First standardized ringing

Today was the first day of standardized ringing for the spring season, and it started with a beautiful and very colorful sunrise. Alvin, Julian and I went to open the nets up which were all frosty as well as the water slightly frozen, and met with Simon at the ringing site after. The weather was very calm and the birds woke up calmly and started being more active little by little. 

Sunrise while we opened the nets in the morning

Soon after the first round was completed on our side, Dylan and János who were out for the standardized migration counting and additional Snow bunting (Snespurv) and Twites (Bjergirisk) catching let us know they caught a few birds as well! Alvin went to pick them up and we had the pleasure of ringing 2 Snow buntings (Snespruv), 1 Twite (Bjergirisk) and 1 Yellowhammer (Gulspurv) caught by them.

Snow bunting (Snespurv) female caught today

Snow bunting (Snespurv) male caught today

Twite (Bjergirisk) male caught today

Throughout the morning, we fixed up some nets that had been mounted wrong or needed tightening. For all of us it was so good to be back at ringing, refreshing our memory and eyes for aging and sexing, and finding our efficient and careful handling hands again.

The birds came in at a fairly steady pace, with a total of 65 birds ringed during the standard 5 hours. I personally really liked this amount of birds and this diversity of species, because it is enough birds to be feeling a little busy and engaged, but not too many that it can become overwhelming and stressful. We were lucky to have time to study some of them who where difficult to age for example, and to take some nice pictures of certain individuals.

The first bird extracted from the nets for the season was a Robin (Rødhals), and the first ringed bird of the season a Chiffchaff (Gransanger)!

First bird ringed of the season, a Chiffchaff (Gransanger)

Volunteers at work, ringing birds

We eventually took the closing round at 11am and were rewarded by a flock of beautiful Northern Long-tailed Tits (Nordlig halemejse)! A total of 11 individuals, most of them being of the Northern subspecies. 

One of the Northern Long-tailed Tits (Nordlig halemejse) ringed today

By that time the migration team had finished their counting and joined us at the end to participate with the Long-tailed tits (Halemejse), which Dylan was particularly happy about as he was interested in seeing the Northern subspecies which is rare in his home area.

We took this opportunity to take a group picture of all the spring team together which is now complete! Thank you Simon for being the photographer here!

The spring team! From left to right: Julian, Dylan, János, Alvin, Alix

Migration-wise, the morning was pretty calm and quiet, but with some close fly-bys of Northern Lapwings (Vibe) and the first Bramblings (Kvækerfinke) and Chaffinches (Bogfinke) migrating for the season. The highlight of the migration morning was the discovery of a young Glaucous Gull (Gråmåge) by János which was resting and flying around our migration counting spot. This species was a new lifer for him, well done János! 

Glaucous gull (Gråmåge) in its 2nd calendar year

After a beautiful morning, we enjoyed some lunch together and the tiramisu Alvin and I made the day before.

We all look forward to more incredible days like these here, life is good. 

 

Ringing (Kabeltrommeln)

Blue Tit (Blåmejse) - 19

Great Tit (Musvit) - 4

Northern Long-tailed Tit (Nordlig halemejse) - 10

Long-tailed Tit (Halemejse) - 1

Chiffchaff (Gransanger) - 8

Goldcrest (Fuglekonge) - 2

Wren (Gærdesmutte) - 1 

Dunnock (Jernspurv) - 3

Robin (Rødhals) - 10

Song Thrush (Sangdrossel) - 1

Blackbird (Solsort) - 1

Twite (Bjergirisk) - 1

Snow Bunting (Snespurv) - 2

Yellowhammer (Gulspurv) - 1

Reed Bunting (Rørspurv) - 1

Total : 65

 

Ringing (Nordstjernevej)

Blåmejse - 17

Gulspurv - 2

Musvit - 9

Jernspurv - 1

Dompap st - 1

Bogfinke - 1

Rødhals - 2

Total : 33 

Highlights of today: 

1 Glaucous Gull (Gråmåge)

11 Long-tailed tits (Halemejse)

 

 Link to today’s observations in DOFbasen from observers in the area

 

People: Alvin Johansson, János Schadl, Alix Bortolussi, Julian Helbig, Dylan Daunt, Simon S. Christiansen.