24th May 2015
Staff: DWE, JMY, MBL, TMJ, EKP, DHT
Weather: Patchy cloud & sun
Projects: Great Reed Warbler, Skylark, Starlings, Ortolan bunting, Tawny owls
Great Reed Warbler
MBL was out on Rysjön early and found another Great Reed Warbler nest, along with two pairs building nests. Meanwhile DHT found a new male & a new female in Åslasjön; whilst out working he also noted two Temminck stints at Sörbysjön, and 7-8 little gulls over Fågelsjön.
Farmland Birds
EKP, MPN & JMY were out at Bärsta to survey 6 skylark plots, 3 of these being new ones on the spring planted corn. The new planting has grown well here and there was lots of skylark activity with some evidence of nest building.
They went on to Lindåsabacken and managed to confirm a breeding pair of Ortolans there, and likewise at Sörösletten. The birds at Sörösletten are not ringed so we hope for a calm morning soon when we can attempt to catch and ring at least the male, if not both.
JMY & EKP went on to Hägersta to try & locate ortolans here. Oats were put out on a couple of strategically located rocks to tempt the birds in over the next few days, but it was too windy for them to be very active on this occasion.
A few of us also went to ring tawny owl chicks that are about to fledge from a nest box in a local garden. MPN heroically climbed the tree to get the young female out, whilst the male chick was sitting staring calmly at us from a branch when we arrived. DWE ringed both the chicks.
JMY