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.

Heavy overnight rain continued until around 0800 and with more heavy periods of rain showers it was decided there would be no netting today. Chance to catch up with some jobs around the Obs in the morning, combined with trapping for Stenskvätta (Wheatear) with one caught.

Afternoon was spent visiting more nest boxes with 9 more Talgoxe (Great Tit) chicks and one adult female ringed to give 11 new birds of 2 species for the day. Found a Göktyta (Wryneck) incubating 4+ eggs in one of the boxes.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

Thick fog and calm conditions when nets opened at 0345. Fog soon cleared to give largely sunny conditions with a slowly increasing wind up to 6-7 m/s by the time ringing finished at 1145.

A low number of birds caught with just 11 new birds of 9 species, mostly breeding birds now though two more Rörsångare (Reed Warbler). With the Talgoxe chicks ringed in the afternoon that makes 31 new birds of 10 species.

Guided talk given to four people.

Måns and his two youngsters left at 1330.

Afternoon to be spent checking more nest boxes and doing week-ending paperwork/ tidy up. Update. 20 Talgoxe (Great Tit) chicks ringed from four nest boxes before the Weather forecasters (guessers??) got it wrong and rain arrived!!!

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

All nets opened at 0345 and closed at 1145.

Including the Talgoxe (Great Tit) ringed in nest boxes a total of 37 new birds of 19 species ringed with highlights being two Höksångare (Barred Warbler) and a Lundsågare (Greenish Warbler). The Blåmes (Blue Tit) chicks left the nest box on the front of the Observatory and we had a minimum of three Tornseglare (Swift) investigating the nest boxes, including displaying birds.

Måns and Johann spent the morning birding, mainly in the south and had a singing Lundsångare near the lighthouse and a Kentsk tärna (Sandwich Tern) fly north up the west coast.

A booked guided talk given to 20 adults, two children and a dog! Afternoon spent visiting nest boxes with mixed results – 8 Talgoxe chicks ringed, but some dead in nests and one box predated.

Potentially a lecture to give at 1800, so preparing for that now. Hope to finish work at 1900.

Johann and children left in afternoon to give five at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay, Måns and his two children

All nets opened at 0345 and closed at 1030 when a rain shower came through. Wind started off W and backed to S then SE as it continued to drop to give almost calm conditions.

A very pleasant mornings ringing with 26 new birds of 19 species, including our first Nötväcka (Nuthatch) and Kaja (Jackdaw) of the year, the Kaja being a young bird not long out of the nest. Also caught the second Lundsångare (Greenish Warbler) of the year and the 10th Mindre flugsnappare.

Having problems with Trichomonas ( a throat parasite) in some of our seed-eating birds. So we have cleared a lot of old seed and husks from under the feeders and put a board under them, which will catch the fallen seed and make it easier to clear up old and spoilt food. The board is NOT for use as a bird table and we will stop putting food in the hoppers for a few weeks to try and get the outbreak under control.

Afternoon will be spent doing the usual tidy up ready for people staying the weekend.

There will be eight at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay, Johann, Måns and their four young children.

All nets opened at 0345 and closed at 1100 with 23 new birds of 15 species caught including the 2nd and 3rd Höksångare (Barred Warbler) of the spring.

Male Enkelbeckasin (Common Snipe) continues to display over Bredmar and a second bird was present in the reeds. Update. A pair of Enkelbeckasin flushed from the football pitch this afternoon. Acting as a pair and presumed to be the same birds that were observed this morning.

Afternoon was spent cutting back Alder in the reed beds as part of our management agreement and some more reduction of tree heights near nets, though plenty more of this to be done after the breeding season.

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

No ringing today due to a strong east wind that was blowing at 13-15 m/s at 0400 and increased to 19-22 m/s (Gale force 9) by 1000 with heavy rain now.

So, a rare late morning start to the day!!!

Before the rain came we were able to move all of the old timber from behind the Obs to the fire gully in the south of the island. This is a job that has been waiting to be done for a couple of years, so it is great to be able to cross it off the list. It’s the last major ‘clean up’ job that needed doing, with other jobs now being routine; trimming of grass, cutting trees from in the reeds etc.

A huge thanks to Lasse Wallin for helping – without him and his ‘puppy’ (an old Swedish army truck) it would not have been possible!!

More work on reviewing old data this afternoon, while watching the rain and gales sweep across the island!

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

All nets opened at 0345, most closed at 1100 and the rest at 1145.

A total of 26 new birds of 14 species, including the first Höksångare (Barred Warbler) of the year.

Håkan and Lasse spent some time birding near SUDD and reported that some of the nets there were partly open, so will need to check that this afternoon.

Between checking nets Chris & Kay removed a lot of old bird feed from under the feeding site as we have noticed a few birds with signs of Trichomonas in some birds using them. Will avoid feeding at these feeders for a while and put seed along the track instead.

Also tidied up the woodpile ready for it to be taken off site.

A extra guided talk for 5 adults and 2 children given.

Håkan & Lasse left on the 1330 ferry to give just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

Up at 0345 but nets not opened until 0700 due to rain passing through. Nets operated until 1145 with a guiding for 5 adults and six youngsters at 1100.

A total of 23 new birds of 11 species, including the first Steglits (Goldfinch) fledgling of the year, though some have been seen in the area for the last few days.

More nest box checking this afternoon before we start a run of several days of booked guided talks.

There will be four at the Obs tonight; Chris, Kay, Lasse and Håkan.

All nets at Bredmar opened at 0345, 13 closed at 1100 and the last 17 closed at 1145, giving 23 new birds of 14 species, including 3 Kärrsångare (Marsh Warbler) and 4 Rörsångare (Reed Warbler).

No public guided talk today.

Rasmus, Bosse and Janne ran the nets at SUDD, all 11 opened at 0515 and closesd at 1000 with 13 new birds of 5 species, an overall catch of 36 birds of 16 species.

At Bredmar a Fiskmås (Common Gull) was trapped. It was first ringed on 15th June 2008 (as a 3+) and re-trapped on 9th July 2010, making it at least 12 years old. First Hämpling (Linnet) young of the year ringed.

An Ägretthäger (Great Egret) was seen from SUDD flying south past the island off the west coast.

The male Enkelbeckasin (Common Snipe) was still displaying at Bredmar and reacted strongly to another bird that rose from cover, flying parallel to it and repeatedly flying on its side, but no success – maybe next time!!

End of week summaries to do this afternoon.

Rasmus and Mikaela left at 1330 and Bosse and Lena (possibly also Janne) leave at 1730 to give either 3 or 4 at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Lasse and possibly Janne.

All nets opened at 0345, with four closed at 0930 when a rain shower arrived and the rest closed at 1100.

A very quiet day with just 8 new birds of 7 species, including the 2nd Kärrsångare (Marsh Warbler) of the year.

Migration watching proved to be slow in both the north and the south, with people coming back to the Obs mid-morning. More coverage of the island is taking place this afternoon, so there will be an update if anything of note is seen. At the moment the best birds seem to have been an immature Tretåig Mås (Kittiwake) a Lärkfalk (Hobby) in the south (which may have been the same bird that came low over the Obs earlier in the day) and an Enkelbeckasin (Common Snipe) that has been displaying over Bredmar all morning.

There will be eight at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay, Bosse, Lena, Janne, Rasmus, Mikaela and Lasse.

24 nets opened at 0345 with the remaining 6 opened an hour later as the wind decreased. All nets closed at 1100. A total of 18 new birds of 11 species.

Although a small catch there were some quality birds caught: another Sävsångare (Sedge Warbler), to give 12 for the year, a late Trädpiplärka (Tree Pipit) the only June catch in the history of the Obs and finally, two Mindre korsnäbb (Common Crossbill), the 6th and 7th for the Obs and only the 3rd and 4th in spring, the other two also being in early June (1991 & 2007).

We also re-trapped an Ärtsångare (Lesser Whitethroat) that was ringed here on 26th May 2011.

There will be 6/7 at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Bosse, Rasmus, Mikaela, Lasse and possible Janne

Due to strong wind not all nets opened during the session, which started at 0345 and finished at 1100.

Just 12 new birds of 6 species, with four each of Svarthätta (Blackcap) and Rosenfink (Rosefinch). A re-trapped male Större hackspett (Great Spotted Woodpecker) was ringed in October 2012 and a re-trapped Talgoxe (Great Tit) had been ringed in October 2011.

Checking nest boxes this afternoon.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.