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'