Not much to report today as all nets were removed over the last couple of days. Most of the day spent cleaning the Obs, finalising paperwork for this year and making sure everything is ready for next year.

So, it is the last full day as Wardens here on Landsort for Chris & Kay as we leave in the morning. We would like to take this last opportunity to thank everyone who is involved in the Observatory, the island community and all of the 500+ people who have been to see us this year for a guided talk. We hope you have enjoyed the year and your time here as much as we have!!!

To see the progress made over the last few years has been fantastic and great to play a part in it. A standardised approach to ring marking, using paid staff is the only way forward now. It ensures we meet the needs of our licensing authority, gives sponsors the security of knowing our work is scientifically based, allows us to give talks to 100’s of people we would not otherwise have the chance to meet and adds significantly to the overall research and conservation work being undertaken within Sweden. We wish you luck with continuing the great work of the last couple of years.

Here is a link to the page on the Landsort website that summarises the birds caught this year – enjoy.

http://www.landsort-birds.se/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Annual_totals_for_2017.pdf

By the end of December we will have completed the full report for the year to be submitted to the Board and then put on the website.

If anyone would like a copy emailed to them or if anyone wants to give any feedback to us on how the year has gone from their perspective please email Chris

birdman@manx.net

For now it is Thanks and goodbye to everyone.

There will be just two at the Obs overnight (for the last time): Chris & Kay

Hej då.

Limited nets opened at 0700 and closed at 1200 with just 25 new birds of 4 species/ sub-species.

All remaining nets removed at the end of trapping effort, today marking the end of ringing of Landsort for 2017 with a total of 11,154 new birds caught since we started ringing on 2nd April. Overall 210 days ringing effort to make 2017 the third highest of the 30 years history of the Observatory after 2014 and 2016.

End of season tidy and clean up, finalising paperwork etc this afternoon.

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

Early rain showers, combined with an increasing wind delayed net opening and restricted the number of nets in use.

After catching over 500 birds in the last three days todays catch was a very disappointing 2 birds of two species.

With very strong West winds forecast tomorrow and rain all day Saturday, more nets were removed today, with a few left in place that might be sheltered enough to open tomorrow – we’ll see!!

More end of season work this afternoon.

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

Nets opened at 0645 and closed at 1200 when light rain passed over the island. A total of 143 new birds of 11 species/ sub-species.

Afternoon spent starting the process of removing all nets from the site, ready for the close of ringing in the next day or so.

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

Nets opened at 0645 and closed at 1300 with 135 new birds of 16 species/ sub-species.

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

Nets opened at 0645 and closed at 1245 with 251 new birds of 9 species/ sub-species.

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

Very strong south winds prevented most nets being opened due to their exposed position, though three were opened at 0630 and closed at 1030 when showers of light rain arrived.

A total of 24 new birds, all Gråsiska (Redpoll).

Janne & Mats headed to the south, though it seems not a lot was seen moving past the island.

Mats, Lasse and Janne all leave the island, the last time we will see them prior to our departure next Sunday. Many memories and shared birding experiences!!!

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

Very strong winds from the SW prevented most nets being opened, but two nets were in use from 0645 until 1245, with 60 new birds, all Gråsiska (Redpoll)

There will be five at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Lasse, Mats and Janne.

Nets opened at 0630 in moderate NW winds which increased through the morning and backed to give strong SW by the time netting stopped at 1300.

A total of 204 new birds of 16 species/ sub-species with Skata (Magpie) being new for the year and a 2nd Enkelbeckasin (Common Snipe) of the year caught.

There will be four at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Lasse and Mats.

Overnight rain had stopped by 0715 when nets were opened. Closed again at 1215 when another band of light rain arrived, though by then the island had largely emptied of birds. A total of 225 new birds of ten species/ sub-species.

Some more trees removed from near nets this afternoon, a satisfying job!!!

This evening Kay and I were treated to a farewell dinner by our friends on the island – all of the community coming together to give us both another wonderful memory of our time here. It’s hard to properly express our thanks to all of them for the way in which they have welcomed us into their lives and their island home. Together, they have made our stay a great privilege, helped us when we have been stuck and have always made time for us in their lives.

Thanks, all of you for a great night and for our time here since 2013.

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

Nets opened at 0630 and closed at 1300 with just 32 new birds of 5 species, with noticeably fewer birds around than yesterday.

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