GEDSER - 15th September

Still stuck in Groundhog Day with calm, clear, sunny and warm conditions and a light easterly breeze; there were however (for no apparent reason) far more birds in the nets through the morning with 109 new birds caught including a first winter Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Marsh Warbler in amongst 49 Robins, 21 Chiffchaffs and 12 Blackcaps with small numbers of Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Dunnock, Redstart, Willow Warbler etc.   Overhead passage also went on much later than in previous days with a few Bramblings, Grey Wagtail and Reed Buntings in with the Chaffinches, Siskins, Greenfinches, Tree Pipits, Meadow Pipits, White Wagtails etc.

                Raptors started to appear late morning with 6 Honey Buzzards and 30+ Sparrowhawks overhead which prompted us to head out to the point (1230-1530) where the definite highlight was great views of a stunning BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE which flew in from the west, headed out to the point, seemed like it wanted to go off south but chickened out and went back north (the second record for Gedser, the second this autumn, the second I’ve seen in Denmark and the second time I was the second person to see it!), almost certainly the same one that was seen at Falsterbo a few days ago; other raptors out on the point in this period included 113 Sparrowhawks, a Rough-legged Buzzard, 7 Red Kites, 10 Honey Buzzards, 6 Common Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, a White-tailed Eagle and a Hobby.

                It was much slower than yesterday for other species which totalled 13 Pintail, 78 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 80 Common Scoter, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Sandwich Terns, 7 Common Terns and 4 Little Gulls.   Another drive round the field late afternoon looking for Harriers produced a male Marsh Harrier and a juvenile Hen Harrier.

 

Record shots of the Black-shouldered Kite

Rough-legged Buzzard

Sparrowhawk with a bulging crop about to head south after a late lunch