Winds of up to 24 m/s (Severe Gale 9) prevented any nets being opened today. Even the sheltered net sites had wind in them. The rain forecast to start at 0600 did not arrive until 1000 but it is now making up for a late arrival with enthusiasm!!! Put simply – it is like being back home, but in October!!!!

Despite the awful weather there have been a couple of highlights. A walk to Jutvik before the rain was rewarded with good views of an agitated female Kricka accompanied by at least two part grown, but not able to fly ducklings. There might have been more than 2 but she was keeping them well hidden in the vegetation.

Even better news. At 1000, just as the rain started, a Tornseglare (Swift) was observed feeding round the Obs and making repeated swoops towards the new nest boxes. After an initial land and look in it then came back and entered a box at 1006 and was still in the box at 1045. Breeding, or simply sheltering from the horizontal rain?? Not sure, but a very promising sign for the future. Some new colonies can take 3 years to establish, so a very good start!!!

Rest of the day will be spent on month-end reports and writing up results of nest box monitoring.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

All nets opened at 0415 but started closing some only 1 hour later as the wind started to increase, so that by the time all nets closed at 1100 only 17 were still in use.

A total of 19 new birds of nine species including the first fledgling Lövsångare (Willow Warbler) of the year.

Afternoon will be spent checking a nest of Sädesärla (White Wagtail) at Tore’s jetty, to protect it from the forecast gale force winds for tomorrow and the next few days. Also need to strim some of the nets rides.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight and, given the terrible forecast for the weekend, we anticipate that this might be the case for the next few days!!

All nets opened at 0415 in almost calm conditions, only a very light wind from NW. Gradually increased and went to E but only 4-6 m/s. Some nets closed at 1100 and the rest at 1145.

Another good morning with 30 new birds of 17 species. Among them were the first fledged young for both Ärtsångare & Törnsångare (Lesser & Common Whitethroat).

A guided talk given to three adults and two children giving an attendance of 200 for the season so far.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

All nets opened at 0415, some closed at 1100 and the rest closed at 1145. A total of 39 new birds caught in nets, of 19 species, including a Trädpiplärka (Tree Pipit) with a well developed brood patch.

A guiding given for 4 adults and 2 children at 1130.

Afternoon was spent checking a further set of four nest boxes. Only five more Talgoxe (Great Tit) ringed to give 44 birds for the day. In one box there were 6 young, however 4 were freshly dead, possibly only yesterday and probably as a result of three days of very strong winds, mixed with rain making foraging by the parents a problem.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

No ringing today, the third successive ´day!!!!

So, pretty much a day off work. Between rain showers we checked the nets were OK and cut back vegetation that had been blown into the netting area.

There is just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

Very strong winds prevented nets being opened for the 2nd day in a row. Instead Chris & Kay visited a couple of nest boxes to check on progress, with three young ringed – so at least not a zero bird day!!!

The pair of Svarthakedopping (Horned Grebe) are still present in Norrhamn, busy bringing nest material to the nest, with the young seen yesterday presumably on the nest, with one adult sitting. The other adult entertained us by defending the territory, firstly against three Ejder (Eider) and then a pair of Knölsvan (Mute Swan). It did this by diving beneath the birds and attacking their feet. Quite amusing to watch and a complete surprise to the Knölsvan who soon left the area!!!

Janne, Bosse and Kalle gave coverage in the south and at Bredmar before Kalle & Marie left the island on the 0930 ferry, with Janne, Bosse and Lena leaving at 1530.

No public guiding today.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

Overnight rain continued until after 0900 with showers afterwards until later in the morning. This, combined with strong winds resulted in no netting today, the 3rd time in June no ringing has been possible.

A bit of a day off for Chris & Kay with Kalle, Janne and Bosse out and about to the north and south of the island. Among a range of observations made by them a few noteworthy ones were: 3 Skärfläcka (Avocet) migrating SW off the southern tip and a pair of Svarthakedopping (Horned Grebe) with two chicks in Norrhamn.

New member, Annika left the island on the afternoon ferry.

There will be 7 at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay, Kalle, Marie, Janne, Bosse and Lena.

All nets opened at 0415 and closed at 1100 with 30 new birds of 14 species taking the total for the year over 2800.

With today being mid-summer there is not much planned for working this afternoon!!!

There will be 8 at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Janne, Bosse, Lena, Kalle, Marie and Anneka

All nets opened at 0415 and closed at 1100 with 18 new birds of 12 species. Nothing special among them, but a nice mix of birds.

Swifts continue to investigate the Obs nest boxes, landing next to the boxes and on top of the speaker.

All grass trimmings from last night swept up between nets rounds, Obs cleaned and ready for weekend arrival of members.

Tonight there will be 8 at the Obs: Chris, Kay, Bosse, Lena, Kalle, Marie, Janne and Anneka.

All nets opened at 0415, some closed at 1100 and the rest at 1145. An excellent mornings ringing with 44 new birds of 17 species. These included the first fledgling Entita (Marsh Tit) of the year, another Mindre Korsnäbb (Common Crossbill), to give four for the year and six Ärtsångare (Lesser Whitethroat), some with well developed brood patches.

There was no public guiding today.

A further 17 Talgoxe (Great Tit) were ringed from 4 nest boxes to give 61 birds overall for the day. The Göktyta (Wryneck) nest box we found the other week was checked, with an adult present, 4 naked & blind young, two eggs and some eggs shell, suggesting the young are still hatching.

Tornseglare (Swift) continue to investigate the boxes, visiting every day now, with some perching. The next few days could be important in getting the site established, if not for this year then for the future.

If there is any energy left I will be strimming the grass around the Obs later while Kay replaces a broken window blind.

There will be two at the Obs overnight: Chris & Kay.

Strong winds prevented any nets being opened today. Kay took this opportunity to go shopping for food and things for the Obs while Chris cleaned the kitchen and bathroom ready for the weekend visitors and then some time continuing to sort through the last 30 years of data – proving to be a bigger job than anticipated and starting to suspect that there is little by way of analysis that can be done, but we’ll see.

Up to ten Tornseglare (Swift) investigating the nest boxes, displaying and calling. All promising signs, but none seen to land yet.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight.

Most nets opened at 0415 with others opened as the strong W-SW wind decreased slightly. All nets closed at 1100 with just 6 new birds of three species, but including – just for Bosse!!!- A Rödhake (Robin).

Afternoon was spent re-visiting nest boxes with 14 young ringed of Blåmes (Blue Tit) 4 and Talgoxe (Great Tit) 10 to give 20 birds for the day.

A break this afternoon before meeting staff from the Nynäshamn Tourist Office at 1830 to give them an introduction to the Station and the tourist opportunities we can offer.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight.

All nets at BMAR opened at 0415 with some closed during the morning as the wind increased. All nets closed by 1145 with 20 new birds of 11 species including further Kärrsångare (Marsh Warbler) and Rörsångare (Reed Warbler). A Härmsångare (Icterine Warbler) was caught which had been ringed as a 2+cy in May 2012.

At SUDD Liam & Bosse opened all 11 nets at 0430 and closed at 1000 with five new birds of 4 species. All SUDD nets now removed and poles brought back to the Obs to be put up again in the early autumn.

Janne, having spent some time in the south gave good coverage to the north as far as Norrhamn, perhaps having an ice-cream?????

Bosse, Liam & Janne (who arrived on last nights boat) all leave the Obs at 1730 to give just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

All nets opened at Bredmar at 0415 and closed at 1100 with 18 new birds of 12 species including the first two Större Hackspett (Great Spotted Woodpecker) young of the year.

At SUDD, Liam & Bosse opened the nets around 0430 and closed them at 1100 with 13 new birds of 8 species to give an overall total of 31 new birds for the day of 17 species.

There will be four at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay, Liam and Bosse.

All nets opened at 0415 and closed at 1100 with 22 new birds of 12 species, with an increasing percentage of young birds being caught.

Re-visited 7 nest boxes to ring chicks but only one brood of four Blåmes (Blue Tit) ready to ring. Almost finished nest box work now with only 19 boxes to re-visit during the next week. So far it looks like being a less successful season for box-nesting birds.

Swifts still visiting the site to investigate the new nest boxes but so far no takers – it takes time and will be worth keeping on trying!!!

There will be four at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay, Bosse and Liam, fresh from completing his studies which have kept him busy all season, so it will be good to see him!!!

All nets opened at 0415 and closed at 1100 with 21 new birds of 11 species caught. Best bird was an adult male Tofsmes (Crested Tit), trapped in the canopy net; only the fourth caught at the Obs and the first since 2008.

Apart from that a nice mix of the usual breeding birds and their young though another Kärrsångare (Marsh Warbler) was of note.

Afternoon will be spent strimming the vegetation among the net rides, paths and grass in front of the Obs.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight

All nets opened at 0345 and closed at 1130. A total of 24 new birds of 16 species including the 3rd Lundsångare (Greenish Warbler) of the spring and two more Rörsångare (Reed Warbler).

There was no public guiding today.

Afternoon was spent checking 57 nest boxes in the woods north of Saltmar as far as the bunker. Only one nest had young – 6 Talgoxe plus one nest of 7 eggs, probably Blåmes (Blue Tit). Plenty of birds singing in the area including a Grönsångare (Wood Warbler) and a Morkulla (Woodcock) was flushed from suitable breeding habitat.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight.

22 Nets opened at 0430 after threat of heavy rain had passed. More nets opened as the wind decreased for a while in mid-morning. Some very light showers until nets closed at 1145.

A quiet mornings ringing, with just 7 new birds of 7 species, but another Mindre korsnäbb (Common Crossbill) made three for the spring and the highest capture for the species in any year; this one a splendid 3+cy male. First Hussvala (House Martin) of the year caught.

A guided talk given to 8 people from 1130 until 1230.

Afternoon from 1400 until 1745 spent in the woods checking nest boxes with a total of 37 birds ringed to give 45 new for the day.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.