22 nets opened at 0345 and closed at 1100 with 12 new birds of 9 species. Notable was only one warbler species caught – an Ärtsångare (Lesser Whitethroat).

Very quiet for birds today

There will be three at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay & Bosse. An update – Janne arrived!!! – so Chris, Kay & the chuckle brothers!!!

22 nets opened at 0415 and closed at 1100 with 17 new birds of 11 species including the first fledged Ladusvala (Swallow) and Brunsiska (Lesser Redpoll) chicks of the year.

A quiet day for the rest of the day while Chris rests his back.

Mark leaves the island in the afternoon, to give just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

18 nets opened at 0415, with some closed at 1100 and the rest at 1145.

A total of 15 new birds of 10 species, the best of which was a Bändelkorsnäbb (Two-barred Crossbill), a second year female. Only the 6th of the species ever caught at the Obs, the other five all being in the autumn of 2013.

Though the nets were once more run only by Kay, Chris was able to give a guided talk at 1130 to 13 people.

In the afternoon, Kay ringed a further 4 birds: Sädesärla (White Wagtail) chicks in Tore’s fishing shed.

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

13 nets opened at 0415 with two more opened at 0515. All 15 nets closed at 1100 with 13 new birds of 7 species caught.

Nets run by just Kay again, with Chris still having an injured back, spending all day in bed!!!

Three at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay & Mark.

14 nets opened at 0430 with a further net opened an hour later, to give 15 nets operated until 1100 in a strong NW wind.

7 new birds of 5 species caught.

Nets were run by Kay only as Chris pulled muscles in his back on Sunday and was not able to stand up all day.

There was three at the Obs: Chris, Kay and Mark.

28 nets opened at 0415 and the remaining two opened a little later as the wind decreased slightly.

A total of 14 new birds of 9 species including the first young Härmsångare (Icterine Warbler) of the season.

A guided talk given to seven adults and one young person.

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

All nets opened at 0415 and closed at 1100 with 14 new birds of 9 species. The last couple of days have produced seven Svarthätta (Blackcap) including a number of recently fledged birds.

Very quiet for birds generally, though another Gök (Cuckoo) was seen today. The Tornseglare (Swift) continue to investigate the nest boxes, with birds now having entered and remained inside 6 of the 7 boxes during the last two weeks. Birds have been staying in the boxes for a minimum of about 30 minutes, with some remaining inside all night and for several hours during the day.

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

All nets opened at 0415 and closed at 1100 with 23 new birds of 13 species; a better morning than yesterday!

Migration of waders pas the island was still almost nil.

Niklas, Jon & Mikael left the island on the early afternoon ferry to give just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

Restricted net opening due to strong winds, but 12 opened at 0415 with 16 open by the time netting finished at 1100.

A poor day with just 8 new birds of 6 species, highlight being a Sävsångare (Sedge Warbler).

Migration watching for waders was equally poor, if not worse!!!

Janne leaves the island later today, so there will be five at the station tonight: Chris, Kay, Jon, Mikael & Niklas.

All nets opened at 0415, with some closed at 1100 and the rest at 1145. Started in light winds which increased through the morning.

Another quiet morning with just 14 new birds of 8 species, with six Ärtsångare (Lesser Whitethroat) among them, nearly all young birds.

Despite the 0415 start Kay & Chris were not the first up and about. By that time all of the others were up, with Jon, Niklas & Mikael having left the Obs by 0400 to do a migration watch at Vaderbunken. Sadly their efforts were not rewarded with any passage of waders. In fact the best birds of the day (SO FAR!!) were two Kaspisk trut (Caspian Tern) seen by Janne as they flew over the Obs.

A guiding given at 1130 to five adults and five children.

Another attempt at migration watching will be made later in the day, with a better chance of success now that the wind has increased a bit.

There will be six at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Jon, Niklas, Mikael and Janne.

Opening of nets delayed until 0630 due to forecast heavy rain, which actually was only light. 23 nets opened at 0630 and the rest opened 1 hour later with all nets closed at 1100, with only occasional very light showers.

It was a quiet morning with just 8 new birds of 7 species, with the first Gransångare (Chiffchaff) young of the year caught.

There was an addition to last nights overnight numbers with a late decision to strengthen the squad by the addition of veteran striker, Janne, who arrived on the mid-afternoon boat.

Despite a strong “migration squad” the morning was quiet, with light northerly winds only slowly increasing and going to the NE – not great conditions. Hoping for better later in the day and tomorrow.

There will be 6 at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay, Janne, Jon, Niklas and Mikael.

All nets opened at 0415 and closed at 1100 with 21 new birds of 13 species. Best birds were two Stenknäck (Hawfinch), both birds born this year and the only ones trapped at the Obs during July, the earliest in other years being in mid-August. These birds are the 18th and 19th trapped here.

There will be five at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Niklas, Jon and Mikael.

All nets opened at 0415 in calm and overcast conditions, that remained that way until 1000 when sun appeared briefly. Some nets closed at 1100 and the rest at 1145.

A total of 17 new birds of 9 species, including the first fledglings for Rödhake (Robin) and Trädgårdssangåre (Garden Warbler).

A guided talk given to 4 people at 1130 until 1300.

Two of the Tornseglare boxes are regularly occupied, with a pair present in one of them throughout the morning and afternoon, with a single bird in the other. A total of 4 of the seven boxes have been entered by birds now.

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

All nets opened at 0415 and closed at 1100 with just 7 new birds of 6 species, including the first Björktrast (Fieldfare) young of the year.

A very quiet day for birds despite good netting conditions.

There will be just Chris & Kay at the obs tonight.

All nets opened at 0415 in light winds that increased only slightly as the morning progressed. Some nets closed at 1100 with the rest closed at 1145. A total of 21 new birds of 12 species.

A booked guided talk to 3 adults and 4 children given at 1130.

Afternoon will be spent trimming the grass on paths and net rides.

Göran arrived on the last ferry yesterday and stayed overnight to give three at the Obs last night. He leaves on the afternoon ferry today, so there will be just Chris & Kay overnight.

28 nets opened at 0415 and closed at 1100, with 26 new birds of 16 species including the first fledged Näktergal (Thrush Nightingale) of the year.

Otherwise quiet for birds though five Mindre körsnäbb (Common Crossbill) were observed feeding in the tree just north of the Obs.

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

Our Manx National Day today, so thoughts of home (and days off!!).

All nets opened at 0415 in a light north-west wind that backed to SW and increased slightly as the morning progressed. Some nets closed at 1100 and the rest at 1145. A total of 13 new birds of 12 species. Our first Grå flugsnappare (Spotted Flycatcher) for a while and also a Sävsångare (Sedge Warbler). This bird had very fresh plumage and tongue-spots but was clearly not a bird of this year, so was aged as 2cy but not sure how the feathering was still so fresh – possibly a very late migrant???

Tornseglare still investigating the nest boxes. One was present inside the box early on and visited by a second bird.

Public guiding given from 1130 to 1300 to 5 adults and 4 children.

There will be Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight.

All nets opened at 0415 in almost calm conditions with the wind increasing slightly as the morning progressed. All nets closed at 1100.

A total of 27 new birds of 12 species including many young birds but also a couple more adult Härmsångare (Icterine Warbler), overall taking the total for the year over 3,000 new birds.

A spectacular gathering of Tornseglare (Common Swift) over the island early in the morning with an estimated 800+ birds feeding in two large groups, one over the lighthouse/village area and one north of Bredmar. Birds from both groups feeding very low over the Obs – not sure how they missed the nets, but they did!!

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

Due to the strong winds there was restricted net opening, with just 14 nets opened at 0415, reducing to just 11 by the time netting finished at 1100 as the wind increased to very strong, gusting to 14 m/s.

Only 11 new birds caught, of 9 species.

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

All nets opened at 0415, some closed at 1100 and the rest at 1145. A total of 22 new birds trapped of 17 species, including the first fledged Stenskvätta (Wheatear) of the year.

A guided talk was given to seven people, lasting over 90 minutes – a good level of interest shown by everyone, really enjoyable session!!!

In the afternoon the last three nest boxes of the year were visited – two broods of Talgoxe (Great Tit) produced 11 more birds and the final box was a great reward of 6 young and healthy Göktyta (Wryneck) and an adult – 7 birds in total. A great way to finish checking all the boxes we could find on the island (240 boxes). This gives 40 new birds of 18 species for the day.

To top it all we now have Tornseglare going into and staying in two of the nest boxes!

End of week reports still to do then it might just be time for a drink!

22 nets opened at 0645 after the very strong winds from yesterday finally started to decrease. Not possible to open all nets and the 22 in operation were all closed at 1100.

A pleasing total of 30 new birds of 10 species including two more recently fledged Törnsångare (Common Whitethroat). Range of end of month jobs to do this afternoon.

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