21st April 2016
Staff: DWE,
Weather: Windy, and mainly sunny except for later in the day with heavy rain and overcast
Projects: Spotted Crake
An attempt to go to watch Marsh Harriers this morning was rather delayed by the electrics going off overnight and me trying to sort it out. Turned out to be simple had I understood electrics a bit better than I did! At least I have learnt something new today!
20th April 2016
Staff: DWE,
Weather: A blustery day again, overcast for most with sunny spells.
Projects: Sörön nestboxes, Spotted Crake.
19th April 2016
Staff: DWE,
Weather: A blustery day again, overcast for most with sunny spells.
Projects: Starling Nestboxes.
A check on the rest of the Starling nestboxes showed only 2 more needed replacing, meaning 11 overall. The Marsh Harriers were once again displaying over Åslaholmen, they will be nest building any day now! Migrants numbers are increasing too, with Willow Warblers heard across Kvismaren and also a Wheatear at Sörösletten.
DWE
17th April 2016
Staff: DWE, MPN
Weather: A blustery day, though the forecasted rain held off.
Projects: Wetland Census
An early start in order to cover my remaining allocated Wetland Census sites for the week. Magnus Persson (MPN) also covered his sites this morning.
Fräknabottnen
Greylag Goose: 30
Mallard: 1
Teal: 173
Wigeon: 2
Lapwing: 13
Snipe: 17
Black-headed Gull: 2
Sörbyjön
17th April 2016
Staff: DWE
Weather: Despite the forecast, mainly dry with interspersed showers.
Projects: Starling Nestboxes
Today I checked the Starling nestboxes before the breeding season has gotten into full swing as to replace damaged or downed boxes. As the trees grow boxes become dislodged and need replacing so the project can continue to run, so far 9 boxes have needed replacing, with a few boxes left to check in the coming week.
16th April 2016
Staff: DWE
Weather: Wet at dawn but clearing into a cool but pleasant day.
Projects: Wetland Census, Marsh Harrier
The Wetland Census is underway! This morning, Fågelsjön, Åslajön, Fiskingemaden and Värstamaden were surveyed in order to begin to estimate breeding numbers across Kvismaren.
Fågelsjön
15th April 2016
Staff: DWE
Weather: Cool, windy and rain showers.
Projects: Marsh Harrier.
Today the conditions for Marsh Harrier monitoring were less than desirable with the birds focus on hunting as opposed to displaying. However a male was seen over Källviken and also a male hunting over the marsh at Rysjön and another over Nyängen reedbed.
A meeting was also held with Jan Sondell to demonstrate the focuses of the projects he is running this season.
14th April 2016
Staff: DWE
Weather: Windier, though not too strong, overcast and cold yet dry.
Projects: Goose Census, Marsh Harrier
This morning was spent observing the Marsh Harrier behaviour on Åslajön and Fågelsjön. Over Åslajön, 3 males and 3 females were observed, with one dark male displaying flying for half an hour, unfortunately without finding a female, better luck next time buddy!
13th April 2016
Staff: DWE
Weather: Warm and sunny, wind picking up later in the afternoon.
Projects: Goose Census, Marsh Harrier
This morning I headed to Fiskingemaden in order to survey the area as part of the Goose Census. I found the area had grown up a lot since last year, the reeds obscuring much of the lake here which is bound to make the Wetland Census that begins later this week a bit trickier. Whilst I was here I also took the opportunity to observe the Marsh Harriers frequenting the area.
12th April 2016
Staff: DWE (Daniel Wade)
Weather: Still, warm and sunny.
Projects: Marsh Harriers.
The 2016 season has begun, and I am back again to run the earlier spring projects before the arrival of other staff members in a couple of weeks. Alongside setting up paperwork for the season, and with the warm pleasant weather prevailing, I rode to Rysjön this morning to gauge how many Marsh Harriers were currently hunting here and after dinner I went to Åslaholmen to do the same.