27th June 2015
Staff: JMY, MBR, APN, MMJ, TMJ, MFG, CBS, JRD, MLA
Weather: Sunny all day with slight showers in the evening, wind south-westerly 5 m/s.
Projects: Great Reed Warbler, Standarized Ringing, Ortolan buntings.
Great Reed Warbler
MFG and TMJ went Segesjön today and captured an adult female with a data logger, which was successfully removed. MBR and MLA ventured to Nyängen in pursuit of a long song male, again he evaded capture. MLA checked a nest in Sörbysjön which has unfortunately been predated. JRD paddled around Åslasjön to no avail gathering no new information, then in Fågelsjön a nest was checked and found to be predated, the pair with the predated nest were observed to be re-building a nest, though this was not located.
Standardised Ringing
CBS, APN and MMJ were joined by MLA for the early net rounds in Banvallen this morning for some additional training. Unfortunately the net rounds were very quiet and MLA had to join the Great Reed Warbler team prior to 6am. In summary a slow morning was had at Banvallen with 31 new birds caught. The first juvenile garden warblers of the season were caught and another goldfinch reflects their continued range/abundance expansion into Närke. A sighting of 20 common crossbill, south at 4.10 this morning was the highlight.
Goldfinch 1
Garden Warbler 4
Whitethroat 2
Blackcap 2
Chaffinch 1
Blue tit 8
Willow Warbler 4
Sedge Warbler 1
Reed Warbler 2
Marsh Tit 2
Greenfinch 1
Yellowhammer 1
Thrush Nightingale 1
Blackbird 1
5 greylag goslings were ringed on Hammermaden by CBS and APN.
An attempt to visit marsh harrier nests in Åslasjön failed miserably today with waders filled well before ditches were labelled impassable. In the late afternoon/evening CBS, APN and MMJ were joined at Åslaholmen by JMY in hope that they could shed some light on the marsh harrier situation. In a little under 2 hours only one bird was seen to come to a nest and this is the nest situated deep within the reeds over the impassable ditch.
Ortolan buntings
JMY tried to relocate an ortolan bunting in Torsholmen unsuccessfully before moving to Söröslätten where a pair of ortolans provoked her with frequent nesting behaviours. Sure there was a nest, JMY left in good spirits, another day she will return to locate the nest properly.
In the afternoon JMY cycled areas around Kvismaren searching for oil seed rape crops in hope for displaying skylarks.
CBS