Reds take poll position

I'd say dawn was breaking as we rose at 3am, but I'd be lying as it doesn't really get dark this far north.  We were on site and ready to ring by 4am with birds arriving steadily in the nets from the word go and it was soon apparent it was going to be a Redpoll day, as well as one where we'd need to watch the weather.  Eventually we ran two sessions during the drier parts of the day.

Our morning session ended with 268 new birds including a whopping 97 Common Redpoll, increasing to 128 new birds by the end of the day from our afternoon session.  Amongst the expected collection of juveniles were a few strikingly red adult males (photo below).  Also in the haul of these Carduelis species were two Arctic Redpoll.  The taxonomy of Redpoll is a complex and divides opinion with the British Ornithologists Union (BOU) currently recognising several species whilst across the pond in North America there is a push for a single species.  Read more about the opinions here - http://www.audubon.org/news/one-redpoll-rule-them-all

Common Redpoll

Despite the shorter sessions to dodge the weather, we managed to add six new species to the trip; Great Tit, Pied Flycatcher, Arctic Redpoll, Redstart, House Sparrow and Lapland Bunting.

Lapland Bunting (aka Lapland Longspur)

Out on the mudflats the number of waders seemed to have grown further with large flocks flitting across the water as the tide rose and fell.  A pair of Arctic Skuas were seen several times throughout the day including when they pursued an adult White-tailed Eagle across the Varangerfjord joined later by a few gulls.  Since arriving we've seen a Merlin hunting the passerines on the nature reserve, and today we watching with baited breath as it head towards nets before using its great agility to swerve right and off in the wrong direction.  Surely its only a matter of time until it finds a net to stop in.

The Varangerfjord is a great place for birds throughout the year; from the wintering gulls and sea-ducks such as Steller's Eider and Long-tailed Duck to the passage of wading birds and the local speciality breeders including Little Bunting and Siberian Tit.  The best birding sites are detailed in the great book Birding Varanger available from our friends at Biotope here - https://biotope.myshopify.com/

Totals (New Birds): Sunday 7th August 2016
Reed Bunting 28
Bluethroat 21
Meadow Pipit 26
Willow Warbler 64
Redpoll 128
Brambling 22
Sedge Warbler 4
Fieldfare 11
Redwing 10
Greenfinch 4
Great Tit 5
Redstart 4
Arctic Redpoll 2
Lapland Bunting 1
House Sparrow 1
Pied Flycatcher 1
Total 332