GEDSER - 2nd September

Again, largely clear and sunny through the morning but a bit of a breeze had sprung up, not strong enough to prevent most of the nets being opened but strong enough to adversely affect the session; it was a pretty quiet ringing session with 38 new birds caught comprising the usual spread of migrants.

                My total of raptors overhead (ringing in the garden 0500-1030 and walking round the fields to the north of Birkemose 1030-1300) was the only other thing of note through the day which were made up of 13 Honey Buzzards – a flock of 12 which headed out over the garden early morning almost certainly roosted somewhere close by, 45 Sparrowhawks, 3 Common Buzzards (including a particularly striking, very white individual), 4 Marsh Harriers, a few Kestrels and a Merlin.   Other birds around the fields included a single Swift overhead along with small numbers of Wheatears, Whinchats, Tree Pipits and Yellow Wagtails.

 

Part of the flock of 12 Honey Buzzards

Sparrowhawks