Cotton Grass 

Male Serin - second one caught and ringed on Landsort

Lesser Butterfly Orchid

Female Serin - third one caught and ringed on Landsort!

Crested Cow-Wheat - rare for Sweden

First crop of radish harvested

Chicken of the Wood Fungus growing by one of the nest boxes

Lily of the Valley now replacing the Wood Anemone

Landsort diary 10th June 2016

All nets opened at 0400, with two being closed during the morning due to an increasing wind. All remaining nets closed at 1015 just ahead of the start of occasional rain showers that lasted over mid-day and into early afternoon before clearing, with more showers forecast this evening.

A total of 11 new birds caught of 8 species, including recently fledged Nuthatch (2) and Yellowhammer (1). Another 2-3 hours spent checking nest boxes, with a further 12 chicks ringed: 4 Robin and 8 Blue Tit.

Within this total Kay passed the personal total of 10,000 birds ringed on Landsort during our three stays here in 2013, 2014 and so far in 2016.

Liam was with us during the netting and nest box sessions.

At the Obs the floor for the new bathroom was installed today, as was the door frame. More work next week is planned to see it finished.

Tonight, in addition to Kay, Chris and Liam a further six members will be out, giving nine overnight.

Wind strength:	Calm, <1 m/s Light wind, 1-3 m/s Moderate wind, 4-7 m/s Strong wind, 8-13 m/s Very strong wind, 14-19 m/s Gale, 20-24 m/s Storm, 25-32 m/s Hurricane, >=33 m/s
Wind:	North Northeast East Southeast South Southwest West Northwest
Temperature:	40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 -17 -18 -19 -20 -21 -22 -23 -24 -25 -26 -27 -28 -29 -30 -31 -32 -33 -34 -35 -36 -37 -38 -39 -40 -41 -42 -43 -44 -45 -46 -47 -48 -49 -50 -51 -52 -53 -54 -55 -56 -57 -58 -59 -60
Visibility:	Very good, >20 km Good, 10-20 km Moderate, 4-10 km Haze, 1-4 km Fog, <1 km
Cloud cover:	Clear skies, 0/8 Almost clear skies, 1-2/8 Partly clouded, 3-5/8 Cloudy, 6-7/8 Overcast, 8/8 Scattered clouds, 0-8/8
Precipitation:	Dry weather Light rain Moderate rain Heavy rain Showers Light snowfall Moderate snowfall Heavy snowfall Snow flurries Hail showers

Landsort diary 9th June 2016

All nets open at 0400 and closed at 1100. 18 new birds of 10 species.

 

Of the 18 birds, ten were young born this year, a clear indicator of how the seasons are progressing.

 

Between net rounds the window panes in the 'new' windows were cleaned of paint, putty etc and polished - you can now see out of them!!!!

 

Liam spent the morning migration watching, not a huge amount but an Arctic Skua passing and a few Swift still heading north.

 

Liam is staying until Saturday, so the three of us overnight tonight.

 

Wind strength:	Calm, <1 m/s Light wind, 1-3 m/s Moderate wind, 4-7 m/s Strong wind, 8-13 m/s Very strong wind, 14-19 m/s Gale, 20-24 m/s Storm, 25-32 m/s Hurricane, >=33 m/s
Wind:	North Northeast East Southeast South Southwest West Northwest
Temperature:	40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 -17 -18 -19 -20 -21 -22 -23 -24 -25 -26 -27 -28 -29 -30 -31 -32 -33 -34 -35 -36 -37 -38 -39 -40 -41 -42 -43 -44 -45 -46 -47 -48 -49 -50 -51 -52 -53 -54 -55 -56 -57 -58 -59 -60
Visibility:	Very good, >20 km Good, 10-20 km Moderate, 4-10 km Haze, 1-4 km Fog, <1 km
Cloud cover:	Clear skies, 0/8 Almost clear skies, 1-2/8 Partly clouded, 3-5/8 Cloudy, 6-7/8 Overcast, 8/8 Scattered clouds, 0-8/8
Precipitation:	Dry weather Light rain Moderate rain Heavy rain Showers Light snowfall Moderate snowfall Heavy snowfall Snow flurries Hail showers

Landsort Diary 8th June 2016

All nets opened at 0400 but closed at 0800 as the strengthening wind came ahead of moderate rain at 0900. Looks like it will rain now for a while, so no more netting today.

 

A total of 12 new birds of 11 species, including the first Greenish Warbler of the year. Also caught our first fledged linnet of the year. Along with Greenfinch, Great Tit and White Wagtail chicks in the area, it is a sign that the breeding season is advancing quickly.

 

62 species caught this year so far.

 

Liam arrives this evening to give three at the Obs overnight.

 

Wind strength:	Calm, <1 m/s Light wind, 1-3 m/s Moderate wind, 4-7 m/s Strong wind, 8-13 m/s Very strong wind, 14-19 m/s Gale, 20-24 m/s Storm, 25-32 m/s Hurricane, >=33 m/s
Wind:	North Northeast East Southeast South Southwest West Northwest
Temperature:	40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 -17 -18 -19 -20 -21 -22 -23 -24 -25 -26 -27 -28 -29 -30 -31 -32 -33 -34 -35 -36 -37 -38 -39 -40 -41 -42 -43 -44 -45 -46 -47 -48 -49 -50 -51 -52 -53 -54 -55 -56 -57 -58 -59 -60
Visibility:	Very good, >20 km Good, 10-20 km Moderate, 4-10 km Haze, 1-4 km Fog, <1 km
Cloud cover:	Clear skies, 0/8 Almost clear skies, 1-2/8 Partly clouded, 3-5/8 Cloudy, 6-7/8 Overcast, 8/8 Scattered clouds, 0-8/8
Precipitation:	Dry weather Light rain Moderate rain Heavy rain Showers Light snowfall Moderate snowfall Heavy snowfall Snow flurries Hail showers

Landsort diary 7th June 2016

The number of nets opened at 0330 was limited due to a fresh SW wind, which eased a bit during the morning to allow more nets to be opened. By the time nets were closed at 1100 there were 26 nets open, giving 16 new birds of 6 species. The majority were Great Tit, with 10 recently fledged birds caught.

 

Window for bathroom had broken glass removed and has been sanded down ready for painting. Work progressing well on the bathroom with walls and floor fitted today.

 

Strimming of net rides started but ran out of cord.

Wind strength:	Calm, <1 m/s Light wind, 1-3 m/s Moderate wind, 4-7 m/s Strong wind, 8-13 m/s Very strong wind, 14-19 m/s Gale, 20-24 m/s Storm, 25-32 m/s Hurricane, >=33 m/s
Wind:	North Northeast East Southeast South Southwest West Northwest
Temperature:	40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 -17 -18 -19 -20 -21 -22 -23 -24 -25 -26 -27 -28 -29 -30 -31 -32 -33 -34 -35 -36 -37 -38 -39 -40 -41 -42 -43 -44 -45 -46 -47 -48 -49 -50 -51 -52 -53 -54 -55 -56 -57 -58 -59 -60
Visibility:	Very good, >20 km Good, 10-20 km Moderate, 4-10 km Haze, 1-4 km Fog, <1 km
Cloud cover:	Clear skies, 0/8 Almost clear skies, 1-2/8 Partly clouded, 3-5/8 Cloudy, 6-7/8 Overcast, 8/8 Scattered clouds, 0-8/8
Precipitation:	Dry weather Light rain Moderate rain Heavy rain Showers Light snowfall Moderate snowfall Heavy snowfall Snow flurries Hail showers

Landsort diary 6th June 2016

Firstly, the diary entry is for Norrudden not Bredmar!!!! For some reason this site now seems to be the only option available - working on how to fix it, but Artportalen is not the easiest system to work!!! Bring back Svalan????

 

All nets open at 0330 and closed at 1100. A total of 22 new birds of 12 species including the years first Barred Warbler.

 

Between net rounds more work done on the window and window frame of the bathroom.

 

Ida and her two sons eventually made it to the island last night having missed the last ferry and having to get a boat from the island to come and get her. They spent some of the morning with us and then went down to the lighthouse area, where Mats and Lasse had spent the morning.

 

Not much volunteer work done.

 

After everyone left on the 1330 boat Kay & Chris checked the final area in the north for nest boxes and 5 more Great Tit ringed. Now it is just about 15 boxes to re-visit at the end of the week to check on progress.

 

In the evening some time had to be spent properly cleaning the guest rooms and ping-pong room where the required tidying by some of those staying had been a bit careless!!! Disappointing to have to do this, especially when it is important that those who are regulars at the Obs should set the standard for new members.

 

The fridge in the kitchen, which was scrubbed and cleaned when we arrived in April has not been cleaned since and it will be the task of the next people staying to clean it.

Wind strength:	Calm, <1 m/s Light wind, 1-3 m/s Moderate wind, 4-7 m/s Strong wind, 8-13 m/s Very strong wind, 14-19 m/s Gale, 20-24 m/s Storm, 25-32 m/s Hurricane, >=33 m/s
Wind:	North Northeast East Southeast South Southwest West Northwest
Temperature:	40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 -17 -18 -19 -20 -21 -22 -23 -24 -25 -26 -27 -28 -29 -30 -31 -32 -33 -34 -35 -36 -37 -38 -39 -40 -41 -42 -43 -44 -45 -46 -47 -48 -49 -50 -51 -52 -53 -54 -55 -56 -57 -58 -59 -60
Visibility:	Very good, >20 km Good, 10-20 km Moderate, 4-10 km Haze, 1-4 km Fog, <1 km
Cloud cover:	Clear skies, 0/8 Almost clear skies, 1-2/8 Partly clouded, 3-5/8 Cloudy, 6-7/8 Overcast, 8/8 Scattered clouds, 0-8/8
Precipitation:	Dry weather Light rain Moderate rain Heavy rain Showers Light snowfall Moderate snowfall Heavy snowfall Snow flurries Hail showers

Week-ending 5th June on Landsort

Another busy week comes to an end.

 

Now that May is finished the expectation of busy mornings ringing migrants has reduced. Good to still be catching migrants, especially Marsh and Reed Warbler.

 

Best birds of the week were without question two Serin, only the 2nd and 3rd caught at the observatory, after the first one in 2002. The species is uncommon this far north in Sweden, but breeds in small numbers further south and is expanding its range from further south in Europe. Who knows, maybe this pair might stay to breed?

 

The week has been a mix of catching birds in mist nets during the morning, and going out to check nest boxes around the island. Almost done with these now, just one area to check tomorrow and then some follow up visits to nests that have young too small to ring.

 

In amongst all this we have been helping out the builders, in particular cleaning paint off the bathroom window. Work on the bathroom is progressing well, with more work next week, including painting walls, electrics and plumbing. All going to make a big difference to life here on the Obs - it will never be the same again!!!