31st May 2015
Staff: DWE, JMY, MBR, EKP, TMJ, BHN, MPN
Weather: Sunny, very windy
Projects: Skylarks, Ortolan bunting, Great reed warbler, Hooded Crows, Ringing.
Great reed warbler
BHN and MBR checked the area around Rysjön today to find new birds and check nests. Unfortunately they had to find that two of the four observed nests have been predated. Now they have to search the new nests, which the Great Reed Warbler will build during the next couple of days. To make up for that loss, they were happy to catch two new males – one of them really new and unringed, the other one has already been ringed as chick last year and has now returned to Kvismaren to make some chicks himself (hopefully).
TMJ meanwhile checked the other areas and found a whole new pair at Sörbysjön.
Skylarks and Ortolan buntings
Not quite sure if it would going to be the day of the harvest of the fields they'd been observing for the last few weeks, JMY, EKP and MPN sticked around Ängfallet to wait for the farmer. One of the aim is to look at how our skylarks will react on the harvest in the middle of the breeding season and which birds (or other predators) might feed on the now exposed chicks. So they searched for the ortolan buntings at Ängfallet which have stopped singing and showing themselves during the last few days, probably because of the terrible rain and strong storm we had to endure. Furthermore they were looking for the ortolan buntings in Torsholmen (singing but invisible male), Husön (dito) and Söröslätten. In Torsholmen the male has suddenly become very shy which we interpret as a sing for having found a female (finally!). In Söröslätten they were able to make very long observations of one of the males they had caught and colour-ringed two weeks ago. This male showed no signs of collecting food for chicks yet, but only fed himself. In between he kept on calling for his female but she wouldn't show up.
Furthermore they were looking for skylark nests around Ängfallet but without any success.
The harvest is delayed until tomorrow.
Hooded Crows
Meanwhile DWE was visiting the nests of hooded crows. The nestlings are due to be ringed but - as mentioned before - horrible weather hindered us from climbing trees. At least 9 out of 30 nests can be confirmed to be occupied so far. Checking this will continue tomorrow as well as some climbing and ringing.
Misc
Motivated by the sunny weather DWE and MBR made the day even a little bit more productive by catching a river warbler in the (thank goodness windstill) gravel pit in Norrbyås. This beautiful 2+ male is carrying a ring now.
Today EKP, JMY and MPN were able to sight an Osprey flying first over Torsholmen and then Vallen. MPN heard a Golden Oriole at Husön.
After paying us a short visit again, BHN left us this noon – see you soon!
EKP