Redpoll - day

The ringing:

Yesterday was already a really nice day for ringing but today was even better. There was again not much wind and soon the sun came out. I had a good number of birds, even better than yesterday, 27 new and 12 recaps. And it was a good variety of species, 15 different. Especially nice was a Bullfinch “Dompap”, a Crested Tit “Topmejse” and two Tree Sparrows “Skovspurv” – I love Sparrows in hand, so although it is a common species that I see every day, I really enjoy them in hand.

But the Redpolls “Gråsisken” made the numbers. First I had one of the subspecies cabaret in the lighthouse garden.

Lesser Redpoll "Lille Gråsisken"

After, there were 10 of the northern subspecies flammea in the station garden. They were mostly in the net behind the pond. In the weekend, Henrik had filled the pond with some more water and it looks like it worked and attracted the birds, they probably went down to drink and then got caught in the net. I left the nets a little longer open than standard, but there was nothing anymore. So I wanted to close at 12, but still heard one Redpoll calling. I could not resist to try with sound, as Redpolls “Gråsisken” react very well on that, so I left some nets open and had the speaker on for about two more hours, but just two more got caught.

Redpoll "Nordlig Gråsisken"

The moths: 

This morning no moths but yesterday evening I had some. New were two small, but difficult ones: Agonopterix scopariella “Vitergyvelfladmøl” and one that is probably Acleris lipsiana.

Agonopterix scopariella “Vintergyvelfladmøl”

News from the station:

In the afternoon, Ulf and Kim came to the station to meet Joseph and Frida. They went to the beach to have a look at the place, where the Little Terns “Dværgterne” will breed later the season and where they will put up a fence, so they do not get disturbed. After all four left to Fanø, where they will stay until Wednesday, to have a look on the islands, where they will put up fences to protect the birds too. Joseph will do his bachelor thesis project about Little Terns “Dværgterne”, so this is an important part of his work.

In the evening, the board of the bird observatory had a meeting at the station.

Tomorrow again low winds but not so much sun and colder, so I am hoping to again get a good number of birds.  

People: Joseph Stephan, Frieda, Hanelie Sidhu and Blåvandgruppen.