Landsort diary 30th September 2016

Storm force winds overnight prevented opening of nets at first light this morning. Instead we were up and out to check if there was any damage to the nets caused by falling branches. Checked all 30 at Bredmar and then down to the 7 at SUDD. Only one net had a problem, one at SUDD had fallen over. It looks like one of the supporting ropes had been chewed through, probably by Fox. Luckily very little damage, a few sticks and some grass to remove. All sorted

 

Two nets along the road could be opened safely and these were operated from 0930 until 1530 with 37 new birds of 4 species caught, mainly Siskin.

 

A total of 7,243 birds for the year so far, second highest for this time of year.

 

Will be three at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay and Jön who is arriving on the last ferry this evening. Still blowing a gale of wind which will be strong all tomorrow, so restricted net opening again we suspect!!!

 

Wind: West

Wind strength: Gale, 20-24 m/s

Temperature: 14

Visibility: Good, 10-20 km

Cloud cover: Partly clouded, 3-5/8

Precipitation: Dry weather

Birds ringed

• Robin                                   Rödhake             3 
• Lesser Whitethroat            Ärtsångare         1  
• Goldcrest                            Kungsfågel          1 
• Siskin                                  Grönsiska          32

Deformed bill on Blue Tit

 

Photo courtesy of Beryl Quayle Photography

 

Caught this adult (2+CY) Blue Tit (Blåmes) the other day.

 

Very odd deformity of bill, but in good health, within expected weight range etc.

On the plus side, it did not peck anywhere near as hard as most Blue Tits do!!



Landsort diary 29th September 2016

With rain not forecast until 1000 we opened 15 nets at 0600 with a strong westerly wind. It was obvious as dawn came that the rain would arrive earlier than forecast (again!!) so all nets closed at 0730 with just 90 minutes of ringing.

 

Was it worth the effort??? Fortunately - YES - with our 8th Yellow-browed Warbler and 9th Red-breasted Flycatchers of the year among the 19 new birds of 6 species caught.

 

By 0900 the wind had increased to 15 m/s from SW with heavier and constant rain, putting an end to ringing for the day.

 

Plenty to do with data analysis and general admin for the Obs that is a bit overdue. Coffee on and ready to go!

 

Just Chris & Kay overnight tonight.

Wind: Southwest

Wind strength: Strong wind, 8-13 m/s

Temperature: 14

Visibility: Haze, 1-4 km

Cloud cover: Overcast, 8/8

Precipitation: Moderate rain

Birds ringed

• Robin                                          Rödhake                        7 
• Blackcap                                     Svarthätta                     2 
• Yellow-browed Warbler           Tajgasångare                1 
• Goldcrest                                    Kungsfågel                    7 
• Red-breasted Flycatcher           Mindre flugsnappare   1 
• Blue Tit                                       Blåmes                           1

Landsort diary 28th September 2016

No ringing today due to very strong wind and heavy rain throughout the morning. Only the 5th day of ringing missed since starting on 5th April and the first since mid-August.

So - a 'lazy' start to the morning with a rare late rise at 0730 after a cup of tea in bed! Morning spent updating the membership list and checking it against the cash book.

Gave a guided talk to 29 staff from the Nordic Bank who enjoyed learning about the work at the Obs and migration, despite the lack of birds to show them. So many good questions asked it lasted for nearly 2 hours.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight, both hoping for better weather as we've had enough rest from catching birds now!!!

 

Wind: Southwest

Wind strength: Very strong wind, 14-19 m/s

Temperature: 15

Visibility: Moderate, 4-10 km

Cloud cover: Overcast, 8/8

Precipitation: Heavy rain

Landsort diary 27th September 2016

A strong SW prevented all nets being opened, but as the wind decreased a little in the morning more could be opened with 20 operated until 1230 when ringing stopped.

A total of 91 new birds of 9 species, mostly Siskin but with two more Lesser Whitethroat. Much quieter on the island for birds than recently.

Best bird of the day though was an Eagle Owl. At 0630 while doing a net check, Chris noticed some agitated Hooded crows near the pond. These caused an Eagle Owl to flush from within the tree canopy and fly north over the rocks. Brief views but unmistakeable!!!

This afternoon, with heavy rain forecast tomorrow we moved the timber from outside into the cellar, ready for use in boardwalk repairs and any other needs.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight and every chance of our fist lie-in for weeks with strong winds and rain by 0500 tomorrow - but you never know!!!!

 

Wind: Southwest

Wind strength: Strong wind, 8-13 m/s

Temperature: 17

Visibility: Good, 10-20 km

Cloud cover: Partly clouded, 3-5/8

Precipitation: Dry weather

Sightings of interest

• Eagle Owl              Berguv    1 Stationary

          (Being mobbed at roost by Hooded Crow. Flushed and flew north at 0630)

Birds ringed

• Wren                               Gärdsmyg                1 
• Robin                              Rödhake                   2 
• Song Thrush                  Taltrast                     1 
• Lesser Whitethroat       Ärtsångare                2 
• Goldcrest                        Kungsfågel              16 
• Great Tit                         Talgoxe                     2 
• Treecreeper                    Trädkrypare             1 
• Siskin                              Grönsiska                65 
• Lesser Redpoll               Gråsiska (cabaret)    1

Chris & Kay birds ringed on Landsort w/e 25th September 2016

	w/e 25th Sept  2016
Species	As at 18th	Kay	Chris	Total
Barred Warbler	1			1
Blackbird	70	2		72
Blackcap	254	19	18	291
Black Redstart	1			1
Bluethroat	12			12
Bluethroat cyanecula	1			1
Blue Tit	76	45	50	171
Blyth's Reed Warbler	2			2
Brambling	6		1	7
Bullfinch	2			2
Chaffinch	149	5	1	155
Chiffchaff	151	9	14	174
Collared Flycatcher	2			2
Common Redpoll		1	1	2
Common Redpoll cabaret	7	1	2	10
Common Redpoll flammea	1		1	2
Common Rosefinch	18			18
Cuckoo	4			4
Dunnock	41	2	6	49
Fieldfare	3			3
Garden Warbler	91	1		92
Goldcrest	524	91	112	727
Goldfinch	16			16
Grasshopper Warbler	2			2
Great Spotted Woodpecker	16		1	17
Great Tit	266	20	8	294
Green Woodpecker	3			3
Greenfinch	205			205
Greenish Warbler	1			1
Hawfinch		1		1
House Martin	1			1
Icterine Warbler	62			62
Jackdaw	5			5
Kestrel	1			1
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	1			1
Lesser Whitethroat	434	1	2	437
Linnet	85			85
Magpie	4			4
Marsh Tit	8			8
Marsh Warbler	13			13
Meadow Pipit	3			3
Nightingale	1			1
Nuthatch	7			7
Parrot Crossbill	1			1
Pied Flycatcher	70			70
Red-backed Shrike	77			77
Red-breasted Flycatcher	3	1	2	6
Redstart	94			94
Redwing	1			1
Reed Bunting	25			25
Reed Warbler	39			39
Robin	1217	132	82	1431
Sedge Warbler	6			6
Serin	2			2
Siskin	72	98	31	201
Song Thrush	76	14	9	99
Sparrowhawk	6	1	1	8
Spotted Flycatcher	56	1	1	58
Starling	66			66
Swallow	14			14
Thrush Nightingale	25			25
Treecreeper	10	11	3	24
Tree Pipit	12			12
Tree Sparrow	116			116
Wheatear	30			30
Whinchat	6			6
Whitethroat	114			114
White Wagtail	56	1		57
Willow Warbler	824	14	10	848
Wood Warbler	21			21
Woodpigeon	1			1
Wren	71	18	16	105
Yellow Wagtail	1			1
Wryneck	21			21
Yellow-browed Warbler		2	2	4
Yellowhammer	39			39
Total	5722	491	374	6583