All nets opened at 0345 in thick fog with no wind. Wind increased as the morning progressed and the fog lifted around 0800 to give clearer conditions with sunshine for the last 2 hours. All nets closed at 1200.

Another good morning with 116 new birds of 22 species, a good range of spring migrants, with very few caught early on, increasing through the morning before becoming very quiet again.

More work around the Obs this afternoon, trying to get things ready for starting to check nest boxes, starting tomorrow.

Will be three at the Obs tonight; Chris, Kay & Håkan.

All nets opened at 0415 in an increasing southerly wind that brought the occasional shower before a wide band of rain at 0700 which resulted in all nets being closed for the day.

A total of just 16 new birds of 9 species. Very few birds in the area.

The opportunity of early closing of nets means we can clean all bird bags, complete building the Tornseglare (Swift) nest boxes and carry on with reviewing the last 30 years of data.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight.

All nets opened at 0345 and closed at 1100, with 59 new birds of 18 species, including the first Näktergal (Thrush Nightingale) of the year. In addition to one new bird of this species we caught a bird ringed at Bredmar on 17-5-14 as a 2cy – one day short of three years ago!

Afternoon will be spent doing some jobs around the Obs.

Two at the Obs overnight: Chris & Kay.

All nets opened at 0345 in perfect netting conditions – no wind and overcast. Some nets closed at 0845 when Kay went off the island for some shopping, with the remaining 22 nets closed at 1200.

A great total of 164 new birds of 21 species, producing five new species caught for the year: Buskskvätta (Whinchat), Härmsångare (Icterine Warbler), Trädgårdssångare (Garden warbler), Grönsångare (Wood Warbler) and Grå flugsnappare (Spotted Flycatcher).

A movement of Tornseglare (Swift), Hussvala (House Martin) and ladusvala (Barn Swallow) was a further welcome sign that birds are arriving in the area, although pretty late for some species.

By the time data entered, blog updated etc that’s it for the day.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

All nets opened at 0345 and closed at 1130, with 60 new birds of 15 species, including the first of the year caught for, Rörsångare (Reed Warbler), Törnsångare (Whitethroat) and Halsbandsflugsnappare (Collared Flycatcher).

Forgot to note that on the 11th May we observed our first fledged young of the year, a recently fledged Koltrast (Blackbird). Today Kay observed a young Gulsparv (Yellowhammer), just out of the nest. So, despite the cold spring some birds have been making progress!!!

Rasmus and Jacob headed north for the morning before leaving on the 1330 ferry. Their sightings will appear on Artportalan later, but a quiet morning, with the highlight being an Ortolansparv (Ortolan Bunting).

Mats and Lasse headed to SUDD and also had a quiet morning, while Bosse and Janne remained around the Obs area for a while, covering the middle of the island from up on the hill.

Lasse left on the 1330 ferry with Mats, Janne & Bosse leaving on the last ferry to give just two at the Obs overnight: Chris & Kay.

All nets opened at 0415, standard netting finished at 1100 and the remaining nets closed at 1245 after two guided talks.

A pleasing mornings ringing with 75 new birds of 17 species. Rasmus and Jakob went up north at first light, followed a bit later by Janne who had remained around the Obs for a while. Lasse headed south.

There were two particularly good sightings from a good morning of migration watching. These were a Ägretthäger (Great Egret) and a Turkduva (Collared Dove). The egret was noticed from the north and observed passing east to west over the island just north of Bredmar before flying south down the east coast before returning north to Torö island for an hour before returning to Landsort.

The Dove was seen heading south past the Obs and landing in a tree north of the village.

A more complete list of highlights from a very good day for migrants will be given later once ‘the gang’ arrive back.

Two guided talks given: one to 7 people at 1130 and another to 4 at 1230.

A fridge/freezer was kindly donated to the Obs by Per & Birgitta. Thank you to them and also for Lennart who very kindly picked it up with Chris to deliver it to the Obs.

Hans arrived for the day on the morning ferry, always good to spend time with him and Bosse and Mats arrived on the early afternoon ferry to give eight at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Janne, Rasmus, Jakob, Lasse, Mats & Bosse.

All nets opened at 0345 and closed at 1100. A quiet start to the morning, but improved by the time 0600 arrived. Caught the first Mindre flugsnappare (Red-breasted Flycatcher) of the season, a full adult male.

Catch was dominated by Lövsangare and Gransångare (Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff). Finished with 82 new birds of 8 species, plus an Ärtsångare (Lesser Whitethroat) that was already ringed from within Sweden.

Will update on interesting sightings a bit later.

Completed putting up all the nets at SUDD. That’s all nets up there and all boardwalks repaired/replaced.

Will be 6 at the Obs tonight; Chris, Kay, Janne, Lasse, Rasmus and Jakob.

26 nets opened at 0345, with the last four opened once the ice had thawed from on top of them. All nets closed at 1145.

At last a good days ringing, with 119 new birds of 12 species, 88 of them Rödhake (Robin) with five male Rödstjärt (Redstart) also.

Another Denmark ringed Rödhake caught, making that two in two days.

Some more work in SUDD this afternoon.

Will be three at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay & Janne

After the snow flurries and showers of yesterday and with a wind forecast to be light and NOT from the NE we were up to open the nets at 0345 with anticipation of a good morning of netting. On going outside we were met with moderate NE winds and cold, just above 1 degree at the Obs and colder down at Bredmar, with three reed bed nets frozen.

27 nets opened at 0345 with the other 3 opened on hour later. All netting finished at 1145 with just 24 new birds of 9 species, the best of which was our first Sävsångare (Sedge Warbler) of the year. Also caught was a 2cy Rödhake (Robin) carrying a ring from the Danish ringing scheme.

Janne was up and out migration watching from first light, though it was quiet for most species. A passage of Storspov (Curlew) and a few Småspov (Whimbrel) was of note, along with a couple of Gulärla (Yellow Wagtail).

Some bird bags washed. Afternoon will be spent repairing the Boardwalk at SUDD east.

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

All nets opened at 0345 and closed at 1100 by which time the wind had decreased. Ice on Bredmar this morning and the temperature struggled to rise above 3 degrees most of the morning, getting to around 5 degrees by 1100.

Total of 18 new birds of 9 species. Still very quiet for migrants though a 4th Blåhake (Bluethroat) added to the ringing totals and another, un-ringed, bird seen later in the Bredmar reeds.

Two Lärkfalk (Hobby) calling as they migrated north were followed a short while later by a Sidensvans (Waxwing) heading the same way. For someone from the British Isles, it is not usual to see both species on one day!

Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

All nets opened at 0345 in a 6-8m/s northerly wind. The wind started to increase early in the morning, resulting in nets being closed through the session. By the time the last four nets were closed at 1100 the wind was very strong, gusting to 21m/s with one or two snow flurries as well.

Ended the session with 15 new birds of 7 species, the best of which was an adult male Blåhake (Bluethroat), the 3rd of the year.

The only sighting of any interest was a Lärkfalk (Hobby) observed by Kay, migrating north. The skies here are just about empty of birds!!!

By the end of the day all pillow cases and mattress covers for the dormitories and common room will have been washed and dried. Some entered the washing machine willingly, others had to dragged kicking and screaming – but they all went in eventually!!!

Work progressing on reviewing old data, but a long job.

Just Chris and Kay at the Obs overnight.

All nets opened at first light but some closed a bit later due to an increasing NE wind which is still keeping temperatures down. Netting finished at 1145 with just 29 new birds of 10 species, including the second Blåhake (Bluethroat) of the year, a splendid 2cy male.

No public guided talk today.

Delays in any progress to finish the outside of the building means we will need to postpone putting up the Tornsaglare (Swift) nest boxes, but more work done on building them this morning.

Afternoon will be spent at SUDD measuring up what is needed to re-build the east net walkways.

An update on the fight between the Huggorm (Adder) and Vanlig padda (Common Toad) reported on yesterday. The padda was still present this morning, without the Huggorm attached to its leg!! The padda looked very ill but was still alive at least and had moved somewhere else later in the morning.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

Not much wind, so all 30 nets opened at 0345, with most closed at 1100 and some kept open until 1145 for a public guided talk.

A total of 38 new birds of 15 species/sub-species.

Guided talk attended by six people.

Most notable sighting of the day was watching a Huggorm (Adder) holding on to the leg of a Vanlig padda (Common Toad) in the reed bed. An hour later they were still there but the padda was partly swallowed!!

Håkan, who was over for the night and camped north of the Obs saw a Merlin at Fårhagen.

Yesterday evening Mats very kindly dropped the new washing machine off at Ankarudden and thanks to Tore it was soon transported from East Harbour to the Obs where it has already been put to use washing the cushion and pillow covers. Fantastic, and thanks to both of them for getting it to us and Anders for his part also.

Will be just two at the Obs tonight: Chris & Kay.

A calm morning with all nets opened at 0345 and closed at 1100. A total of 62 new birds of 10 species with the highlight being 32 Gransångare (Chiffchaff), a new spring day record for Landsort, the previous best day being 24 on the 22nd April 2012

A couple of Ladusvala (Barn Swallow) migrating north and two Hussvala (House Martin) over the village were further signs that spring is finally taking place! Also of note was the capture of a Kungsfågel (Goldcrest) that had a ring from Lithuania on it.

Seems like there is just Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight.

22 nets opened at 0345, with some opened a bit later on, but only for a short while as the wind continued to increase.

Only 22 new birds of 7 species, 50% of the Gransångare (Chiffchaff) and our first Svartvit flugsnappare (Pied Flycatcher) of the year, a 2cy male.

Two guided talks given, one at 1100 to 13 people and one at 1230 to 23, with nets closed at 1330. Made it a very long day but both talks were well received and enjoyed by everyone.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

28 nets opened at 0400 with the last two opened at 0600 once ice had thawed. Most nets closed at 1100 with some left open for a guided talk.

A total of 33 new birds was again quiet but a pleasing variety of species with 14 including our 2nd Göktyta (Wryneck) of the year and a Sidensvans (Waxwing), a bit un-expected for this time of year. It was one of a flock of five perched in a bush while Kay was closing the nets and very obligingly flew down past her shoulder and into the net next to here. Wish it was always like that!!!

The first of our public ‘drop-in’ guided talks of the year was attended by just one person, but she was rewarded with close up views of the Sidensvans.

More work around the Obs this afternoon.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

25 nets opened at 0400 with the last five opened at 0600 when the sun had thawed the ice from them. A cold start but very calm with sun throughout the netting period, which finished with all nets closed at 1100.

A total of 51 new birds of 9 species including the first Göktyta (Wryneck) of the year and two male Rödstjärt (Redstart), also the first for the year.

More work around the Obs this afternoon.

Just Chris & Kay overnight tonight.

All nets opened at 0400 and closed at 1200 in very light winds from the south. 79 new birds of 11 species, with 64 of these being Robin, but the first Trädpiplärka (Tree Pipit) of the year caught also.

Janne & Bosse went to the north in the morning and heard Göktyta. Mats was in the south all morning and between them around 1500 Svärta were observed. All their records will appear on Artportalen but they include a Ladusvala (Barn Swallow) observed heading north.

Mats, Bosse & (maybe) Janne leaving the island on the last ferry today, giving 2 or 3 on the Obs tonight; Chris, Kay & (maybe!!) Janne.