Nets opened at 0400 and closed at 1100. about 0500 fog arrived for about 1.5 hours, but did not bring a fall of birds.

A total of 27 new birds of 11 species for the day. Finished the month with 1,788 birds. This is significantly higher than the average by the end of April for the period 1988-2017 which stands at just 668 birds.

Peder & Bjorn headed up towards Saltmar once the mist cleared, with Bjorn leaving on the 0925 ferry and Peder leaving on the last one this evening.

Afternoon spent starting the monthly summary for April.

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

Opening of nets delayed until 0730 due to overnight rain continuing. Nets closed at 1145 with a good total of 79 new birds of 11 species, mostly Robin (Rödhake) and Chiffchaff (Gransångare). Caroline did the ringing this morning.

Bosse & Janne headed to SUDD once the rain stopped, while the rest headed to the north.

There will be four at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay, Bjorn & Peder.

Nets opened at 0400 and closed at 1100 with the wind decreasing through the morning. Another quiet day for ringing, with only 20 new birds of 10 species, but these included the seasons first Redstart (Rödstjärt) and a nice selection of migrants.

Observations are still going on in the north and at SUDD, so an update on any notable sightings will be included later.

There will be ten at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay, Lena, Bosse, Janne, Niklas, Raul, Caroline, Bjorn and Peder.

Nets opened at 0445 and closed at 1100 with just 11 new birds of 7 species. The third Wryneck (Göktyta) of the spring was caught – only two have ever been caught by this date in previous years; one in 2015 and one in 2016.

There will be eight at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Raul, Caroline, Janne, Bosse, Lena and Niklas.

Nets opened at 0445 in a strong wind, which soon dropped to be moderate through most of the morning, before decreasing to light by the time netting finished at 1100.

A total of just 11 new birds of 7 species for the day.

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

Limited nets opened at 0500 due to a strong wind, which eased enough to allow all nets open by 0630, with netting finishing at 1100.

Quiet again today with just 14 new birds of 8 species, including a real rarity – an un-ringed Great Tit (Talgoxe)!!!!

The wind increased at around 1100 so the chance has been taken this afternoon to wash all bird bags and get them drying in the wind and sunshine.

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

Nets opened at 0500 and closed at 1100 with 22 new birds of 8 species. A second Wryneck (Göktyta) for the season was a welcome addition to a decent days ringing, which included 6 Blackcap (Svarthätta). In the 30 years from 1988-2017 only 5 have ever been caught on dates earlier than the 24th April.

Repairs to boardwalks this afternoon as well as putting more signs in the village about the open guiding talks that start on 6th May and take place every Wednesday and Sunday until late August.

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

Nets opened at 0500 and closed at 1100. Through the morning the wind increased gradually and cloud cover started at around 1030, with clear skies before that.

A total of just 25 new birds of 6 species, including the first Willow Warbler (Lövsångare) of the year.

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

Nets opened at 0500 in a moderate north-west wind that backed to the south-west by the time netting finished at 1100.

Another quiet morning, with just 22 new birds of 7 species, though the last bird of the day was a 2cy Pied Flycatcher (Svartvit flugsnappare), the earliest date that one has been caught here by two days.

There will be three at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay & Lasse.

Nets opened at 0500 and closed at 1100 with 23 new birds caught.

Afternoon was spent measuring up to replace boardwalks, putting notices in Norrhamn about open guidings and putting up signs around the netting area to let the public know about our activities.

There will be three at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay & Lasse.

Nets opened at 0500 and closed at 1100 with 50 new birds of 9 species, including a male Bearded Tit (Skäggmes), This is not a species caught here much in spring, with four out of the previous five spring records in 30 years being caught in the second half of April.

A visiting birder arrived on the boat this morning, renewing an interest in birds after a 50 year gap. Despite having never met him previously and being quite busy with ringing birds when he arrived at the Obs, he very kindly left Kay with a splendid range of fresh fruit and vegetables!!! We did not really get the chance to thank him properly, or to get his name. So, if he is reading this diary – please accept our thanks and appreciation of your generosity. We hope your renewed passion for bird watching provides you with many pleasurable experiences and observations. Tack!!

There will be three at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay & Lasse.

Nets opened at 0515 and closed at 1200, after a planned guiding did not turn up.

Quieter today, with just 47 new birds, but including the first two Blackcap (Svarthätta) of the season.

Håkan headed to SUDD for migration watching and reported seeing around 15 Wheatear (Stenskvätta) and two Black Redstart (Svart Rödsjärt)

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

Nets opened at 0500 in a slightly windier day with occasional rain from around 0845. Much quieter than the last few days but still a decent total of 64 new birds of 8 species.

While Kay went to ‘land’ in the afternoon for shopping Chris spent some time cleaning the kitchen cupboards. Most done with some still to have a go at tomorrow – Ahh the joys of observatory life!!!

There will be three at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay & Håkan

All nets opened at 0445 and closed at 1200, with 244 new birds of 13 species to continue the excellent spring so far.

Though mostly Robin (Rödhake) good numbers of thrush were also caught, including an adult female Blackbird (Koltrast) that had a ring from the Netherlands on it. This is the 4th non-Landosrt ringed bird we have caught so far this April, the others being: Chiffchaff (Gransångare) – Norway, Robin (Rödhake) – Poland and a Goldcrest (Kungsfågel) ringed somewhere in Sweden.

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

All nets opened at 0445 in almost calm conditions and closed at 1300.

A very good spring morning for ringing, with 303 new birds caught of 15 species. This is the 2nd highest April catch total, after the ‘big day’ of 504 on the 15th April 2005. 202 of the new birds were Robin (Rödhake), only the ‘big day’ of 2005 catching more at 285. Also among the Robin was one with a Polish ring.

The first three Lesser Whitethroat (Ärtsångare) of the year were caught, the earliest they have ever been caught here by 7 days.

The total for April is now 1129, which compares very favourably with the Falsterbo total of 1241. Experience shows that Falsterbo will consistently catch more birds than here, though it is nice to reflect, even for a short time, how well our season is going so far!!

A long day but a good one!!!

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

All nets opened at 0445 on a calmer morning than recently, with fog arriving around 0730 and staying dense for the rest of the session- Some nets closed at 1100 and the rest closed at 1145.

A total of 59 new birds of 11 species, including the first White Wagtail (Sädesärla) and Siskin (Grönsiska) of the season. Month total now exceeds 800.

One of the poles for the reed nets snapped during the morning, so will be replaced later – luckily no damage to the nets or birds.

The first guided talk of the season was given, to four adults and eight youngsters from a scout group.

Mats, who was full of a cold, left the island at 0930 – heading for his bed!!!

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

19 nets opened at 0445, with more opened during the morning as the strong wind gradually reduced, to give 25 nets in operation when catching finished at 1100.

A total of 21 new birds of 7 species was, once more, quiet due to the continuing NE to E winds.

Mats arrived on the morning ferry, bringing with him supplies for the season and some excellent chocolate biscuits!!

There will be three at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay & Mats

Another day of strong NE winds reduced the number of nets opened at 0500 to 19. These were closed at 1100 with just 6 new birds caught of 5 species.

Kay spent some time this morning making some more boardwalks to put over wet sections of the netting area.

Gunnar headed south again in the morning but reported seeing even fewer birds than yesterday.

Gunnar leaves the island today, so there will be just two at the Obs overnight: Chris & Kay