If a Wryneck is threatened when in it's nest hole it has a strange defence reaction - it impersonates a snake, writhing it's head and neck backwards and forwards - hence the name!!!
Gannets
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Monday, 28 July 2014
Another hot week on Landsort, with temperatures up in the high 20's for most of last week. Hot, dry and sunny - not ideal conditions for catching birds, but as you can see from the table below we did well, with 246 new birds caught, giving 432 of 36 species since we got here.
Best bird was a Wryneck, a small member of the woodpecker family, with fantastically cryptic plumage to help in camouflage. They nest in holes and, as a defence against predators, they extend their necks (hence the name) and point their beaks up, before gyrating their head and neck in a convincing mimic of a snake. Video of this to follow tomorrow.
Adding our totals to those caught earlier in the year has resulted in 2014 already being the best year since ringing began here (1987) for captures of; Swallow, Icterine Warbler and Goldfinch.
During the week we caught two recently fledged Red-breasted Flycatchers, so young they must have bred on the island.
Each evening we have been runnng the moth trap, with Jon and Kalle taking the lead in sorting out identification of the 97 species caught so far. No one here had seen trapping before and it looks like it may become a feature of the Observatory into the future.
The hot weather has resulted in a very busy tourist season for the island with lots of day visitors and most of the summer houses occupied.
A downside of the heat and calm seas has been the build up of algae on the surface of the Baltic, lying thick in the harbours and bays. Some has cleared from the west, but the east harbour and the bay next to us is full of it - very aromatic.
Heavy rain forecast for Wednesday might mean a lie-in. Equally it may mean a very busy day catching birds if the rain is over-night!
Best bird was a Wryneck, a small member of the woodpecker family, with fantastically cryptic plumage to help in camouflage. They nest in holes and, as a defence against predators, they extend their necks (hence the name) and point their beaks up, before gyrating their head and neck in a convincing mimic of a snake. Video of this to follow tomorrow.
Adding our totals to those caught earlier in the year has resulted in 2014 already being the best year since ringing began here (1987) for captures of; Swallow, Icterine Warbler and Goldfinch.
During the week we caught two recently fledged Red-breasted Flycatchers, so young they must have bred on the island.
Each evening we have been runnng the moth trap, with Jon and Kalle taking the lead in sorting out identification of the 97 species caught so far. No one here had seen trapping before and it looks like it may become a feature of the Observatory into the future.
The hot weather has resulted in a very busy tourist season for the island with lots of day visitors and most of the summer houses occupied.
A downside of the heat and calm seas has been the build up of algae on the surface of the Baltic, lying thick in the harbours and bays. Some has cleared from the west, but the east harbour and the bay next to us is full of it - very aromatic.
Heavy rain forecast for Wednesday might mean a lie-in. Equally it may mean a very busy day catching birds if the rain is over-night!
Last weeks ringing totals on Landsort
| w/e 27th July | ||||
| Species | As at 20th | Kay | Chris | Total |
| Blackbird | 21 | 6 | 27 | |
| Blackcap | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Blue Tit | 8 | 6 | 14 | |
| Chaffinch | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| Common Rosefinch | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Fieldfare | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Garden Warbler | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| Goldfinch | 2 | 2 | ||
| Great Tit | 13 | 2 | 1 | 16 |
| Greenfinch | 19 | 33 | 20 | 72 |
| Greenish Warbler | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Icterine Warbler | 12 | 8 | 3 | 23 |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | 1 | 1 | ||
| Lesser Whitethroat | 20 | 25 | 5 | 50 |
| Marsh Tit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Nuthatch | 1 | 1 | ||
| Pied Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | ||
| Red-backed Shrike | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| Red-breasted Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Redstart | 9 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| Reed Warbler | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Robin | 5 | 6 | 1 | 12 |
| Song Thrush | 5 | 5 | ||
| Spotted Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | ||
| Swallow | 10 | 9 | 11 | 30 |
| Thrush Nightingale | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| Tree Sparrow | 4 | 4 | 8 | |
| Treecreeper | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Wheatear | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| White Wagtail | 13 | 8 | 2 | 23 |
| Whitethroat | 19 | 13 | 5 | 37 |
| Willow Warbler | 9 | 21 | 2 | 32 |
| Wryneck | 1 | 1 | ||
| Wood Warbler | 1 | 1 | ||
| Wren | 2 | 2 | ||
| Yellowhammer | 1 | 1 | ||
| Total | 186 | 176 | 70 | 432 |
Monday, 21 July 2014
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Summary of birds ringed by Kay & Chris (NOTE - Lesser-spotted Woodpecker was ringed by Kay!!!!)
| Kay | Chris | Kay | Chris | ||
| Species | 17/07/14 | 18/07/14 | 19/07/14 | 20/07/14 | Total |
| Blackbird | 4 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 21 |
| Blackcap | 1 | 1 | |||
| Blue Tit | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 | |
| Chaffinch | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Common Rosefinch | 1 | 1 | |||
| Fieldfare | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Garden Warbler | 2 | 2 | |||
| Goldfinch | 2 | 2 | |||
| Great Tit | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 13 |
| Greenfinch | 10 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 19 |
| Icterine Warbler | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | 1 | 1 | |||
| Lesser Whitethroat | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 20 |
| Marsh Tit | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Pied Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | |||
| Red-backed Shrike | 2 | 2 | |||
| Redstart | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Reed Warbler | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Robin | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
| Swallow | 3 | 6 | 1 | 10 | |
| Thrush Nightingale | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Treecreeper | 1 | 1 | |||
| Wheatear | 1 | 1 | |||
| White Wagtail | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| Whitethroat | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| Willow Warbler | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | |
| Wren | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 76 | 44 | 35 | 31 | 186 |
End of our first (part) week on Landsort. For each of the last four mornings we have been up early to open our 30 nets at 0400. Luckily for us the first nets are right outside the front door, so no commuting necessary!! All 30 nets have been opened each morning and closed again at midday.
So for 32 hours of effort we have been rewarded with having caught 186 birds of 27 different species, plus a number of birds already ringed (known as 're-traps') some of which we ringed here last year.
This is thought of as being a 'quiet time' for bird ringing, so in most years the Obseravtory is not operated regularly at this time of year, so to get so many birds is a good reward for them having us here.
After the first three nights with just the two of us here (we only had four 'lone' nights all of last year), Jon arrived Friday night and Kalle and Marie tonight, with regular bookings from here on - a sure sign that migration is just around the corner - the birders arrive!!!
It has been very noticeable to us how busy Landsort is at the moment, tourists everywhere - the norm when the schools are out. North Harbour is full of yachts and you can't cycle up the lane without meeting folk. Jogging seems popular at the moment; it's quite funny to see the 'early' joggers at 0900 feeling very rightous - if only they knew we had been up for five hours already!!!
Weather looks good for at least another week, but we do need rain, trees are shedding their leaves due to lack of moisture and berries are not filling out - a poor sign for the autumn. Still, we are making the most of the sun, and taking it easy in the afternoons and evenings before bed at about 9.
When not ringing birds we have been meeting the islanders, who made us both so welcome last year and they are genuinely pleased to see us again this year. Worryingly, they almost all pass some comment when we say we are staying until the end of November - the least favourite month of their year - cold, dark, grey & wet - Ooops!!!
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Arrived on Landsort yesterday after a couple of nights staying in Stockholm at Pelles flat where we watched a truly terrible World Cup Final - poor game, poor result!!!
While in Stockholm we went to the Vasa museum, where a ship that sank in 1628 on her maiden voyage is displayed. A warship with 72 guns she was, for 1km at least, the pride of the Swedish navy, until she sank after firing a 'celebratory' broadside for the King who was presumably less than amused!! Due to the silt she has been remarkable preserved with over 95% of her timbers saved, plus countless artifacts, including sail cloth stored in holds - if anyone ever goes to Stockholm, go to see the ship, it is truly fantastic and worth spending a day there.
We also visited the zoo, which is combined with a museum of old houses, barns etc from around Sweden, many of which you can go in, another place well worth a visit. All in all a good couple of days with Pelle and Monica before we got to Landsort, where work starts. Today spent 6+ hours strimming net rides and paths, necessary to make sure birds caught in nets don't get tangled up in grass, reed etc and that they don't get wet if the foliage has dew on it. With that done we are up at 0400 in the morning to open up 'our' 30 nets, the start of a daily routine that will carry on until end of Nov, though thankfully dawn is getting later each day now, so 0400 will eventually end up as 0700ish - luxury.
Feels like we have not been away, although it is 8 months since we left last time. Tore, our friend who lives here was driving the ferry yesterday, so picked us up and loaned me the quad to get our kit to the house while he went off on his next trip! Delivered a couple of decent sized salmon steaks to us this morning - caught locally in the spring.
Off to bed shortly but can't go without giving a big (huge!!) thanks to our hosts from start of June until last Saturday - Bernt and Berit Johansson; Pelle's mum & dad. They have been fantastic company and the most hospitable hosts you could ever dream of meeting - great, honest, decent folk. We stayed in their summer house at the end of their garden where we thought we would cook our own grub - not a bit of it. Every morning we were treated to proper Scandinavian breakfasts of boiled egg, cheese, ham, fil (a kind of yoghurt), cups of tea and home baked bread. Every evening good wholesome homemade dinners, with homemade icecream, strawberries and cream - nothing could beat it!!!
Bernt & Berit have been great company and although we came here for 'the birds', their friendship will be one of the many lasting memories we go away with. Cheers folks, you treated us brilliantly!!!
While in Stockholm we went to the Vasa museum, where a ship that sank in 1628 on her maiden voyage is displayed. A warship with 72 guns she was, for 1km at least, the pride of the Swedish navy, until she sank after firing a 'celebratory' broadside for the King who was presumably less than amused!! Due to the silt she has been remarkable preserved with over 95% of her timbers saved, plus countless artifacts, including sail cloth stored in holds - if anyone ever goes to Stockholm, go to see the ship, it is truly fantastic and worth spending a day there.
We also visited the zoo, which is combined with a museum of old houses, barns etc from around Sweden, many of which you can go in, another place well worth a visit. All in all a good couple of days with Pelle and Monica before we got to Landsort, where work starts. Today spent 6+ hours strimming net rides and paths, necessary to make sure birds caught in nets don't get tangled up in grass, reed etc and that they don't get wet if the foliage has dew on it. With that done we are up at 0400 in the morning to open up 'our' 30 nets, the start of a daily routine that will carry on until end of Nov, though thankfully dawn is getting later each day now, so 0400 will eventually end up as 0700ish - luxury.
Feels like we have not been away, although it is 8 months since we left last time. Tore, our friend who lives here was driving the ferry yesterday, so picked us up and loaned me the quad to get our kit to the house while he went off on his next trip! Delivered a couple of decent sized salmon steaks to us this morning - caught locally in the spring.
Off to bed shortly but can't go without giving a big (huge!!) thanks to our hosts from start of June until last Saturday - Bernt and Berit Johansson; Pelle's mum & dad. They have been fantastic company and the most hospitable hosts you could ever dream of meeting - great, honest, decent folk. We stayed in their summer house at the end of their garden where we thought we would cook our own grub - not a bit of it. Every morning we were treated to proper Scandinavian breakfasts of boiled egg, cheese, ham, fil (a kind of yoghurt), cups of tea and home baked bread. Every evening good wholesome homemade dinners, with homemade icecream, strawberries and cream - nothing could beat it!!!
Bernt & Berit have been great company and although we came here for 'the birds', their friendship will be one of the many lasting memories we go away with. Cheers folks, you treated us brilliantly!!!
Sunday, 6 July 2014
A good week with Monica and Pelle up from Stockholm. A lot of time spent in the forest with Ake visiting nests for three bird of prey species: Osprey, Rough-legged Buzzard and Kestrel.
On the 1st July we spent some time at one of the new sites we had found for Siberian Jay, baiting the area with sausage. Two birds came down with one caught, an adult female. These are a splendid looking and gentle bird, with a soft call and silent flight; one minute the forest is empty and the next the Jays are there! This species is a northern specialist of old forest, and is hard to find, so to get one as a ringing tick was a real treat for Chris - still got a week to catch one for Kay!!!
The area we were working for the Jays proved to be a real hot-spot for birds. On site or within a few 100m we had pairs of Whinchat, Red-backed Shrike, Green Sandpiper, an Elk (at last for Chris), a pair of three-toed Woodpecker, Rough-legged Buzzard, a Kestrel brood, Adder, Honey Buzzard, Crested and Willow Tit. Leaving the area one day Monica spotted an adult Great Grey Owl sitting in the forest a few metres in from the track. A search found a well-grown youngster and the other adult. While we were watching, one of the adults brought food to the youngster, all caught on film (well partly hidden by a tree, but that's life!!). Fantastic that these huge owls sit there and allow such close views. Mind you we did get warning grunts and lots of bill-clacking from the female when we tried unsuccessfully to catch the youngster, which simply flew to the next tree!!! An absolute thrill to be in the forest with these birds.
Went to another Rough-legged Buzzard nest, making that four in total, with Pelle ringing both youngsters. It underlines how lucky we are with Kay and I already having done 3 each, while for Pelle, who lives here, these birds were only his 2nd and 3rd!!!
More Kestrel nests visited with good brood sizes and some very well grown young, a total of 58 young out of 12 nests. Some of these birds have hardly any downy feathers left and are ready to leave the nest.
We re-visited a Woodcock nest Kay and I had found a week or so ago. The female lifted off four youngsters, just hatched that morning, so well camouflaged, with two of them still having the egg tooth they use to open the egg.
Highlight has to be, without any question, going to Osprey nests to ring the young. On the 5th we went to three nests, the first had three well grown young, ringing ticks for Chris and Kay, with the third done by Monica. A fantastic experience and one of the many highlights of the trip, certainly one of the species we hoped to ring, but thought we probably would not!! Second nest had two young, ringed by Chris and Kay, while the third nest was sadly found at the base of the tree, having been blown out by the wind; poor reward for birds that travel from Africa!
Today we went to a fourth nest which had three very large young, again Chris & Kay ringing one each with Pelle doing the third.
A HUGE thanks must go to Pelle and Monica for allowing us special treatment on species which you can never tire of ringing and which they have not ringed that many of. Also to Ake, who is so fit and capable in climbing trees it is hard to credit his age. Climbed three trees in one day, plus good walks into the sites carrying all his climbing kit!!! Without his commitment and love of all things to do with birds of prey up here, very little could be achieved.
So, Pelle and Monica have headed off to Stockholm, where we will join them on the 13th for a day or so before heading over to Landsort to start our work there mid-July. Looking forward to it, but first there is the question of catching a Siberian Jay for Kay, more walks and filming and a final session running Pelle's ringing site.
Three well grown Osprey chicks
Ake climbing to one of many nests!!
Two happy Manx ringers, complete with ringing ticks!!!
Lesser Butterfly Orchid - one of many woodland plants
Siberian Jay, a northern speciality
One caught for Chris, trying for more this week
Freshly hatched Woodcock chicks
Well camouflaged Woodcock chicks in nest
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