make the birds start migration in earnest! Had some great sunsets this week and despite the cold it has been largely sunny and very enjoyable.
Sadly, the Foxes (there are now three) have learnt that the nets can provide an easy meal! We had hoped this would not happen as they usually go off to sleep for the day before we start catching birds. We suspect that with the colder weather, fewer people living here (so less food being left for them) and fewer berries to eat they are staying out foraging later in the morning and have taken birds from the nets.
Each year they are culled by the community to protect ground-nesting birds, so it seems inevitable that this will now happen sooner rather than later.
The shop closed its doors for the last time today, so we stocked up on a few things and will rely on friends who are coming to the Obs to bring what we need. To be honest it has worked really well so far and we are not short of much, though a conversation last night about Fish & Chips was perhaps not that helpful!
Weather looks good for birding in the nest few days and we did well today with 81 new birds ringed. See below for the summary of how we have done so far. Kay is now ranked 21st for the numbers of birds ringed here by individuals over the last 25+ years. Not a bad effort for 6 weeks work!! For reference, Chris is languishing in 60th place!!
Sadly, the Foxes (there are now three) have learnt that the nets can provide an easy meal! We had hoped this would not happen as they usually go off to sleep for the day before we start catching birds. We suspect that with the colder weather, fewer people living here (so less food being left for them) and fewer berries to eat they are staying out foraging later in the morning and have taken birds from the nets.
Each year they are culled by the community to protect ground-nesting birds, so it seems inevitable that this will now happen sooner rather than later.
The shop closed its doors for the last time today, so we stocked up on a few things and will rely on friends who are coming to the Obs to bring what we need. To be honest it has worked really well so far and we are not short of much, though a conversation last night about Fish & Chips was perhaps not that helpful!
Weather looks good for birding in the nest few days and we did well today with 81 new birds ringed. See below for the summary of how we have done so far. Kay is now ranked 21st for the numbers of birds ringed here by individuals over the last 25+ years. Not a bad effort for 6 weeks work!! For reference, Chris is languishing in 60th place!!
Sunday, 22 September 2013
A mixed week of weather, though we caught our second and third Yellow-browed Warblers of the trip and ringed our first Brambing of Autumn.
The Fox is still keeping us company and this week Kay saw a Mink, only about 20' away and unaware of her presence. We have started catching more Great Spotted Woodpeckers and have now caught more than double the previous years record of them, with plenty more to come!
Although still mild there is a real feel of Autumn about the island, and we are picking decent numbers of field mushrooms.
Had only our third night with just the two of us overnight! Went fishing yesterday and Kay caught a codling, too small to keep but at least we know they are there.
From the house today we saw three White-tailed Eagle, an Osprey and a HoneyBuzzard.
The Fox is still keeping us company and this week Kay saw a Mink, only about 20' away and unaware of her presence. We have started catching more Great Spotted Woodpeckers and have now caught more than double the previous years record of them, with plenty more to come!
Although still mild there is a real feel of Autumn about the island, and we are picking decent numbers of field mushrooms.
Had only our third night with just the two of us overnight! Went fishing yesterday and Kay caught a codling, too small to keep but at least we know they are there.
From the house today we saw three White-tailed Eagle, an Osprey and a HoneyBuzzard.
| Week-ending 22nd September 2013 | ||
| Species | Kay | Chris |
| Treecreeper | 5 | 0 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler | 1 | 1 |
| Goldcrest | 45 | 15 |
| Chiffchaff | 12 | 0 |
| Red-breasted Flycatcher | 7 | 5 |
| Icterine Warbler | 2 | 3 |
| Lesser Whitethroat | 121 | 11 |
| Pied Flycatcher | 9 | 0 |
| Marsh Warbler | 0 | 1 |
| Common Redpoll | 43 | 0 |
| Redstart | 24 | 1 |
| Bluethroat | 0 | 2 |
| Reed Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Robin | 181 | 55 |
| Marsh Tit | 4 | 1 |
| Sedge Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Siskin | 36 | 0 |
| Spotted Flycatcher | 32 | 5 |
| Whinchat | 2 | 0 |
| Wren | 6 | 0 |
| Willow Warbler | 170 | 15 |
| Coal Tit | 3 | 2 |
| Wood Warbler | 5 | 1 |
| Blackcap | 206 | 23 |
| Blue Tit | 15 | 3 |
| White Wagtail | 13 | 1 |
| Wheatear | 1 | 0 |
| Chaffinch | 9 | 4 |
| Garden Warbler | 45 | 5 |
| Tree Pipit | 5 | 1 |
| Goldfinch | 0 | 0 |
| Whitethroat | 16 | 7 |
| Rustic Bunting | 0 | 1 |
| Brambling | 2 | 0 |
| Yellow Wagtail | 1 | 0 |
| Common Rosefinch | 4 | 2 |
| Great Tit | 20 | 3 |
| Nuthatch | 1 | 0 |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | 0 | 1 |
| Greenfinch | 64 | 3 |
| Thrush Nightingale | 3 | 1 |
| Yellowhammer | 5 | 0 |
| Red-backed Shrike | 18 | 4 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 19 | 1 |
| Blackbird | 8 | 1 |
| Nightjar | 0 | 0 |
| Song Thrush | 35 | 5 |
| Cuckoo | 1 | 0 |
| Sparrowhawk | 6 | 2 |
| Kestrel | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 1210 | 186 |
Sunday, 15 September 2013
| Kay | Chris | |
| Treecreeper | 2 | 0 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler | 0 | 1 |
| Goldcrest | 26 | 15 |
| Red-breasted Flycatcher | 7 | 5 |
| Icterine Warbler | 2 | 3 |
| Lesser Whitethroat | 109 | 11 |
| Pied Flycatcher | 9 | 0 |
| Marsh Warbler | 0 | 1 |
| Common Redpoll | 4 | 0 |
| Redstart | 24 | 1 |
| Bluethroat | 0 | 2 |
| Reed Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Robin | 96 | 55 |
| Marsh Tit | 3 | 1 |
| Sedge Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Siskin | 20 | 0 |
| Spotted Flycatcher | 31 | 5 |
| Whinchat | 2 | 0 |
| Wren | 2 | 0 |
| Willow Warbler | 159 | 15 |
| Coal Tit | 2 | 2 |
| Wood Warbler | 4 | 1 |
| Blackcap | 128 | 23 |
| Blue Tit | 12 | 3 |
| White Wagtail | 13 | 1 |
| Wheatear | 1 | 0 |
| Chaffinch | 7 | 4 |
| Garden Warbler | 31 | 5 |
| Tree Pipit | 5 | 1 |
| Goldfinch | 0 | 0 |
| Whitethroat | 16 | 7 |
| Rustic Bunting | 0 | 1 |
| Yellow Wagtail | 1 | 0 |
| Common Rosefinch | 4 | 2 |
| Great Tit | 19 | 3 |
| Nuthatch | 1 | 0 |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | 0 | 1 |
| Greenfinch | 63 | 3 |
| Thrush Nightingale | 3 | 1 |
| Yellowhammer | 5 | 0 |
| Red-backed Shrike | 17 | 4 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 12 | 1 |
| Blackbird | 8 | 1 |
| Nightjar | 0 | 0 |
| Song Thrush | 10 | 5 |
| Cuckoo | 1 | 0 |
| Sparrowhawk | 3 | 2 |
| Kestrel | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 867 | 186 |
Overall a bit of a mixed week. The main event of the week was Kay departing for High Wycombe on the 10th to attend Sorchas Graduation ceremony, which went very well and they had a great time together.
Whilst she was away the birding was mixed, with our 10-12th Red-breasted Flycatchers of the trip. Mr Fox came and had breakfast with Janne and Chris, approaching to a couple of feet. On the day that Kay returned we caught a smashing Rustic Bunting, only the 13th caught here, followed later in the day by Kay catching a Nightjar, in broad daylight (they are nocturnal), only the 3rd ever caught! Very generously she gave it to Pelle (Per) who was delighted.
The nights are really closing in now, though until today, it has been very warm - T-shirt weather from 0600 onwards and bright sunshine most days. A little rain shower was the first for a couple of weeks, though some more is forecast tomorrow. Today we ringed the 6th Kestrel ever to be caught here and this week we passed the 3,000 birds ringed for the year mark, with Kay & Chris accounting for over 1,000 of them.
Other noteworthy events included Tore, one of the Islands residents and skipper of the Pilot and Ferry vessels, setting the Obs up with wireless connections - what a great difference it makes. He calls round most days for a cuppa and a chat. We are now pretty much accepted by the community here now and chat with many of the residents when we bump into them, which makes it even more pleasurable to be here. For the first time in weeks the sunset is lost behind the clouds tonight!!!
Whilst she was away the birding was mixed, with our 10-12th Red-breasted Flycatchers of the trip. Mr Fox came and had breakfast with Janne and Chris, approaching to a couple of feet. On the day that Kay returned we caught a smashing Rustic Bunting, only the 13th caught here, followed later in the day by Kay catching a Nightjar, in broad daylight (they are nocturnal), only the 3rd ever caught! Very generously she gave it to Pelle (Per) who was delighted.
The nights are really closing in now, though until today, it has been very warm - T-shirt weather from 0600 onwards and bright sunshine most days. A little rain shower was the first for a couple of weeks, though some more is forecast tomorrow. Today we ringed the 6th Kestrel ever to be caught here and this week we passed the 3,000 birds ringed for the year mark, with Kay & Chris accounting for over 1,000 of them.
Other noteworthy events included Tore, one of the Islands residents and skipper of the Pilot and Ferry vessels, setting the Obs up with wireless connections - what a great difference it makes. He calls round most days for a cuppa and a chat. We are now pretty much accepted by the community here now and chat with many of the residents when we bump into them, which makes it even more pleasurable to be here. For the first time in weeks the sunset is lost behind the clouds tonight!!!
Monday, 9 September 2013
| Species | Kay | Chris |
| Treecreeper | 2 | 0 |
| Goldcrest | 11 | 0 |
| Red-breasted Flycatcher | 6 | 3 |
| Icterine Warbler | 2 | 3 |
| Lesser Whitethroat | 106 | 9 |
| Pied Flycatcher | 9 | 0 |
| Marsh Warbler | 0 | 1 |
| Common Redpoll | 3 | 0 |
| Redstart | 23 | 0 |
| Bluethroat | 0 | 1 |
| Reed Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Robin | 53 | 3 |
| Marsh Tit | 3 | 1 |
| Sedge Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Siskin | 20 | 0 |
| Spotted Flycatcher | 30 | 5 |
| Whinchat | 2 | 0 |
| Wren | 1 | 0 |
| Willow Warbler | 156 | 13 |
| Wood Warbler | 4 | 1 |
| Blackcap | 116 | 8 |
| Blue Tit | 12 | 2 |
| White Wagtail | 12 | 1 |
| Wheatear | 1 | 0 |
| Chaffinch | 6 | 2 |
| Garden Warbler | 31 | 4 |
| Tree Pipit | 5 | 0 |
| Goldfinch | 0 | 0 |
| Whitethroat | 16 | 6 |
| Yellow Wagtail | 1 | 0 |
| Common Rosefinch | 3 | 2 |
| Great Tit | 18 | 2 |
| Nuthatch | 1 | 0 |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | 0 | 1 |
| Greenfinch | 62 | 2 |
| Thrush Nightingale | 3 | 1 |
| Yellowhammer | 5 | 0 |
| Red-backed Shrike | 17 | 3 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 12 | 1 |
| Blackbird | 8 | 1 |
| Song Thrush | 3 | 2 |
| Cuckoo | 1 | 0 |
| Sparrowhawk | 3 | 1 |
| Totals | 771 | 79 |
Sunday, 8 September 2013
A quiet week in terms of numbers of birds caught, as the fantastic weather continues. We are opening the nets at 0430 each morning and by the time we do our first check of them the sun is just breaking the horizon on the Baltic and you can walk round in T-shirts.
Earlier in the week, Chris had Mr Fox for company again; he followed beside me as i wandered round to open the nets, sitting waiting for me as i opened each one, before heading off to his den somewhere to the north of the netting area.
Although quiet in terms of birds caught, Chris flushed a Great Snipe from the reedbeds today, only the 15th record for the Observatory in it's 25 years, so a good bird, seen by most of the Obs volunteers who came out.
the 7th, was the Open Day to mark the 25th anniversary of the Observatory, with over 120 visitors coming to see our ringing demonstration, learn about the importance of this type of bird research and to spend some time watching migratory birds passing overhead. Despite the best efforts of everyone who attended, there is still a mountain of hotdog sausages, rolls and cinnamon buns in the freezer!
It is interesting to note how many young Swedes are interested in birds and birding. Many of those at the open day brought small children and there is a heathly number of the Obs members who are in the 16-23 age group - if only that were the case back home!!
Good also to see quite a few of the Island residents make the effort to come to yesterdays event. From what we hear, the Obs was not always welcomed, but that certainly is not the case now.
Kay and I are now recognised as 'locals'
Earlier in the week, Chris had Mr Fox for company again; he followed beside me as i wandered round to open the nets, sitting waiting for me as i opened each one, before heading off to his den somewhere to the north of the netting area.
Although quiet in terms of birds caught, Chris flushed a Great Snipe from the reedbeds today, only the 15th record for the Observatory in it's 25 years, so a good bird, seen by most of the Obs volunteers who came out.
the 7th, was the Open Day to mark the 25th anniversary of the Observatory, with over 120 visitors coming to see our ringing demonstration, learn about the importance of this type of bird research and to spend some time watching migratory birds passing overhead. Despite the best efforts of everyone who attended, there is still a mountain of hotdog sausages, rolls and cinnamon buns in the freezer!
It is interesting to note how many young Swedes are interested in birds and birding. Many of those at the open day brought small children and there is a heathly number of the Obs members who are in the 16-23 age group - if only that were the case back home!!
Good also to see quite a few of the Island residents make the effort to come to yesterdays event. From what we hear, the Obs was not always welcomed, but that certainly is not the case now.
Kay and I are now recognised as 'locals'
Sunday, 1 September 2013
| Week-ending 1st September | ||
| Species | Kay | Chris |
| Treecreeper | 1 | 0 |
| Goldcrest | 2 | 0 |
| Red-breasted Flycatcher | 2 | 1 |
| Icterine Warbler | 2 | 3 |
| Lesser Whitethroat | 84 | 9 |
| Pied Flycatcher | 8 | 0 |
| Marsh Warbler | 0 | 1 |
| Common Redpoll | 1 | 0 |
| Redstart | 14 | 0 |
| Reed Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Robin | 17 | 3 |
| Marsh Tit | 3 | 1 |
| Sedge Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Siskin | 8 | 0 |
| Spotted Flycatcher | 21 | 5 |
| Whinchat | 2 | 0 |
| Willow Warbler | 131 | 12 |
| Wood Warbler | 3 | 1 |
| Blackcap | 77 | 8 |
| Blue Tit | 8 | 2 |
| White Wagtail | 10 | 1 |
| Wheatear | 1 | 0 |
| Chaffinch | 4 | 2 |
| Garden Warbler | 28 | 4 |
| Tree Pipit | 5 | 0 |
| Goldfinch | 0 | 0 |
| Whitethroat | 15 | 6 |
| Yellow Wagtail | 1 | 0 |
| Common Rosefinch | 3 | 2 |
| Great Tit | 15 | 2 |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | 0 | 1 |
| Greenfinch | 62 | 2 |
| Thrush Nightingale | 3 | 1 |
| Yellowhammer | 5 | 0 |
| Red-backed Shrike | 16 | 3 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 11 | 1 |
| Blackbird | 5 | 1 |
| Song Thrush | 0 | 2 |
| Cuckoo | 1 | 0 |
| Sparrowhawk | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 574 | 74 |
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