Revtangen BO November 7th

Bad weather with wind and rain during the night, which cleared and calmed in the morning. No trapping around dawn, but most nets up 08.30-14.30. Light winds mostly from the western sector. Netmeter hours approx. 2000. Playback on grey wagtail, redpoll, fieldfare and yellowhammer. 

Ringed: Grey wagtail 1, european robin 1, redwing 3, common blackbird 17, fieldfare 2, goldcrest 2, blue tit 4, house sparrow 1, tree sparrow 1, chaffinch 1, brambling 1, greenfinch 3,  mealy redpoll 2. Total = 39. Also 12 controls. 

The 116th grey wagtail at Revtangen in 2015. Vintererle nummer 116 på Revtangen OS i 2015. 

Ringmerket: Vintererle 1, rødstrupe 1, rødvingetrost 3, svarttrost 17, gråtrost 2, fuglekonge 2, blåmeis 4, gråspurv 1, pilfink 1, bokfink 1, bjørkefink 1, grønnfink 3, gråsisik 2. Total = 39. Også 12 kontroller.   

Observations: Grey wagtail 5. A few flocks of eurasian siskin flying over, otherwise not much visible migration. Around midday when the wind picked up a little there was a steady passage of auks (razorbills and little auks, a few common guillemots), perhaps around 150/hour, past Revtangen. Also a few kittiwakeas and red-throated loons migrated south. 

Alf Tore Mjøs

Revtangen BO November 5th

Nice conditions once again around dawn, but some nets were closed quite early because of an increasing wind. Nets up 07.30-13.30, netmeter hours approx. 2200. Playback on redwing and common blackbird around dawn, later on grey wagtail, goldfinch and redpoll.

Ringed: Winter wren 1, european robin 1, redwing 1, song thrush 2, common blackbird 11, fieldfare 7, chiffchaff 1, goldcrest 4, common starling 1, house sparrow 1, brambling 2, greenfinch 1, mealy redpoll 46, lesser redpoll 16, reed bunting 1. Total = 96. Also 15 controls.

Ringmerket: Gjerdesmett 1, rødstrupe 1, rødvingetrost 1, måltrost 2, svarttrost 11, gråtrost 7, gransanger 1, fuglekonge 4, stær 1, gråspurv 1, bjørkefink 2, gråsisik 46, brunsisik 16, sivspurv 1. Total = 96. Også 15 kontroller.

Observations: A steady passage of razorbills and kittiwakes over the sea, a sample count mid-morning indicated 150 razorbill/hour and 100+ kittiwakes/hour. Hen harrier 2, sparrowhawk 2, grey wagtail 5, goldfinch 1. The moth traps produced 7 species of moths, but the most interesting catch was the hoverfly Xanthandrus comtus, a scarce species in Norway and the first record at Revtangen BO. 

December moth (Poecilocampa populi), the first record at Revtangen since 2011. Høstspinner. 

Håvard Husebø and Alf Tore Mjøs

Revtangen BO November 4th

Continued mild weather, today was cloudy with a little drizzle at times and mainy SE breeze. The autumn is certainly not over even though we have entered into November, today was the busiest day in the garden so far in 2015. Nets open 07-14, netmeter hours approx. 2500. Playback on redwing and blackbird at dawn, later on brambling, grey wagtail and redpoll. 

Ringed: Collared dove 3, winter wren 2, european robin 1, common blackbird 13, song thrush 1, redwing 7, blackcap 4, goldcrest 12, blue tit 2, common starling 5, house sparrow 3, tree sparrow 7, chaffinch 2, brambling 27, greenfinch 29, european goldfinch 1, mealy redpoll 179, lesser redpoll 77, arctic redpoll 2, eurasian bullfinch 1. Total = 378. Also 14 controls. 

Just when we thought the goldcrests were finished for this year, we had another small, but noticeable arrival of 12 today. So far, the 559 goldcrest ringed in 2015 have resulted in two controls in the UK. 1 cy female. Fuglekonge 1K F.

Ringmerket: Tyrkerdue 3, gjerdesmett 2, rødstrupe 1, svarttrost 13, måltrost 1, rødvingetrost 7, munk 4, fuglekonge 12, blåmeis 2, stær 5, gråspurv 3, pilfink 7, bokfink 2, bjørkefink 27, grønnfink 29, stillits 1, gråsisik 179, brunsisik 77, polarsisik 2, dompap 1. Total = 378. Også 14 kontroller.  

Brambling 2cy+ male. Bjørkefink 2K+ hann.

Observations: The long-staying barred warbler was still in the garden, but now it seems it's getting ready for departure: It had put on more than 4 grams since last week and increased it's fat score to 4. The adult male hen harrier was still around, as was a white-tailed eagle and a water rail. 5 grey wagtails and 3-4 european goldfinch also flew over.

Still a few moths around, the catch today contained 6 species and was dominated by Dark Sward-grass (top 3) and Angle Shades (lower 6). Langvingejordfly (øverst) og taggvingefly.

Håvard Husebø and Alf Tore Mjøs. 1 visitor.