GEDSER - 26th September

Warm and tropical still with light winds and some high cloud which thickened by late afternoon; another good total of 111 new birds were caught through the morning with the highlights consisting of 2 Firecrests and a first winter Red-breasted Flycatcher, these came in amongst a good arrival of 63 Chiffchaffs whereas a total of 22 new Robins was relatively low (many of yesterday’s birds were re-trapped).

                Overhead passage was quite light through the first half of the morning but a few raptors started to appear by mid-morning so I had a little watch from the NW corner of the garden (1040-1240) which produced a steady trickle of birds including 12 Rough-legged Buzzards, 6 Honey Buzzards, 23 Sparrowhawks, an adult male Hen Harrier, 4 Red Kites, 7 Common Buzzards, a Merlin and 5 Kestrels; there were also many passerines (and others) heard overhead including Chaffinch (with the typical rush of birds late morning with c550 today), Brambling, Siskin, Skylark (the first day with multiple birds going over), Meadow Pipit, Coal Tit, Yellowhammer, Swallow, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail (one), Dunlin, Grey Plover and Ringed Plover.

                Re-opened some nets in the afternoon and finally finally caught a Yellow-browed Warbler (it certainly took its time with the hundreds and hundreds in Western Europe at the moment!) along with a few more Chiffchaffs, Robins and Chaffinches while another 3 Rough-legged Buzzards went over the garden.

 

Yellow-browed Warbler

Second year female and first year male Sparrowhawks

Rough-legged Buzzards