Revtangen BO December 18th

Nets open 09-15, netmeter hours approx. 1800. No playback, but one feeder with seed mixture. 

Ringed: Winter Wren 1, Common Blackbird 1, Blue Tit 1, House Sparrow 16, Tree Sparrow 15, Chaffinch 1, Yellowhammer 2. Total = 37. Also 45 controls.

Observations: White-fronted Goose 43, Sparrowhawk 1, Meadow Pipit 10, Grey Wagtail 1.

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO December 14th

The last month we have been busy at the museum moving old stuffed animals to our storage facilities. At the same time the weather has been mostly poor. Last weekend, however, we discovered that a prominent guest from far away had found our feeder - an Oriental Turtle Dove had joined the local Collared Doves! Today the nets were opened and the bird behaved very well, trapping itself as soon as it arrived for breakfast. 

Nets open 09-11, netmeter hours approx. 600. SE 6-7 m/s, around 3 degrees, sunny. No playback. 

Ringed: ORIENTAL TURTLE DOVE 1, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 3, Tree Sparrow 4, Chaffinch 10, Mealy Redpoll 3. Total = 24. Also 13 controls. 

Incredibly, the 4th new ringing species for Revtangen BO in 2016, of which 3 have been pigeons or doves!

1 cy Oriental Turtle Dove, ssp. meena. There are approx. 18 records of Oriental Turtle Dove in Norway before. Mongolturteldue, 1K av underarten meena.

Björn Mo, Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 3 visitors.

Revtangen BO November 11th

Light southeasterlies and cloudy most of the day. Nets open 07:30-15:00, netmeter hours approx. 2700. Playback on Fieldfare, Redwing, Yellowhammer and Grey Wagtail.

Ringed: Winter Wren 1, Blackbird 6, Fieldfare 14, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 4, Blue Tit 5, Great Tit 1, Common Starling 2, House Sparrow 3, Tree Sparrow 2, Chaffinch 2, Brambling 2, Greenfinch 2, European Goldfinch 1, Yellowhammer 4. Total=50. Also 15 controls. 

During the day bird number 9000 of the season, a Fieldfare, was ringed.

Observations: Grey Wagtail 2, Goshawk 1, White-tailed Eagle 1. 

Haavard Husebö and Njaal Sölvberg

Revtangen BO November 10th

Light easterlies 4-6 m/s. Mostly sunny with a few clouds now and then. Temperatures from minus 2 to pluss 2. Nets open 08-17, netmeter hours approx. 3000. Playback on Fieldfare, Yellowhammer and Grey Wagtail. 

Ringed: Sparrowhawk 3, Common Snipe 3, European Robin 1, Common Blackbird 8, Fieldfare 43, Redwing 19, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit 4, Common Starling 3, Tree Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2, Greenfinch 1, Yellowhammer 2. Total = 94. Also 21 controls, including a Blue Tit not from Revtangen.

Including the bird from yesterday that was also controlled today, 4 Common Snipes were trapped in the garden today. Another(?) escaped the most southern nets mid-day. This occurence is puzzling to say the least, but it probably has something to do with the cold weather that has frozen up the ponds where they usually feed.

Observations: Goshawk 1 1cy made a narrow escape from a mist-net in the morning; Grey Wagtail 2, European Goldfinch 2, "Eastern" Bullfinch 2-3. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO November 8-9th

The prevailing weather this week has been cold and light-moderate easterlies, with sub-zero temperatures at night down to minus 5-6. We managed two short afternoon catches 1-2 hours before dusk on the 8th and 9th, targeting mainly thrushes that feed on apples we've put out. Only the middle nets around the feeder were in use. Playback also on Fieldfare, this species can be attracted by playback all day unlike the other thrushes that mostly respond to playback around dawn.

Ringed 8th-9th, netmeter hours in total around 300:

Common Snipe 1, Winter Wren 1, Common Blackbird 5, Fieldfare 24, Redwing 6, Blackcap 5, Long-tailed Tit 7, Blue Tit 4, House Sparrow 1, Tree Sparrow 5, Brambling 2, Greenfinch 4. Total = 65. 

Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO November 6th

The wind was a bit too strong in the early morning hours, but later decreased to almost nothing and a pleasant afternoon. In late afternoon the temperatures dropped enough for our ponds to freeeze over in a relatively short time, so it appears the autumns is coming to and end.... nets open 07.30-16.30, netmeter hours approx. 2800. Playback on Grey Wagtail, Bohemian Waxwing, Fieldfare and Redwing.

Ringed: Dunnock 1, European Robin 1, Common Blackbird 1, Redwing 12, Fieldfare 23, Blackcap 1, Goldcrest 1, Long-tailed Tit 7, Blue Tit 1, Common Starling 1, House Sparrow 2, Tree Sparrow 3, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 2, Yellowhammer 3. Total = 61. Also 17 controls. 

Observations: Quiet overhead, but still good numbers of ducks migrating aloing the coast, first of all Common Scooters at approx. 4-500/hour. 

Velvet- and Common Scoters (top) and Long-tailed Ducks migrating past Reve kai. 

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO November 5th

Another cloudy and a b it too windy day, but the wind was in the east so worth a try. Despite playback on Fieldfare, Grey Wagtail, Long-tailed Tit and Bohemian waxwing there was not a lot to catch, as movements of passeries trough the area was very limited. Nets open 07.30-15.30, netmeter hours approx. 2500. 

Ringed: Grey Wagtail 2, Fieldfare 5, Common Blackbird 2, Redwing 6, Blackcap 4, Goldcrest 1, Long-tailed Tit 7, Blue Tit 6, House Sparrow 1, Tree Sparrow 3, Greenfinch 1. Total = 38. Also 14 controls. 

Observations: Lots of seaducks and some auks and loons were on the move over the sea. A 1 hours sample count 10-11 produced 2 Red-throated Loons, 2 Great Northern Loons, 740 Common Scoters, 17 Velvet Scoters, 1 Northern Pintail, 3 Wigeaons, 3 Teal, 11 Greater Scaup, 3 Razorbill and 10 Little Auk moving SW. A male Hen Harrier and a White-tailed Eagle flew by the station, and the british-ringed Pied Wagtail was still at Reve kai.  

Juvenile Common Scoters migrating past Reve kai. Juvenile svartender.

Common- and Velvet Scoters. Svartand og sjøorre. 

 

This Northern Pintail migrated in a flock of Common Scoters, didn't realize it was there before I looked at the pictures.

The Pied Wagtail with a BTO-ring was still at Reve kai today, first seen at the end of February. We have now received news from BTO that it was ringed as a 2cy male at Kessingland, Lowestoft, Suffolk on February 4th 2015. Svartryggerle.

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen, Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO November 4th

A bit too windy from the SE, and only the nets in the middle of the garden were used. Cloudy. A light drizzle in the early morning and the nets were opened after dawn. Nets open 08.30-15.30, netmeter hours approx. 700. 

Ringed: Bohemian Waxwing 1, Fieldfare 2, Siberian Chiffchaff (tristis) 1, Blackcap 2, Long-tailed Tit 24, Blue Tit 1, Tree Sparrow 4, Chaffinch 4, Greenfinch 3. Total = 42. Also 13 controls. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO November 2nd

A couple of windy days gave way to a sunny and calm late autumn day with lots of birds still on the move. Nets open 07.30-17, netmeter hours approx. 3400. Playback on Common Blackbird, Redwing and Fieldfare around dawn, later on Grey Wagtail, Redpoll, Yellowhammer, European Goldfinch and Bohemian Waxwing. 

Ringed: Grey Wagtail 5, Bohemian Waxwing 5, Winter Wren 4, Common Blackbird 1, Redwing 4, Fieldfare 21, Goldcrest 7, Long-tailed Tit 61, Blue Tit 8, Great Tit 1, Treecreeper 1, Common Magpie 3, House Sparrow 1, Tree Sparrow 1, Brambling 1, Greenfinch 7, European Goldfinch 2, Mealy Redpoll 171, Coues's Arctic Redpoll 4, Lesser Redpoll 2, Eurasian Bullfinch 2 (first this season), yellowhammer 4. Total = 316. Also 14 controls. 

The 2016 total for Winter Wren increased to 212 during the day, narrowly beating the previous record of 210 from 2015. Gjerdesmett.

Today we had the first major arrival of redpolls at Revtangen BO. In between the 171 Mealies there were a few Coues's Arctic Redpolls. Adult male (top) and 1 cy. Polarsisik.

The first bullfinches of the autumn were trapped today. 2cy+ male. Dompap, adult hann.

Bullfinches can easily be aged as 1 cy when the outer greater coverts are shorter and with buffish tips, as in the top photo of todays female where the five outer greater coverts are juvenile. The male in the lower photo is an adult with all gc of adult type. More important is the clour on the outer webs of the carpal covert - the short single covert between the greater coverts and the alula (white arrow). Notice the brown outer webs in the 1cy in the top photo, and compare with the greyish outer webs in the adult-type carpal covert in the lower photo. Some 1 cy birds have moulted all greater coverts, but not the carpal covert.

Observations: Grey Wagtail 10, Mealy Redpoll 500. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO October 30th

A few windy days recently, but this morning was calm and cloudy with a light drizzle just after dawn. Nets open 07.30-16.30, netmeter hours approx. 3200. Playback on Common Blackbird, Fieldfare and Redwing around dawn, later Yellowhammer, Grey Wagtail and Bohemian Waxwing. 

Ringed: Sparrowhawk 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Winter Wren 5, Bohemian Waxwing 34, Dunnock 3, European Robin 2, Redwing 9, Common Blackbird 26, Fieldfare 10, Blackcap 1, Goldcrest 7, Long-tailed Tit 97, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 12, House Sparrow 6, Tree Sparrow 5, Greenfinch 11, Mealy Redpoll 2, Yellowhammer 10. Total = 243. Also 29 controls, including Blue Tit and Common Blackbird with Stavanger-rings not from Revtangen, and two Long-tailed Tits with Swedish rings. 

Bohemian Waxwing 2cy+ female. The best catch of Bohemian Waxings for many years today, with 34 trapped and ringed. Sidensvans 2K+ hunn.

Observations: Bohemian Waxwing 300 migrating north. 

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen and Alf Tore Mjös. 3 visitors.

Revtangen BO October 25th

Significantly colder this morning, with only 1 degree C and a mostly clear sky. No wind, later very light easterlies turning SW around mid-day. Nets open 07-16. Playback on Blackcap, Rewing and Common Blackbird at dawn, later Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer and Twite. 

Ringed: Grey Wagtail 4, Winter Wren 5, Bohemian Waxwing 1, European Robin 3, Song Thrush 2, Redwing 3, Common Blackbird 8, Fieldfare 1, Blackcap 5, Chiffchaff 3 (2 tristis), Goldcrest 3, Blue Tit 10, Great Tit 2, Coal Tit 1, Treecreeper 1, Tree Sparrow 3, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 2, Mealy Redpoll 2, Lesser Redpoll 1, Twite 1, Yellowhammer 7, PINE BUNTING 1. Total = 70. 

Ringmerket: Vintererle 4, gjerdesmett 5, sidensvans 1, rødstrupe 3, måltrost 2, rødvingetrost 3, svarttrost 8, gråtrost 1, munk 5, gransanger 3, fuglekonge 3, blåmeis 10, kjøttmeis 2, svartmeis 1, trekryper 1, pilfink 3, bokfink 1, grønnfink 2, gråsisik 2, brunsisik 1, bergirisk 1, gulspurv 7, HVITHODESPURV 1. Total = 70.

Pine Bunting 1 cy female, the first ever at Revtangen BO. Hvithodespurv 1K F, ny art for Revtangen OS. 

A few minutes before we trapped the Pine Bunting another major rarity was trapped and ringed by John Alsvik at Maleneset by Lake Orrevatnet, a little more than a kilometer away from Revtangen BO - a SIBERIAN ACCENTOR! Both birds were shown to visiting birders shortly after at Orre Friluftshus. This might be a difficult photo to repeat... thanks to Björn Mo for the nice photo.

Siberian Accentor 1 cy. Sibirjernspurv 1K. Photo: Björn Mo.

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 2 visitors.

Revtangen BO October 24th

Light easterlies and much nicer weather than yesterday, sunny at times. Nets open 07-17, netmeter hours approx. 3600. Playback on Blackbird, Redwing and Blackcap around dawn, later Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer, European Goldfinch and Twite. 

Ringed: Grey Wagtail 2, Winter Wren 5, European Robin 2, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 3, Common Blackbird 3, Blackcap 9, Chiffchaff 3, Goldcrest 1, Long-tailed Tit 11, Blue Tit 66, Eurasian Nuthatch 1, Treecreeper 1, Magpie 1, Tree Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 1, European Goldfinch 1, Twite 7, Yellowhammer 9, Reed Bunting 1. Total = 130. Also 12 controls. 

This Grey Wagtail was bird number 8000 ringed at Revtangen BO in 2016, and also the 80th Grey Wagtail. Those of our readers with a keen interest in statistics will now realise that we ring exactly 1% Grey Wagtails!

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 3 visitors.

Revtangen BO October 23rd

A bit more windy from the NE this morning and a very light drizzle, gradually less wind and eventually cloudy with no rain later in the day. Nets open 07-17, netmeter hours approx. 3600. Playback on Blackcap through the night, and Yellowhammer and Long-tailed Tit during the day. 

Ringed: Winter Wren 2, Dunnock 1, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 7, Common Blackbird 4, Fieldfare 4, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler 1, Long-tailed Tit 50, Blue Tit 1, Tree Sparrow 1, Greenfinch 7, European Goldfinch 3, Yellowhammer 21, Reed Bunting 1. Total = 110. Also 17 controls, including a Long-tailed Tit from Latvia. Several other Long-tailed Tits from Latvia have also been controlled at other Norwegian bird observatories recently, these are the first controls of Baltic-ringed Long-tailed Tits ever in Norway. 

A very late 1cy Willow Warbler was trapped today. It made a strange call while handled, probably because of some abnormal bill details. This might also explain the strange call from a skulking bird we've heard from a corner of the trapping area for 3 days now, we thought it had to be a mega rarity from the far east.... Løvsanger.

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen, Alf Tore Mjös and Morten Stokke. 3 visitors.

Revtangen BO October 22nd

Another calm day with light easterlies, cloudy most of the day. Nets open 07-17, netmeter hours approx. 3600. Playback as yesterday, in addition we played Long-tailed Tit most of the day to draw in any flocks that might miss the mist-nets initially. 

Ringed: Grey Wagtail 2, Winter Wren 4, Dunnock 1, European Robin 2, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 4, Common Blackbird 2, Fieldfare 2, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 3, Long-tailed Tit 40, Blue Tit 19, Treecreeper 1, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 3, Brambling 1, Greenfinch 12, Mealy Redpoll 1, Twite 2, Yellowhammer 32. Total = 136. Also 27 controls. '

Ringmerket: Vintererle 2, gjerdesmett 4, jernspurv 1, rødstrupe 2, måltrost 1, rødvingetrost 4, svarttrost 2, gråtrost 2, munk 2, gransanger 1, fuglekonge 3, stjertmeis 40, blåmeis 19, trekryper 1, gråspurv 1, bokfink 3, bjørkefink 1, grønnfink 12, gråsisik 1, bergirisk 2, gulspurv 32. Total = 134. Også 27 kontroller.

Twite, 1 cy male. Even though we see and hear them more or less every day, twites are rarely caught. The two trapped today were therefore easily "birds of the day". Bergirisk 1K hann.

Observations: Spotted Redshank 1 flew over, European Goldfinch 7, Crossbills species around 70 migrating north, "Eastern" Bullfinch 1. 

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen, Alf Tore Mjös and Morten Stokke

Revtangen BO October 21st

Still this unusually calm weather with light easterlies in the morning, turning NE, at times almost no wind at all. Cloudy but also sunny periods. Nets open 07-17, netmeter hours approx. 3600. Playback on Blackcap through the night, and Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer and Bohemian Waxwing through the day. 

Ringed: Grey Wagtail 2, Meadow Pipit 1, Winter Wren 4, Bohemian Waxwing 3, European Robin 5, Common Blackbiurd 7, Redwing 6, Blackcap 7, Goldcrest 3, Long-tailed Tit 25, Great Tit 5, Coal Tit 1, Blue Tit 12, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 7, Brambling 1, Greenfinch 3, Mealy Redpoll 1, Yellowhammer 29. Total = 124. 

Blue Tit number 1000 at Revtangen BO in 2016 was ringed today. Blåmeis nr. 1000 i 2016.

Observations: Bohemian Waxwing ca. 150 migrating north during the afternoon, Common Crossbill ca. 50 migrating north, "Eastern" Bullfinch 1. 

Bohemian Waxwing, 2cy+ female. Sidensvans 2K+ F.

 

Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjös and Njaal Sölvberg.  

Revtangen BO October 20th

Light easterlies in the morning, later light shifting breeze. Cloudy. Playback on Blackcap in the night, and Grey Wagtail, Redpoll and Yellowhammer during the day. Nets open 07-15, netmeter hours approx. 2900. 

Ringed: Grey Wagtail 3, Winter Wren 3, Bohemian Waxwing 1 (first this season), European Robin 19, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 2, Common Blackbird 6, Blackcap 8, Chiffchaff 3 (1 tristis), Goldcrest 23, Great Tit 5, Coal Tit 1, Blue Tit 16, Long-tailed Tit 44, Treecreeper 3, House Sparrow 2, Tree Sparrow 1, Mealy Redpoll 6, Yellowhammer 27. Total = 174.

Ringmerket: Vintererle 3, gjerdesmett 3, sidensvans 1 (første i år), rødstrupe 19, måltrost 1, rødvingetrost 2, svarttrost 6, munk 8, gransanger 3 (1 tristis), fuglekonge 23, kjøttmeis 5, svartmeis 1, blåmeis 16, stjertmeis 44, trekryper 3, gråspurv 2, pilfink 1 gråsisik 6, gulspurv 27. Total = 174. 

Observations: Bohemian Waxwing 50 migrating north. 

Asbjörn Folvik, Alf Tore Mjös and Njaal Sölvberg

Revtangen BO October 19th

Cloudy, light breeze from E-NE. Nets open 07-18. Netmeter hours approx. 4000. Playback on Chiffchaff and Blackcap through the night, and Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Long-tailed Tit and Brambling during the day. 

Ringed: Grey Wagtail 1, Winter Wren 2, European Robin 17, Common Redstart 1, Song Thrush 2, Redwing 3, Blackcap 38, Yellow-browed Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 2, Goldcrest 1, Great Tit 1, Coal Tit 1, Blue Tit 37, Long-tailed Tit 25, Tree Sparrow 4, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 1, Brambling 1, Greenfinch 3, Mealy Redpoll 2, Yellowhammer 24. Total = 168. 

This rather late Yellow-browed Warbler was the 9th ringed this autumn. Gulbrynsanger.

Female Common Redstart. Rødstjert hunn.

Two first-year male Yellowhammers. The top bird has a chestnut eye-ring and an incomplete chestnut malar stripe. To 1K gulspurvhanner, den øvereste med kastanjebrun øyering og underskjeggstripe. 

Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjös and Njaal Sölvberg.

Revtangen BO October 18th

The wind and rain eased off during the day and we managed a short trapping session in the afternoon from 15-18.30. Wind from the SE, cloudy with a few light rainshowers. Netmeter hours approx. 1200. No playback. 

Ringed: Winter Wren 2, European Robin 3, Redwing 3, Song Thrush 1, Common Blackbird 3, Fieldfare 1, Blackcap 24, Goldcrest 3, Great Tit 1, Treecreeper 1, House Sparrow 1, Tree Sparrow 3, Greenfinch 1. Total = 46. Also 17 controls, including a 1 cy Blackcap with a ring from The Netherlands. 

Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO October 15th

Light ESE in the morning, gradually increasing. Cloudy. Nets open 07-15, netmeter hours approx. 2900. Playback on Chiffchaff and Blackcap during the night, and Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer and European Goldfinch during the day. 

Ringed: Eurasian Woodcock 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Winter Wren 5, Dunnock 2, European Robin 4, Common Blackbird 7, Fieldfare 1, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 6, Blackcap 10, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 2, Blue Tit 24, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 1, Tree Sparrow 3, Chaffinch 2, Brambling 3, Greenfinch 8, European Goldfinch 1, Mealy Redpoll 4, Yellowhammer 5. Total = 94. Also 12 ciontrols. 

Ringmerket: Rugde 1, heipiplerke 1, vintererle 1, gjerdesmett 5, jernspurv 2, rødstrupe 4, svarttrost 7, gråtrost 1, måltrost 1, rødvingetrost 6, munk 10, gransanger 1, fuglekonge 2, blåmeis 24, kjøttmeis 1, gråspurv 1, pilfink 3, bokfink 2, bjørkefink 3, grønnfink 8, stillits 1, gråsisik 4, gulspurv 5. Total = 94. 

Asbjörn Folvik, Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO October 14th

Back to the weather we've had the previous two weeks, with light easterlies and mainly sunny. Nets open 07-17, netmeter hours approx. 3600. Playback on Chiffchaff during the night and Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer and European Goldfinch during the day. 

Ringed: Eurasian Woodcock 1, Tengmalm's Owl 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Winter Wren 7, European Robin 5, Song Thrush 8, Redwing 14, Common Blackbird 7, Fieldfare 1, Blackcap 6, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Chiffchaff 9 (2 tristis), Goldcrest 4, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 18, Tree Sparrow 5, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 3, Brambling 2, Greenfinch 17, Lesser Redpoll 1, Mealy Redpoll 1, Common Rosefinch 1, European Goldfinch 3, Yellowhammer 16. Total = 134. 

1 cy Tengmalm's Owl trapped at dawn. Perleugle.

A late 1 cy Common Rosefinch trapped today. Rosenfink.

Abnormally long hind claw on this Meadow Pipit. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjøs

Revtangen BO October 13th

A change in the weather today with a cloud-covered sky and a quite strong wind from ESE. We used around 250 meter nets in stead of the usual 360, because the wind was too strong in both ends of the trapping area. Playback on European Goldfinch, Goldcrest and Chiffchaff.

Ringed: Winter Wren 5, European Robin 17, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 14, Common Blackbird 2, Fieldfare 1, Chiffchaff 20 (2 tristis), Goldcrest 52, Great Tit 2, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 3, Brambling 8, Greenfinch 7, European Goldfinch 3, Lesser Redpoll 7, Mealy Redpoll 3, Eurasian Siskin 2, Yellowhammer 2. Total = 152. We also controlled a Goldcrest with a ring from Finland.

Chiffchaffs from a vast geographical area are passing through at the moment. This one is an average abietinus, the dominant ssp/colourmorph...

...while this one was small and clearly more green/yellow than the rest - ssp. collybita?

This cold-toned bird without any yellow in the supercilium but lacking the rusty-toned ear-coverts is probably somewhere on the abietinus-tristis cline....

...while this bird has the typical rusty-toned ear-coverts and supercilium of tristis but perhaps the slight yellow hue above the eye indicate that it also belong in the vast overlap-zone between classical abietinus and tristis.

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO Octover 12th

E to ESE light wind, at times 4-5 m/s but mostly quite windless. Sunny. Playback on Blackcap during the night and Redwing at dawn, and Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Redpoll and European Goldfinch during the day. Nets open 07-17, netmeter gours approx. 3300.

Ringed: Water Rail 1, Meadow Pipit 2, Grey Wagtail 2, Winter Wren 9, European Robin 15, Song Thrush 4, Redwing 5, Common Blackbird 2, Fieldfare 3, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 6, Goldcrest 9, Great Tit 8, Blue Tit 27, House Sparrow 1, Tree Sparrow 2, Chaffinch 3, Brambling 8, Greenfinch 6, Lesser Redpoll 4, Mealy Redpoll 8, ARCTIC REDPOLL 1, European Goldfinch 3, Common Linnet 2, Reed Bunting 1. Total = 134.

A few northern redpolls have arrived the last days, such as this adult male Mealy Redpoll. Gråsisik.

In between the Mealies we also found the first Arctic Redpoll (ssp. exilipes) of the season. Polarsisik.

Ingvald Ekeland, Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 2 visitors.

Revtangen BO October 11th

Light SE and part cludy. Nets open 07-20, netmeter hours approx. 4200. Playback on Blackcap through the night, and Redpoll, Grey Wagtail and Meadow Pipit during the day. Today we were back on track with a decent arrival of Winter Wrens, European Robins and thrushes in the morning.

This was the 800th Meadow Pipit ringed at Revtangen BO in 2016, by far the best season total ever.

Ringed: Meadow Pipit 3, Grey Wagtail 3, Winter Wren 9, European Robin 21, Song Thrush 6, Redwing 10, Common Blackbird 5, Fieldfare 3, Blackcap 4, Chiffchaff 7 (5 abietinus, 2 tristis), Goldcrest 22, Great Tit 9, Blue Tit 46, Tree Sparrow 2, House Sparrow 2, Chaffinch 2, Brambling 18, Greenfinch 23, Lesser Redpoll 2, Mealy Redpoll 19, Eurasian Siskin 2, Reed Bunting 3, Yellowhammer 2. Total = 223. Also 17 controls.  

This Lesser Redpoll was ringed as a 1cy at Revtangen BO in August 2014 and controlled today. A 3cy bird still without any red in the breast should be a female, but a winglength of 75 mm like this one is certainly not common in female Lesser Redpoll. 

Ingvald Ekeland, Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 2 visitors.

Revtangen BO October 10th

Part cloudy and a northeastern breeze. Nets open 07-15, netmeter hours approx. 2600. Playback on Blackcap during the night, Song Thrush/Redwing around dawn and Grey Wagtail/Brambling/Meadow Pipit during the day. Today represented an anticlimax compared to the previous week, with the only arrival around dawn was a medium occurrence of Winter Wrens.

Two flocks of Long-tailed Tit passed through the garden today, and one flock was trapped. The first this season. Stjertmeis.

Ringed: Grey Wagtail 2, Meadow Pipit 3, Winter Wren 10, European Robin 1, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 2, Common Blackbird 4, Blackcap 4, Goldcrest 6, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 4, Long-tailed Tit 10, Chaffinch 1, Brambling 3, Greenfinch 8, Yellowhammer 5. Total = 65. Also 21 controls, including a Greenfinch not from Revtangen and a Blue Tit ringed at Revtangen in January 2013. 

Ringmerket: Vintererle 1, heipiplerke 3, gjerdesmett 10, rødstrupe 1, måltrost 1, rødvingetrost 2, svarttrost 4, munk 4, fuglekonge 6, kjøttmeis 1, blåmeis 4, stjertmeis 10, bokfink 1, bjørkefink 3, grønnfink 8, gulspurv 1. Total = 65.

Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjös and Njaal Sölvberg. 1 visitor.

Revtangen BO October 9th

Same weather, but more cludy in the afternoon. Light easterlies. Nets open 07-17, but most were closed a while in late morning because we had a little too many birds to handle. Netmeter hours approx. 3000. Playback on Blackcap a few hours before dawn and Redpoll, European Goldfinch and Grey Wagtail during the day.

Ringed: Meadow Pipit 2, Winter Wren 15, European Robin 17, Song Thrush 2, Redwing 5, Common Blackbird 8, Blackcap 13, Chiffchaff 3, Goldcrest 75, FIRECREST 1, Treecreeper 1, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 31, Tree Sparrow 1, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 4, Brambling 7, Greenfinch 15, Lesser Redpoll 2, Mealy Redpoll 8, European Goldfinch 1, Reed Bunting 1.Total = 214. Also 20 controls, in cluding 3 Blue Tits ringed elsewhere.

This 1 cy female Firecrest arrived in a small rush of Goldcrests just after dawn. Rødtoppfuglekonge.

Ringmerket: Heipiplerke 2, gjerdesmett 15, rødstrupe 17, måltrost 2, rødvingetrost 5, svarttrost 8,  munk 13, gransanger 3, fuglekonge 75, RØDTOPPFUGLEKONGE 1, trekryper 1, kjøttmeis  1, blåmeis 31, pilfink 1, gråspurv 1, bokfink 4, bjørkefink 7, grønnfink 15, brunsisik 2, gråsisik 8, stillits 1, sivspurv 1. Total = 214. Også 20 kontroller, inkl. 3 blåmeis med fremmede ringer. 

Ingvald Ekeland, Alf Tore Mjös and Njaal Sölvberg. 2 visitors.

Revtangen BO October 8th

Weather as previous days, but  a bit more cloudy in the morning. Nets open 07-17, netmeter hours approx. 3200. Playback on Blackcap through the night and Grey Wagtail, European Goldfinch and Brambling during the day. 

Ringed: Meadow Pipit 4, White Wagtail 1, Winter Wren 15, European Robin 17, Song Thrush 6, Redwing 4, Common Blackbird 5, BLYTH´S REED WARBLER 1, Blackcap 7, Siberian Chiffchaff (tristis) 1, Goldcrest 53, Great Tit 9, Coal Tit 1, Blue Tit 18, Chaffinch 2, Brambling 2, Greenfinch 23, Eurasian Siskin 2, European Goldfinch 1. Total = 172. Also 21 controls, including 2 Blue Tits not from Revtangen. 

The second Blyth'S Reed Warbler this week (1 cy). Notice the short p2 and a winglength of 67 mm, unusually long for this species. Busksanger 1K.

Ringmerket: Heipiplerke 4, linerle 1, gjerdesmett 15, rødstrupe 17, måltrost 6, rødvingetrost 4, svarttrost 5, BUSKSANGER 1, munk 7, sibirgransanger (tristis) 1, fuglekonge 53, kjøttmeis 9, svartmeis 1, blåmeis 18, bokfink 2, bjørkefink 2, grønnfink 23, grønnsisik 2, stillits 1. Total = 172. Også 21 kontroller, inkl. 2 blåmeis merket annetsteds.  

Observations: Very quiet, but 2 Grey Wagtails, a Lapland Bunting and 5+ European Goldfinch.

Ingvald Ekeland and Alf Tore Mjös. 3 visitors (2 adults and one child).

Revtangen BO October 7th

The un usually stable weather continues, with light easterlies in the morning and mostly sunny and no wind later in the day. Playback on Blackcap during the night and Redwing around dawn, Grey Wagtail, Brambling and European Goldfinch during the day. Nets open 07-16, netmeter hours approx.  3000. 

Ringed: Sparrowhawk 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Winter Wren 10, European Robin 6, Song Thrush 4, Redwing 11, Common Blackbird 6, Fieldfare 1, Blackcap 10, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 45, Blue Tit 52, Great Tit 5, Eurasian Treecreeper 1, Tree Sparrow 6, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 1, Brambling 5, Greenfinch 3, European Goldfinch 1, Mealy Redpoll 1, Yellowhammer 2. Total = 176. Also 8 controls, including 3 not from Revtangen. 

One of the femnale Bramblings had some white feathers in the wings. Bjørkefink.

Ringmerket: Spurvehauk 1, vintererle 1, heipiplerke 1, gjerdesmett 10, rødstrupe 6, måltrost 4, rødvingetrost 11, svarttrost 6, gråtrost 1, munk 10, møller 1, gransanger 1, fuglekonge 45, blåmeis 52, kjøttmeis 5, trekryper 1, pilfink 6, gråspurv 1, bokfink 1, bjørkefink 5, grønnfink 3, stillits 1, gråsisik 1, gulspurv 2. Total = 176. Også 3 kontroller, inkl. 3 fra andre steder enn Revtangen. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO October 6th

Another cold and clear night gave way for a cold and clear morning with very light easterlies. Nets open 06.30-15, netmeter hours approx. 2700. Playback on Blackcap during the night and Grey Wagtail, Brambling and European Goldfinch during the day.

Ringed: Meadow Pipit 7, Grey Wagtail 1, Winter Wren 18, European Robin 14, Common Blackbird 3, Fieldfare 2, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 9, Blackcap 24, Chiffchaff 2 (including 1 tristis), Goldcrest 16, Coal Tit 3, Blue Tit 34, Great Tit 8, Chaffinch 1, Brambling 6, Greenfinch 3, Mealy Redpoll 1, Yellowhammer 1, Reed Bunting 2. Total = 158

The first Siberian Chiffchaff of thre season. Sibirgransanger (P.c.tristis).

Ringmerket: Heipiplerke 7, vintererle 1, gjerdesmett 18, rødstrupe 14, svarttrost 3, gråtrost 2, måltrost 3, rødvingetrost 9, munk 24, gransanger 2 (inkl. 1 tristis), fuglekonge 16, svartmeis 3, blåmeis 34, kjøttmeis 8, bokfink 1, bjørkefink 6, grønnfink 3, gråsisik 1, gulspurv 1, sivspurv 2. Total = 158. 

Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjös and Mark Thomson.