Opening of nets delayed by 30 minutes as the snow that fell yesterday evening had partly frozen on the nets. Most nets opened at 0500 with the five in the reed beds opened later as the sun warmed this coldest part of the site. All nets closed at 1100.

Yet again, the birds largely failed to show with just 8 new of 6 species caught, including the seasons first Fieldfare.

Summary sheets on the information board in the hall updated to take account of the figures up to and including those from 2016. This afternoon notices will be placed in the village, at North Harbour and in the hostel about the series of public guided talks and lectures that are taking place. More notices will be placed in the leaflets available on the ferry and at other places.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight.

All except reed bed nets opened at 0430 with these nets opened later when the sun put some ‘heat’ in the day. Remained cold all morning, with 30 nets closed at 1100. Only three new birds of two species caught. A Jorduggla (Short-eared Owl) was seen flying over just after first light.

Tumble drier collected from the village, with thanks to the community for allowing us to have it. It will make a big difference to how life is here, for the Wardens and for keeping bird bags clean. Washing machine is due out soon!!!

Janne, Niklas and Bjorn were south migration watching but also had a very quiet.

Most leaving on the 1330 ferry to give just Chris & Kay overnight tonight.

Most nets opened at 0445 with those in the reeds opened a little later due to the temperature being lower in the reeds. Some nets closed as the wind increased with all remaining nets closed at 1100. Another quiet (terrible!!!) day ringing with just 7 new birds of 6 species.

Janne (who arrived on the last boat yesterday), Bosse, Niklas & Bjorn were out early for migration watching and also had a very quiet day. The only records of note were one Jorduggla in off the sea and another flushed in the south. Altogether a disappointing day!!!

A guided talk for two people was given.

Bosse and Lena leave this evening, with Niklas and Bjorn deciding to stay another night; just in case it gets better!

Will be six at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Pelle, Janne, Niklas & Bjorn.

Up at 0445 but a temperature of minus 4 degrees delayed opening for bird welfare reasons. All but the reed nets opened at 0530 with the reed nets opened at 0630. All nets closed at 1100. Same old story – very few birds in the area with just 13 new of 8 species to give just 400 for the first half of April. This is below average captures for the period, measured over the years 1988-2016 but is consistent with experiences at other observatories in southern Sweden and as far south as the UK.

Two more boardwalks made by Kay for the area leading to the canopy and some timber added to the Lab to reduce wind blowing into it.

Three flocks of Storsporv (Curlew) totalling 56 birds flew east over the Observatory early in the morning.

Will be six at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay, Pelle, Bosse, Lena, Niklas & Bjorn.

All nets opened at 0445 and closed at 1100. The morning started with light wind from the NE but as the morning progressed the wind increased. At around 0930 the first few flurries of snow were felt, with snow on and off for the rest of the session, but no volume and a dry snow.

Even fewer birds on the island now, with just 13 new birds of 8 species, but included 2 Sädesärla (White Wagtail) and another Vinterhämpling (Twite), the fourth spring bird ever caught, after the 3rd yesterday. Luckily for Kay & Chris, Pelle did the ringing so we can blame him for the poor captures instead of it being down to us over the last few days!!!!

During the quiet times of this morning Kay made a couple of new boardwalks to cover wet areas near the canopy net. Will measure boardwalks at SUDD this afternoon, ready to order new timber so that the site is ready for use by end of month.

Expected to be seven at the Obs tonight: Chris, Kay, Pelle, Bosse, Lena, Niklas, Jon and Bjorn – so that will be almost as many people as there are birds!! Jon was a ‘no show’; the meteorologist must have trusted the weather forecast!!!!

Snow still falling and a light covering on the ground, making it look more like Christmas than Easter!!

22 nets opened at 0445 with some more opened for a while as the wind decreased and moved more to the north, with 23 nets operating when the session finished at 1100.

Yet another quiet day with just 17 new birds of 11 species. Included in these was a ‘winter-pling’ (Vinterhämpling/ Twite), only the 3rd spring capture for the Observatory.

More work being done on sorting work plans this afternoon.

Probable that Pelle will arrive this evening to give three at the Obs overnight.

All nets opened at 0445 with a light south-west wind. Wind backed to south and then south-east with rain arriving at 0900 when all nets closed. Rain now forecast for the rest of the day.

Another very quiet day with hardly any birds in the area and just 10 new birds caught of 5 species.

Rest of the day will be spent reviewing old data and making further progress on workplans for the future.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

All nets opened at 0500 and closed at 1100, with Kay not feeling so great. A total of 22 birds of 10 species. Seemed a lot of effort today for not many birds, about time migration really started!!!

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight.

20 nets opened at 0500, with four of these closed during the morning as the wind increased, giving 16 nets to close at the end of ringing at 1100.

A total of 34 new birds of 10 species, with eight Rödvingetrast (Redwing) caught on one net round. This is equal to the number caught in the entire ringing period in 2016.

Repairs done to the steps into the cellar to prevent rain coming in from the lane.

Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight.

All nets opened at 0500 and closed at 1100. Another quiet day with just 25 new birds of 11 species, including three Long-tailed Tit.

It pays to keep going though, as the last bird caught on the last round as we closed was a Firecrest, the 6th ever for the Station, all but one of which were in the spring. Given the increased numbers of the species caught at Stations further south, it was hoped we would get one this year – a ringing tick for Kay!!

An extra public guiding was given for nine adults at 1130, it is not many people whose first bird seen in the hand is a Firecrest – all were suitably impressed!!

Apart from end of week summaries and cash reconciliation we are taking the rest of the day off!!!

Almost calm conditions when the nets were opened at
0515 and remaining calm and overcast until nearly the end of the session when
the wind increased and the sun came out. All nets closed at 1100 with another
quiet day giving just 21 new birds caught of 9 species.

Best bird was a female Black Redstart, the 26th for the Station, with 22 of
these being spring birds.

First two Adders (Vipers) seen.

Some reduction of tree heights near nets done this afternoon.

Please note that there is a new ‘phone number for the Observatory: 0725 203 401

Use this number instead of the landline (soon to be disconnected) to make bookings for staying and contacting the Wardens.

Three at the Obs overnight; Chris, Kay and Arild.

All nets opened at 0515 and closed at 1100. Another very quiet day with just 22 new birds of 8 species. Also caught were the 1st White Wagtail of the season – ringed here last year and a female Blackbird, marked with a ring from Sweden, but not from this Station.

Green Woodpecker still calling.

Rotten boardwalks in the reed bed and the end of football pitch will be replaced this afternoon. Should make ‘walking the plank’ a lot safer than it has been for the last few years!!! What is the bet that after replacing them, someone will fall in anyway???

Have created a list of all birds on the Swedish list, showing English, Swedish & scientific names, which will make it a lot easier to summarise sightings for the daily diary.

Just Chris & Kay at the OBs overnight as far as we know.

Sightings of interest

All nets opened at 0515 and closed at 1100. Very few birds on the island, with just 18 new birds of 7 species caught.

A Snipe flushed from the reed beds somehow managed to avoid the nets!!

A Great Crested Newt ‘rescued’ from the cellar and released in damp undergrowth.

Afternoon spent cleaning window frames and putting draught-excluders on all of the windows that have so far been ‘replaced’ last year. Should be less wind in the house now!!!!!

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight

Sightings of interest

A windy start to the morning, with some nets not used, others opened as the wind came more round to the south-west and dropped slightly. Very few birds around, with just 20 new caught of 6 species.

Gave a short talk to a couple of visitors to the island about the work of the Observatory and showed them a Kungsfågel (Goldcrest) and Rödhake (Robin)

Chris & Kay at the Obs overnight

Sightings of interest

A strong SW wind restricted net opening to 23 nets at 0515, but the remaining nets were opened during the morning as the wind dropped slightly. Overnight and throughout the morning it was very foggy but despite this the number of birds on the island was low with just 24 new birds of 6 species.

All nets closed at 1100

Two at the Obs overnight; Chris & Kay

All nets opened at 0545 and closed after 1100 with 59 new birds caught. Among them was a Great Grey Shrike, only the 3rd individual caught at the Obs in spring, all in April (25th April 1992 & 17th April 1995). Best bird was a controlled Dunnock, carrying a ring from the Belgian ringing scheme.

Working on getting everything sorted for the start of the main visitor season; finalising dates for the series of public guided talks and lectures. Hopefully we will build on the success of last year and attract more visitors to the Obs. Also making progress on getting the daily diary on a Landsort blog site, rather than using the Sharpe Focus Ltd one. This should mean more of Landsorts members will see it. At the ‘testing’ stage now and hope to go live with it in the next day or so.

Just Chris & Kay at the Obs tonight.

All nets opened at 0545, marking the start of ringing for 2017 on Landsort. All nets closed at 1300, with a total of 102 new birds of 16 species. A good start to any ringing season, with Pelle ringing most of the birds. Records of migrating birds observed by Raul, Niklas and Jon will appear under Artportlan recording database but of note were over 1000 migrating Eider.

A few adjustments to nets and poles through the morning and canopy net pole repaired in the afternoon. The Manx flag was ‘hoisted’ during the morning – a most important event!!!!

Pelle, Raul, Niklas and Jon left on the afternoon ferry to give just two at the Obs overnight – Chris & Kay.

Birds ringed

Sightings of note

Raul, Niklas and Jon off out this morning at first light to migration watch north. Very heavy fog but plenty of birds around, in particular thrushes. Goldcrest and Robin Approx, 800 Redwing, 200 Fieldfare, 1,100 Eider, 1 Snow Bunting and 29 Twite were the highlights. 3 Great Grey Shrike on the island and a singing Green Woodpecker in the far north.

Pelle, Chris & Kay up and out putting up the 30 nets at Bredmar. All nets up and repairs done to boardwalks in the reeds. Winter storms had moved the entire boardwalk at the end of the football pitch about 1m west, so quite a task to reposition it. All done and ready for tomorrow, with plenty of birds still on the island.

Six at the Obs overnight: Chris, Kay, Pelle, Raul, Niklas and Jon.

Weather

Sightings of interest