16th May
Staff: DWE, CDF, LAR, CSP, GMA, JRD, MLA, HSN.
Weather: Cold and overcast for most of the day.
Projects: Ortolan Bunting, GRW.
Ortolan Bunting.
The annual coordinated survey was conducted with the guidance of Magnus Persson and the three project staff. The survey area, conprising a large portion of land found north of the Kanal between Kvismaren and Fallersta, was divided in four sections, each covered by one of the researchers. This area has had breeding ortolans in the past but not in recent years, yet it is considered of good habitat quality and therefore in need of monitoring. Despite the best efforts of the team no ortolan was located during the survey, although many other species were noted, such as common redstart, wood sandpiper, spotted flycatcher, grasshopper warbler, common whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, whinchat, wheatear, linnet, wryneck, goldfinch, chaffinch, yellowhammer, tree pipit and crane.
GRW.
The team had a productive day, locating two new males and two new females, as well as observing mating at two territories. One new male was trapped and ringed. While in the lakes, team members had good views of large numbers of swifts and swallows in the reeds hunting for insects. Large flocks of yellow wagtails were also on the move through the reserve.
CSP