This redpoll seems small and brown . .

I put the tapes out to attract redwing (vindrossel) and opened the nets early morning. I didn’t catch any redwing, though as usual I had a surplus of redpolls. In amongst the many flammea redpolls I did catch one cabaret, so that was a nice change. I’ve now ringed around 70/80 redpolls this year and it’s getting easier to age and sex them, and the species differences are becoming more apparent the more I familiarise myself with a group that I haven’t ringed in numbers since April last year.

Throughout the time I was ringing there were plenty of jackdaw (allike) moving past the observatory, along with a few skylark (sanglærke). Having not had a great couple of nights sleep for various reasons, I had a brief nap after I closed nets, before starting on some net repair. I managed to get three nets done, bringing my total for nets fixed to 10 so far, with the same amount to go. It’s a good skill to have, though I am by no means adept at the process, with my large fingers.

The wind dropped by late afternoon so I took my daily bike ride up to Grenen. Not as productive as previous days, but a lovely evening to be out on the ridge there. Still looking forward to the time the bitterns move back in and I get to watch them travel from site to site, and days when you can’t move for birds of prey there! When I returned to the observatory I finished off the updated version of the birders club video. It’s still not as perfect as I want, but it’s hands down better than before.

Birds ringed

Stor gråsisken -31

Lille gråsisken - 1

Some variety among the flammea redpolls (stor gråsisken) this cabaret (lille gråsisken)

The carrion crow (sortkråge) is hanging out a lot at the observatory currently.