Only spent three days of the week on Landsort but in that time managed to catch over 400 birds, with over 100 each day.

Best day was the 26th when Kay ringed 176, including 107 Willow Warbler. After opening the nets at 0415 we were busy straight away and all the birds were caught in the next two trips round the nets. Birds were flying into the nets as we were exctracting others. Unfortunately the rain that had been forecast for midday arrived just after 0800, so the nets were closed and remained that way for the rest of the day as heavy rain hit the island. Imagine how many we might have caught. Still, a very welcome busy period after a couple of quiet weeks.

On the 27th we left Landsort on the early ferry and headed south with Pelle and Monica to stay overnight near another Bird Observatory, Ottenby on Öland, where we went the next morning to see some ringing taking place. We arrived just in time to help flush a Honey Buzzard into a trap, only the second one ever caught there.

The real purpose of our trip however was to go to Falstabo Bird Observatory in the very south of Sweden, where they were hosting the first ever International Bird Observatories Conference, 90+ delegates from 20 countries, including the Isle of Man. From Friday evening until mid-afternoon Monday a wide range of speakers presented information from as far afield as Australia, Canada, the USA, Nigeria and China, with many speakers from Scandinavia and UK. Many research and monitoring methods were discussed and a very useful, though tiring few days, starting with breakfast at 0600 before a field trip, presentatoins from 1000 to 1900 and then dinner. Food was plentyful and helped reverse recent weight losses!!!

While we were away Liam and a couple of others kept the end up with ringing on Landsort and had another few days of 100+ each day, breaking the all time Tree Pipit record and getting the totals for the year to over 4,000. Only 6,000 to go to make 2014 the best year ever - no problem!!!