A. flammea-ing good day

Despite another rain delayed start its been a great day here in Nesseby, if a tad windy and cold at times.  Early on it was clear we were on for another Redpoll day.  Formerly of the Carduelis genus, the three Redpoll species that we are familiar with in the UK have now been moved back into the genus Acanthis: Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea, Lesser Redpoll Acanthis carbaret and Arctic Redpoll Acanthis hornemanni.

Whether you are in the camp that acknowledges the three species or you're more for the 'one Redpoll to rule them all' approach, today it didn't matter as they came in the droves.  Our day ended on an incredible 491 new birds.  Yes, new birds!  In all very few retraps were caught so these birds are clearly moving through the area in big numbers and have a great breeding season.  A quick look online and Redpoll ringed in Norway have been found in Germany, Czech Republic, Estonia and the UK, so these birds really could turn up anywhere!

Redpoll

In amongst the Redpoll was a single Arctic, attempting to hide with his newly named Acanthis  friends.  Otherwise there was a distinct lack of larger passerines with only 96 other birds caught including another 12 Bluethroat and 23 Meadow Pipit.  A small flock of 7 Fieldfare added some extra interest to the session along with another two retraps from previous year's trips; another Redwing from 2012 ringed as a juvenile and another Willow Tit also ringed as a juvenile on our 2013 trip to Nesseby.  In other news, the great Dunnock migration continues with another three birds caught today!

Redwing

With catching so many passerines we've always seemingly run out of time to have a real go at catching the waders on the high tide.  The tide here is awkward, first inundating the mudflats in a few minutes until reaching nearly to the tide line, after which is takes another hour or two to reach its highest point.  Today we deployed our homemade walk in trap above the tide line and with patience the birds were queuing up to get in.  Sadly our catch was reduced by the return of a Merlin to the shoreline, spooking off the waiting flock before they could enter the trap.  Before this however we'd managed to catch 8 Dunlin, all juveniles, which made for a very welcome addition to the bumper crop of Redpolls.

Dunlin

 Tomorrow is our final day for catching - how time flies!  Currently the weather is looking great so we'll see what 3am brings.

Totals (New Birds): Saturday 13th August 2016
Dunlin 8
Bluethroat 12
Meadow Pipit 23
Arctic Redpoll 1
Sedge Warbler 1
Redwing 4
Fieldfare 7
Willow Warbler 15
Dunnock 3
House Sparrow 2
Reed Bunting 7
Brambling 10
Greenfinch 2
Great Tit 1
Redpoll 491
Total 587