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!!!