Landsort diary 19th August 2016

No ringing took place yesterday due to a combination of very strong winds and heavy rain - a day off for us and much needed fresh water for the island.

 

Heavy overnight rain had cleared by the time nets were opened at 0530. Due to risk of more rain only the 18 Standard nets were opened to start with but by 0830 all nets were open. Two had to be closed later due to one of the ringed Sparrowhawk remaining in the area and repeatedly trying to catch birds from these nets.

 

All nets closed by 1200 with 70 new birds of 15 species, with 16 Garden warbler being of note.

 

Janne and Bosse had a decent mornings migration watching - some of the highlights shown below.

 

Another good guided talk attended by two groups of 4 and 10.

 

Just as I'm finishing the diary for the day there has been a hatch of flying ants outside, with 100+ Common Gull all spiralling up above us feeding on them - an impressive sight!

 

Bosse, Lena and Janne left on the 1330 ferry to give just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

Wind: East

Wind strength: Moderate wind, 4-7 m/s

Temperature: 15

Visibility: Moderate, 4-10 km

Cloud cover: Cloudy, 6-7/8

Precipitation: Dry weather

Sightings of interest

• Teal                                Kricka                     2    Staging
• Teal                                Kricka                     1920 Migrating S
• Osprey                           Fiskgjuse                  1    Migrating S 
• Cuckoo                           Gök                          2     Migrating S
•  Pintail                            Stjärtand                40    Migrating S
• Wigeon                           Bläsand                   88    Migrating S
•  Cormorant                    Storskarv                490  Migrating S
•  Common Sandpiper     Drillsnäppa             2     Migrating S
• Sparrowhawk                Sparvhök                 6     Migrating S
• Common Scoter             Sjöorre                    193 Migrating S
• Red-necked Grebe         Gråhakedopping    1     Migrating S
• Red-throated Diver        Smålom                   1    Migrating S
• Black-throated Diver     Storlom                   1    Migrating S
• Yellow Wagtail               Gulärla                   4    Migrating S             

Birds ringed

• Sparrowhawk            Sparvhök                       2 Females
• Wren                           Gärdsmyg                     1 
• Robin                          Rödhake                        1 
• Redstart                      Rödstjärt                       2 
• Sedge Warbler           Sävsångare                    1 
• Lesser Whitethroat    Ärtsångare                    13 
• Whitethroat                Törnsångare                  3 
• Garden Warbler         Trädgårdssångare       16  
• Blackcap                      Svarthätta                     3 
• Willow Warbler          Lövsångare                   14 
• Spotted Flycatcher     Grå flugsnappare          1 
• Pied Flycatcher           Svartvit flugsnappare   2 
• Red-backed Shrike     Törnskata                      4 
• Tree Sparrow              Pilfink                            5 
• Yellowhammer            Gulsparv                        2