Nets opened at 0600 in almost calm conditions with a low mist. Mist slowly lifted during the morning but remained cloudy with the wind increasing during the netting session which finished at 1230.

A steady rate of capture through the morning produced a decent total of 139 new birds of 18 species/ sub-species. Among them was the first Gräshoppsångare (Grasshopper Warbler) of the year.

A guided talk given to a family of four from 1130 until 1230.

Håken spent the morning down around the lighthouse and was rewarded for his efforts with the first record of Taigasångare (Yellow-browed Warbler) of the year.

Mikael did not get to the island yesterday due to work commitments, so there were only 3 at the Obs last night. Håken left the island today to give just two at the Obs overnight tonight: Chris & Kay.

Very strong winds together with occasional rain showers restricted the number of nets opened at 0545 to 9 with these closed at 1100 as a band of more prolonged light rain arrived. Despite this 34 new birds of 9 species were caught including a Blåhake (Bluethroat) and a Höksångare (Barred Warbler).

Plenty of birds moving through and past the island today, with over 800 Vitkindad gås (Barnacle Goose) passing over the Obs in 10 large flocks. There must have been many more passing the island out of our sight.

Some migration watching at Vadarbunkern this afternoon, but not much by that stage. Rest of the afternoon spent cleaning the Obs ready for weekend visitors.

There will be four at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Mikael and Håken.

Overnight rain extended into the first part of the morning, delaying opening of any nets until 0800 with nets closed for an hour at 0900 due to heavy rain shower. Nets re-opened at 1000 and closed at 1200.

A quiet day with just 19 new birds of 9 species.

Some habitat work this afternoon.

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

Nets opened at 0530 and closed at 1100 with the morning remaining dry, despite rain nearby. A total of 75 new birds of 12 species including the first Svartmes (Coal Tit) of the year.

Anders arrived this morning to spend the day at the Obs before leaving on the late ferry.

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

Nets opened at 0530 with the presence of rain showers either side of the island, but leaving the ringing area dry. Nets closed at 1200, with rain arriving at 1300.

A good morning, though not over busy, with 129 new birds of 13 species, the best being a Sävsångare (Sedge Warbler).

The Fjällvråk (Rough-legged Buzzard) from yesterday was present in the Bredmar area all morning.

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

Nets opened at 0530 and closed at 1100 with 106 new birds of 12 species, including another Mindre flugsnappare (Red-breasted Flycatcher). Most birds caught in mist nets, but one Kungsfågel (Goldcrest) was found inside the Obs, having flown in through the open door.

Just before Lasse left we were treated to the view of a Fjällfråk (Rough-legged Buzzard) flying over the Obs before perching for a few minutes on the roof of Bernts house, giving great views and photo opportunities before if flew off N.

Lasse leaves the Obs this afternoon to give two overnight; Chris & Kay.

At Bredmar nets opened at 0530 and closed at 0700 when heavy rain shower arrived, with rain off & on through the morning. Nets re-opened at 1000 and closed at 1145 with 61 new birds of 11 species.

At SUDD nets opened at 0530 and closed at 0730 due to rain, with 40 new birds of 5 species, giving an overall day total of 101 birds.

A guided talk given to 9 people from 1130 until 1230.

Most members leaving/ left the island today to give just 3 at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay & Lasse.

All nets opened at Bredmar at 0530 and closed at 1415 after a long day of ringing and guiding. A total of 66 new birds of 16 species.

At SUDD nets opened around 0600 and closed about 1200 with 48 new birds of 11 species to give an overall total of 114 new birds of 18 species.

A good days migration watching also with several raptors moving past the island. An update on the highlights will be added to the diary later.

A guiding for 10 people from 1130 until 1300 was followed by a further guided talk to six people from 1400 until 1500.

All date entered.

There will be 9 at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Lasse, Mats, Bosse, Lena, Janne, Mova and Gunilla.

Nets opened at 0530 and closed at 1145 with a very pleasing total of 130 new birds of 16 species – very welcome after the recent few days of low numbers.

Although most birds were the expected range of autumn migrants a Videsparv (Rustic Bunting) caught in the last round of the day was by far the best bird caught, only the 14th ever caught here and the first since 2013.

A guiding was given to 25 people from 1130 until 1245.

Afternoon will be spent cleaning ready for weekend visitors.

There will be six at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay, Bosse, Lena, Mats and Lasse.

Nets opened at 0515 and closed at 0700 when a rain shower arrived. This was the pattern of the morning, nets continually opened and closed due to rain until finally closing at 1100 when a series of heavier and longer showers arrived.

Despite restricted netting a better total than recently, with 36 new birds of 7 species including 4 Ärtsångare (Lesser Whitethroat) giving a year total of 456, two better than the previous best year (2016). Notable was the complete lack of caught, or calling, Lövsångare (Willow Warbler).

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

Nets opened at 0515 and closed at 1300, having been left open until then for a booked guiding, which was then delayed until 1400.

Another quiet day with just 9 birds of 5 species.

Final window put into the lab this morning, so after the guiding at 1400 we will give the Lab a good clean and put the ringing area back together ready for some birds, perhaps???

Will also clean the dormitories and pingers room of dust from the work that has been done, ready for the weekend.

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

Nets opened at 0515 and closed at 1100 with just 9 new birds of 4 species.

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

25 nets opened at 0515 and closed at 1100 with just 10 new birds of 6 species, captures affected by the wind direction and strength.

All the replacement windows are now in place in the main part of the building and work started on replacing the three in the cellar.

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

Very strong winds overnight delayed opening unitl 0545 when 11 nets opened.Nets closed at 1145 with just three new birds of two species caught.

A booked guiding was given to 14 people from 1130 until 1230.

Liam left the island today to give two at the Obs overnight: Chris & Kay.

All nets opened at Bredmar at 0515 and closed at 1145 with just 20 new birds of 9 species.

At SUDD Liam had nets open at 0545 and closed at 0845 with just two new birds of one species, to give 22 for the day.

At 1130 a guided talk was given by Liam to 20+ youngsters and around 10 adults.

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

All nets opened at 0515 and closed at 1100 in almost calm conditions and high expectations! In the end a decent day without being spectacular with 53 new birds of 10 species.

Best sighting was of a Spillkråka (Black Woodpecker) first observed at 0700 flying north over Bredmar. It was then seen again at 1100 passing south over the Obs and a few minutes later heading north again.

Afternoon to be spent cleaning the new windows that have been fitted during the last couple of weeks.

There will be three at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay & Liam.

20 nets opened at 0500 and the rest opened during the morning as the wind decreased, with all 30 nets closed at 1100.

A total of 50 new birds of 12 species including the first migrant Järnsparv (Dunnock) of the autumn. Among the 11 Svarthätta (Blackcap) caught was a 1cy male with a dark grey beast and belly, completely lacking in any pale feathering.

Despite the movement of Sparvhök (Sparrowhawk) past the island there were no birds killed in the nets, though the remains of an Enkelbeckasin (Common Snipe) were found in one net. The birds had been plucked and mostly eaten somewhere else and had presumably been dropped when the Sparvhök hit the net.

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

25 nets opened at 0500 and closed at 1100 with 73 new birds of 15 species, including a Tornfalk (Kestrel) the 8th ever for the Observatory and a Mindre flugsnapare (Red-breasted Flycatcher), the first for autumn and the 11th for the year.

All bird bags washed and anticipation rising for continued migration.

Erik & Mats from Natursiden came up to the Obs again this morning to continue their interview with us. Unfortunately they arrived just after the Tornfalk and left just before the Mindre flugsnappare!!!

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

14 nets opened at 0515 and closed at 1300 with 69 new birds of 14 species – a good mornings ringing after the recent terrible weather.

A Svartvit flugsnappare (Pied Flycatcher) was trapped with a Finnish ring on it. The ring looked very fresh, so probably only ringed a few days ago. Will be interesting to see where and when it was ringed. Our first foreign control of the autumn.

Spent a few hours with Erik & Mats from Natursiden, who have come to the island to find out about the work of the station.

Meanwhile Lasse has drilled drainage holes in the concrete at the entrance to the cellar to fit a drain to allow the water to drain out. After 30 years of occassional flooding, a ‘phone call from Tore has hopefully sorted out the problem! Thanks to him for help yesterday in draining the water out of the cellar and to Lasse for acting so quickly to help.

This afternoon had a member of the public call at the Obs to express concern about the nets at SUDD, in fact they were quite angry. Did my best to calm him down and then Kay & I went down to check. All nets re-closed and in some cases removed from trees where loose bits had become entangled. They did not look good! Some bad PR for the Station unfortunately.

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

Nets opened at 0500 – caught three Lax, 2 Cod and 1 flounder!!!!

In truth, no nets opened today in gale to near gale NE winds overnight and heavy, continuous rain all morning!!! A lot of water on the island now!!!!

Sorcha left the island this morning and Kay took the opportunity to travel to Stockholm with her, returning later today to give two at the Obs overnight; Chris & Kay.

Afternoon spent emptying water out of the cellar and ringing Lab. Not too much damage but very wet and more flooding in!

With no rain forecast until mid-morning, everyone was up at 0500 to open the nets – outside it started raining!

Janne & Bosse, who were going to run SUDD had the common sense to go back to bed until 0800 and, after a brief attempt at some migration watching, gave the day up as a wash out!!

At Bredmar 9 nets were opened at 0645 and closed 30 minutes later, re-opened at 0900 and closed at 0945 when more long-term rain arrived. A grand total of 1 bird!!!!!

Janne & Bosse will leave at some stage this afternoon giving just Chris, Kay & Sorcha overnight tonight.

Really heavy rain now and a terrible forecast for tomorrow and most of next week.

At Bredmar all nets opened at 0500, some closed at 1100 and the rest at 1145.

A total of 67 new birds of 16 species was a much better morning than recently, with a late Kärrsångare (Marsh Warbler) being of note. This bird was the third latest bird caught at the Observatory, after 1 on 7th September 2008 and 3rd September 2009. At Bredmar, Chris & Kay were helped by Ebba who was on the island overnight, having spent 5 weeks at Ottenby. Ebba ringed 18 of the 67 birds.

At SUDD Bosse and Janne ran the nets,catching 14 new birds of 6 species, to give a total of 81 new birds for the day.

A guided talk was given to 12 people from 1130 until 1300.

There will be five at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay, Sorcha, Bosse and Janne.

Very strong winds overnight delayed opening of nets until 0600, with just 10 opened to start with but more opened as the wind eased through the morning and moved to the SW. All nets closed at 1100.

A total of 39 new birds of 9 species was an improvement on recent days.

There will be four, possibly five at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Sorcha, Bosse and maybe Janne but as usual he is keeping us guessing!!!!