What a difference a day makes!

As 3am came and we started our day, clouds peppered a blue sky and there wasn't a breath of wind to be found.  Almost perfect ringing conditions, and we certainly made the most of it.  Having managed to catch a surprising 172 new birds yesterday despite the weather, we were perhaps caught a little off guard when the nets began to fill from the word go, and the birds just kept coming!  Rain and wind did eventually call a halt to proceedings, but not before we'd racked up an astonishing 751 new birds!

Redpoll made up more than half of our catch today with flocks seemingly passing through the reserve and being caught on their way.  Compared to the number of birds caught, the number of same day retraps for the species was relatively low.  Unlike the species commonly seen in the UK, the Lesser Redpoll, the birds we are catching are the Common Redpoll, sometimes called the Mealy Redpoll.  As mentioned on Sunday's blog, the taxonomy of the species group is debated but we currently treat them as different species.  Common Redpoll are found right across the Northern Hemisphere, but the birds we're catching here in Norway will head south as the winter sets in so we hope to get some interesting recoveries from the birds we've ringed this year, and in previous trips, to find out exactly where they go.

Common Redpoll (number 387 ringed today)

It has been a day when its been very easy to be blinded by the sheer numbers, collectively and amongst the individual species.  Meadow Pipit topped the 100 mark for the first time with 139 caught, clearly a movement of the species through the area.  Also impressive were 23 Fieldfare, of which 17 were caught in a single area at the same time, presumably a flock also moving through the area.

But in amongst the numbers lay some new species, and some very nice ones to say the least.  A Red-throated Pipit tried to hide amongst the Meadow Pipits.  Careful checking of the juvenile including biometrics and wing formula confirmed the ID of the less than classic looking individual, although some pink wash could be seen on the throat.  Also new for the trip were a Yellow Wagtail, Chiffchaff and a Willow Tit, the great looking white-washed birds found here in the north.  As for the Chiffchaff, although we check all our Willow Warblers just in case, we have been catching some small juveniles so this find was thanks to the eagle eyes of Charlie.  His blog features lots of additional photos and commentary of the day's activities.  Check it out here - http://birdringers.blogspot.no/

Also trying to hide in amongst more common species was a lovely Lapland Bunting, no doubt pretending to be a Reed Bunting.  Another few Sedge Warblers were a welcome addition, along with another three Dunnock.  Still seems strange to say that these are migrating!

Red-throated Pipit

 

Willow Tit

Lapland Bunting

Currently the weather forecast is giving overnight rain, clearing for when we get started and not returning until early afternoon so we're hopefully that any birds moving tonight will drop in to the reserve and be waiting for us in the morning.  Fingers crossed, but surely we can't top our new Arctic Norway trips day record of 751 new birds?  We'll find out in the morning...


Totals (New Birds): Thursday 11th August 2016
Reed Bunting 28
Meadow Pipit 139
Bluethroat 43
Redpoll 387
Brambling 31
Willow Warbler 77
Fieldfare 23
Redwing 5
Sedge Warbler 3
Great Tit 5
Lapland Bunting 1
Chiffchaff 1
Greenfinch 1
Red-throated Pipit 1
Dunnock 3
Yellow Wagtail 1
Wheatear 1
Willow Tit 1
Total 751