GEDSER - 22nd September

The weather reverted back to the tropical conditions of last week – clear, sunny and warm with a corresponding drop in the number of birds in the nets; the total of 97 new birds was not too bad though but probably contained mainly leftovers from the last couple of days rather than new new arrivals.   43 Robins and 23 Chiffchaffs were again the bulk of the catch with 7 Song Thrushes and a latish Willow Warbler also of note.

                Birds around in the morning included a group of 4 Tundra Bean Geese which spent some time feeding in a stubble field west of the garden, 3 Red Kites drifting around and many many birds feeding in the freshly ploughed fields now surrounding the station including 2000+ mixed Herring, Common and Black-headed Gulls with good numbers of White Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Chaffinches, Bramblings, Linnets and Greenfinches.

                The ringing had dried up by the end of the standardised session so we went out to the point (1045-1345) where there were a good range of raptors heading, south, turning back again and generally floating around making themselves very difficult to count but my figures included 21 Rough-legged Buzzards, 19 Common Buzzards, 37 Sparrowhawks, 3 Red Kites, 5 Kestrels and single Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Honey Buzzard and White-tailed Eagle.   Other birds included 55 Little Gulls, 2 Arctic Skuas, 265 Wigeon, 12 Pintail, 200 Common Scoter, 15 Shoveler and 4 Sanderling while passerines included 600+ Chaffinches and 250+ Swallows heading out with smaller numbers of Siskins, Meadow Pipits, White Wagtails, Yellow Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail.

 

A dangerous mist net extraction!

Edible Frog Rana esculenta

Green Brindled Crescent