No ringing today due to Very strong SE winds and rain.

Day will be spent cleaning bird bags and catching up on paperwork etc.

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

Rain at first light and a strong to very strong wind delayed opening of a limited number of nets until 0730, with nets closed at 1200.

A total of 70 new birds of 11 species/ sub-species was more than expected given the weather.

Johan leaves the island today, giving just two at the Obs overnight: Chris & Kay.

Very limited net opening due to very strong winds and occassional light showers.

Just 6 new birds of 4 species.

There will be three at the Obs tonight; Chris, Kay & Johann.

Nets opened at 0645 and closed at 1230 with 113 new birds of 14 species/ sub-species ringed by Caroline.

The ‘crew’ spent the morning in the south migrating watching before most left the island in the early afternoon with Janne and Pelle leaving on the 1730 ferry to give just two at the OBs overnight: Chris & Kay.

Restricted net opening due to the strong E wind, but nets opened at 0645 and closed at 1230 with 40 new birds of 13 species/ sub-species.

Best bird of the day was a Kungsfågelsångare (Pallas’s Warbler) the 40 ringed here after a gap since the last one in 2010 and long-overdue!!!

Caroline spent the morning ringing at Bredmar with Chris & Kay while the rest headed south to migration watch before going north this afternoon.

Not caught up on all that they have seen, though two Tretåig mås (Kittiwake) were mentioned. Will update with anything notable later.

There will be ten at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay, Pelle, Raul, Caroline, Jacob, Rasmus, Niklas, Fredrik & Janne.

All nets opened at 0645 and closed at 1400 with 211 new birds of 19 species/ sub-species.

There will be 7 or 8 at the Obs tonight; Chris, Kay, Fredrik, Raul, Caroline, Jacob, Niklas and (possibly) Rasmus.

All nets opened at 0645 and closed at 1245, with a reducing wind through the morning. A total of 218 new birds of 16 species/ sub-species, with 126 of the Gråsiska (Repoll) being caught in one net on one net-round. That was busy!!!

With the clear skies and hardly any wind the island soon emptied of birds though a couple of small flocks of Sidensvans remained. After a couple of net checks with hardly any birds the last round produced an Enkelbecksin (Common Snipe).

Some more tree height reduction this afternoon and a clean of the Obs ready for the weekend.

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

Rain at first light delayed opening of nets until 0715 with nets opened until 1345, though some closed as the wind changed direction.

A total of 102 new birds of 21 species/ sub-species including the first Stjärtmes (Long-tailed Tit) of the autumn and two Varfågel (Great Grey Shrike) also caught.

Axel called up to say goodbye and to introduce us to his replacement – Sebastian. Axel finishes working on the ferry today, ready to start a new job ‘on land’. Thanks to him for his help during our time here.

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

Rain predicted for first light was showing on the radar and, with very dark clouds overhead and the occasional shower, opening of nets was delayed until 0730 when nets were opened in light winds from SE which soon backed to the SW and increased quickly to result in all nets closed at 1115.

A total of 136 new birds of 15 species/ sub-species including a tristris Gransångare (Chiffchaff) and a Gråsiska that displayed all of the characteristics of a Snösiska (Arctic Redpoll): short bill, bull-neck, white “sugar cube” rump and single dark streak in central under-tail covert.

Some tree height reduction this afternoon.

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

Restricted to just a few nets opened at 0700 until 1215 with only 17 new birds of 8 species/ sub-species.

Grass trimming this afternoon

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

Nets opened at 0645 and closed at 1230 with 155 new birds of 12 species/ sub-species, with Gråsiska (Redpoll) dominating, though 8 Särvsparv (Reed Bunting) were notable.

After trying at SUDD in hard winds, Liam came back up to Bredmar to do some ringing, along with Ebba.

Mats, Liam, Ebba and Mattias left the island this afternoon giving just two at the Obs overnight: Chris & Kay.

Rained most of the morning, so no nets opened until 1015 with a maximum of 17 nets used until all closed at 1500.

A total of 39 new birds of 15 species/sub-species. All ringing done by Ebba who continues her training.

Mats & Mattias changed the lights in the kitchen and new batteries put in all smoke detectors – a safer place now!!!

There will be 6 at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay, Liam, Mats, Ebba and Mattias.

Gusts in excess of 20 m/s early in the morning restricted net opening to a few sheltered nets with netting starting at 0645 and finishing at 1230 with 39 new birds of 14 species/ sub-species.

Despite a very quiet start to October, the total for the year is now over 8,000 birds: only the 5th year that this figure has been reached by mid-October.

There will be five at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay, Liam, Ebba and Mattias.

Overnight rain and a strong wind prevented netting until 0830 when 10 sheltered nets were opened until 1100 when further rain caused all netting to be stopped for the day.

A total of 13 new birds of ten species/ sub-species. Among them a late Trädgårdssångare (Garden Warbler), though the latest for the Observatory was on 24th October 2001.

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

Lighter winds allowed for all nets to be opened at 0645, with some closed at 1100 as the wind increased and the rest closed at 1300.

A total of 110 new birds of 20 species/ sub-species, including the first Domherre (Bullfinch) of the autumn and a further eight Svartmes (Coal Tit).

Forecast of heavy rain all day tomorrow is likely to result in no netting!

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

Very strong winds restricted the number of nets that could be opened in safety to 10, which were opened at 0645 and closed at 1100 as the wind increased again.

A total of 71 new birds of 13 species/ sub-species, the majority of which were Gråsiska (Repoll)

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

Overnight rain continued in the early morning, preventing nets from being opened until 0830, with the strong NW to NE wind resulting in limited nets being used.

Nets opened at 0830 until 1215 with just 33 new birds of 10 species.

Visited by Lasse this afternoon who came out in the hope of seeing the Blåstjärt (red-flanked Bluetail) but no joy for him when he left to look again at 1400.

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

No ringing possible today due to very strong winds and rain. The first day in October that ringing has not been possible and only the 10th day of no ringing since work commenced on 2ns April.

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

Nets opened at 0615 in a moderate wind from the NW which soon dropped to almost calm conditions throughout the netting session which finished at 1300 with only one light shower of rain reducing netting for about 45 minutes.

Despite overcast & calm conditions less birds than hoped for were caught, just 105 of 15 species/ sub-species.

A guided talk for 9 people was given at 1130 until 1245.

A Taigablåstjärt (Red-flanked Bluetail) was located at Tores garden area during the morning, so after netting had finished we went to the site and were rewarded with good views as it fed on the ground and in the undergrowth. Mikael, who arrived on the last ferry managed to hear, but not see, the Blåstjärt. Tomorrow!!!

Niklas did a migration watch in the north from 0645 until 1115.

There will be four at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay, Niklas and Mikael.

Nets opened at 0630 but restricted to 15 due to the continuing strong NW wind. Nets closed at 1200 with 96 new birds of 14 species/ sub-species.

Plenty of birds passing over the island. Niklas, who arrived this morning is in the north this afternoon. Summary of the highlights of the migration count done in the north by Niklas between 1200 & 1600hrs is shown below.

A Sädgås (Bean Goose) of the race ‘rossicus‘ was present on the football pitch all morning. A very tired bird that only flew short distances when flushed.

Afternoon will be spent emptying more nest boxes

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

The very strong overnight winds continued for the first part of the morning, restricting netting to just 11 nets which were opened at 0630 and closed at 1300 to give 167 new birds of 12 species.

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

Restricted net opening due to the strength and direction of the wind, with just 3 nets open from 0630 until 1100.

A total 21 new birds of four species.

Starting to clean and repair nest boxes in the woods this afternoon.

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

Reduced netting due to a strong SW wind that eventually brought periods of rain. Nets opened from 0630 until 0900 with 32 new birds of 6 species.

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

Very strong winds delayed net opening until 0630 when it was light enough to see which nets could be opened safely. Only 5 nets opened, with one of these closed as the wind increased, with the rest closed at 1100. Just 9 new birds of 6 species – a big difference to the last few days!

End of month paperwork this afternoon, with winds predicted to rise to 21 m/s with rain arriving.

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

Nets at Bredmar opened at 0600 and closed at 1200 with 184 new birds of 12 species.

At SUDD nets opened at 0600 and closed at 1100 with 52 new birds of 6 species to give 236 of 13 species, a good start to the month.

Janne, Håken, Fredrik, Liam & Mats all left the island today to give just two at the Obs overnight: Chris & Kay.