Revtangen BO August 28th - Open Day

Today we teamed up with The Norwegian Ornithological Society (Rogaland section) to keep Revtangen BO open to the public from 09-15. Conditions were close to perfect with light easterlies and cloudy, but we avoided the rain. 324  people visited the station during the day, mostly families with young children.

Nets open 05.30-16, netmeter hours approx. 3300. Playback on Garden-, Reed-, Aquatic- and Grasshopper Warbler through the night, Meadow- and Tree Pipit during the day. 

Ringed: BLACK WOODPECKER 1, Barn Swallow 3, Tree Pipit 15, Meadow Pipit 64, Grey Wagtail 1 (first this season), European Robin 2, Common Redstart 1, Fieldfare 1, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 9, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Common Whitethroat 1, Garden Warbler 10, Blackcap 8, Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 19, Pied Flycatcher 1, Great Tit 2, Chaffinch 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, COMMON ROSEFINCH 2, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 148. Also 4 controls. 

Today's Black Woodpecker was only the third ever ringed at Revtangen BO. Svartspett.

Two 1 cy Common Rosefinches were also a welcome surprise, the first this season. Rosenfink 1K.

Ringmerket: SVARTSPETT 1, låvesvale 3, trepiplerke 15, heipiplerke 64, vintererle 1, rødstrupe 2, rødstjert 1, gråtrost 1, sivsanger 3, rørsanger 9, møller 1, tornsanger 1, hagesanger 10, munk 8, gransanger 1, løvsanger 19, svarthvit fluesnapper 1, kjøttmeis 2, bokfink 1, brunsisik 1, ROSENFINK 2, gulspurv 1. Total = 148. Også 4 kontroller. 

Observations: Yellow Wagtail 16+ flew over. 

Renate Berg, Björn Mo, Ingvald Ekeland, Espen Helgesen, Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjös, Steinar Eldøy, Bjørn-Tore Rekve Seim, Elisabeth Aarsnes, Morten Stokke. 324 visitors, 146 children and 178 adults.

Revtangen BO August 25th

N light breeze, fog, cleared partly during the day. Playback on Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler through the night, Tree Pipit and Meadow Pipit during the day. Nets open 05.30-20, netmeter hours approx. 4300.  

Ringed: White Wagtail 2, Tree Pipit 19, Meadow Pipit 33, Garden Warbler 5, Blackcap 4, Wood Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 17, Chiffchaff 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Chaffinch 1, Common Linnet 2, Yellowhammer 1, Reed Bunting 1. Total = 89. Also 11 controls. 

Wood Warbler 1 cy, aged by the fresh plumge. Bøksanger 1K.

Ringmerket: Linerle 2, trepiplerke 19, heipiplerke 33, hagesanger 5, munk 4, bøksanger 1, løvsanger 17, gransanger 1, svarthvit fluesnapper 1, gråfluesnapper 1, bokfink 1, tornirisk 2, gulspurv 1, sivspurv 1. Total = 89. Også 11 kontroller.

Observations: Harrier species 1, possibly juvenile Pallid Harrier; Black-tailed Godwit 4 juvenile islandica, Yellow Wagtail 2. 

 Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO August 23rd

Light easterlies turning west, part cloudy. Playback on Reed-, Aquatic-, Garden- and Grasshopper Warbler overnight. Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Barn Swallow and Sand Martin during the day (the latter two only part of the day). Nets open 05.30-20. Netmeter hours approx. 4300. 

Ringed: Sand Martin 45, Barn Swallow 25, Tree Pipit 18, Meadow Pipit 34, Redwing 1, European Robin 1, Northern Wheatear 1, Common Redstart 1, Grasshopper Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Common Whitethroat 2, Willow Warbler 13, Tree Sparrow 1, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2, Common Linnet 1. Total = 155. 

Lots of Sand Martins in the area today, and some were trapped using playback. Notice the variation in plumage among 1 cy birds, some are distinctly more rufous. Sandsvale, fargevariasjon blant 1K.

Ringmerket: Sandsvale 45, låvesvale 25, trepiplerke 18, heipiplerke 34, rødvingetrost 1, rødstrupe 1, steinskvett 1, rødstjert 1, gresshoppesanger 3, rørsanger 1, sivsanger 2, tornsanger 2, løvsanger 13, pilfink 1, gråspurv 1, bokfink 2, tornirisk 1. Total = 155.

Observations: Common Crossbill 25+ flew high over, Yellow Wagtail 6+. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 2 visitors. 

Revtangen BO August 22nd

SSE wind turning S, cloudy with rainshowers. Playback on various warblers (Garden-, Grasshopper-, Reed- and Aquatic Warbler) had little effect because there was rain during the night and very few arriving migrants. Netmeter hours approx. 4600.

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 2, Eurasian Wryneck 1, Tree Pipit 5, Meadow Pipit 1, Redwing 1, European Robin 1, Northern Wheatear 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Garden Warbler 2, Blackcap 1, Common Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 2, Pied Flycatcher 1, Common Linnet 1. Total = 24. 

Wrynecks are aged by looking at the pattern in the tips of the primary coverts. Light buff inverted "V" with pale on both outer and inner web is typical of 1cy birds. IK vendehals, aldersbestemt på mønsteret i spissen av hånddekkerne.
 
Ringmerket: Skogsnipe 2, vendehals 1, trepiplerke 5, heipiplerke 1, rødvingetrost 1, Rødstrupe 1, steinskvett 1, gresshoppesanger 1, rørsanger 1, sivsanger 1, hagesanger 2, munk 1, tornsanger 1, løvsanger 2, svarthvit fluesnapper 1, tornirisk 1. Total = 24. 

Many-plumed Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) was a new species for Revtangen in an otherwise poor catch in the Robinson-traps. Kaprifolfingermøll, ny for Revtangen OS. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 

Revtangen BO August 21st

The playback-effort was similar to yesterday,  but some rain and a bit more wind brought few new arrivals and more difficult trapping conditions. Despite around 4700 netmeter hours the catch was not too impressive: 

Ringed: Tree Pipit 5, Meadow Pipit 8, European Robin 1, Whinchat 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Garden Warbler 2, Blackcap 1, Common Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 6, Chiffchaff 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Great Tit 1, Tree Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2, Common Linnet 3, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 37. Also 6 controls.

Ringmerket: Trepiplerke 5, heipiplerke 8, rødstrupe 5, buskskvett 1, sivsanger 2, hagesanger 2, munk 1, tornsanger 1, løvsanger 6, gransanger 1, gråfluesnapper 1, kjøttmeis 1, pilfink 1, bokfink 2, tornirisk 3, gulspurv 1. Total = 37. 


Observations: The Barred Warbler from yesterday and the Wryneck from the day before were still around. Also 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Wood Sandpiper and around 10 Yellow Wagtails. 

A couple of dragonflies were released from the mistnets during the day, including this Aeshna juncea.

Renate Berg, Asbjørn Folvik, Espen Helgesen, Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjös. 5 visitors.

Revtangen BO August 20th

Easterlies in the morning brought another decent fall of warblers, no doubt in part because of playback overnight on Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler Aquatic Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler. Playback on Tree Pipit and Meadow Pipit during the day. Nets open 05.15-15. Netmeter hours approx. 3200.

Ringed: Sparrowhawk 1 (first this season), Lesser Spotted Woodopecker 1 (first this season), Tree Pipit 12, Meadow Pipit 12, European Robin 1, Grasshopper Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 7, Sedge Warbler 11, Garden Warbler 16, Barred Warbler 1 (first this season), Blackcap 11, Common Whitethroat 2, Willow Warbler 19, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 3, Greenfinch 3, Common Linnet 2, Lesser Redpoll 1, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 109.

Ringmerket: Spurvehauk 1, dvergspett 1, trepiplerke 12, heipiplerke 12, rødstrupe 1, gresshoppesanger 2, rørsanger 7, sivsanger 11, hagesanger 16, hauksanger 1, munk 11, tornsanger 2, løvsanger 19,  gråfluesnapper 1, kjøttmeis 1, gråspurv 1, bokfink 3, grønnfink 3, tornirisk 2, brunsisik 1, gulspurv 1. Toal = 109

1 cy Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, the first in 2016. Dvergspett.

1 cy Barred Warbler. Hauksanger 1K. 

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen and Alf Tore Mjös. 1 visitor.

Revtangen BO August 19th

Still light winds from the NNE turning N, but more sunny today. Nets open 05.15-18.30, netmeter hours approx. 4300. Playback on Garden Warbler and Reed Warbler through the night, Green Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit and Garden Warbler during the day. 

Ringed: Wryneck 1, Tree Pipit 12, Meadow Pipit 17, Barn Swallow 2, European Robin 1, Reed Warbler 7, Garden Warbler 18, Blackcap 17, Common Whitethroat 4, Willow Warbler 8, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Great Tit 1, Coal Tit 2, Eurasian Nuthatch 1, Common Starling 1, House Sparrow 14, Tree Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 3, Common Linnet 3, Common Crossbill 2. Total = 117. Also 2 controls. 

3 interesting catches today: Wrynecks are rare at Revtangen and most are caught in spring. Nuthatch is less than annual but small invasians are noted at irregular intervals. Small movements of Crossbills in Scandinavia at the moment, are there more to come? Vendehals, spettmeis og grankorsnebb.

Ringmerket: Vendehals 1, trepiplerke 12, heipiplerke 17, låvesvale 2, rødstrupe 1, rørsanger 7, hagesanger 18, munk 17, tornsanger 4, løvsanger 8, kjøttmeis 1, svartmeis 2, spettmeis 1, stær 1, gråspurv 14, pilfink 1, bokfink 3, tornirisk 3, grankorsnebb 2. Total = 117. Også 2 kontroller. 

Observations: Most noteable today were yellow wagtails, very hard to put a number but seemed to be a lot more numerous than normal. Perhaps 20 heard flying over? Also hundreds of barn swallows feeding over the fields. Some movements of raptors going north, we counted 20 sparrowhawk, 3 common buzzard, 4 kestrel and a marsh harrier. No doubt a lot more flew past since we had little time to watch for movements. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO August 18th

Much the same weather as yesterday, light wind, less foggy. Nets open 05.30-20.30, netmeter hours approx. 4900. Playback on Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler  and Grasshopper Warbler at night, Green Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit and Garden Warbler during the day. 

Ringed: Tree Pipit 24, Meadow Pipit 21, Redwing 1, Reed Warbler 1 (first this season), Garden Warbler 12, Blackcap 7, Common Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 16, Pied Flycatcher 4, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 11, Tree Sparrow 3, Chaffinch 3, Greenfinch 1, Eurasian Siskin 1, Common Linnet 9. Total = 118. Also 8 controls. 

Ringmerket: Trepiplerke 24, heipiplerke 21, rødvingetrost 1, rørsanger 1, hagesanger 12, munk 7, tornsanger 1, løvsanger 16, svarthvit fluesnapper 4, gråfluesnapper 2, kjøttmeis 1, gråspurv 11, pilfink 3, bokfink 3, grønnfink 1, grønnsisik 1, tornirisk 9. Total = 118. Også 8 kontroller. 

 The first Sparrowhawks of the autumn were seen today.

Observations: Sparrowhawk 4, Common Kestrel 2, Eurasian Wryneck 1, Yellow Wagtail 10+. Lots of Tree Pipits on the move during the day. 

This Eurasian Wryneck was perched on a netpole for a while. Vendehals.

A Peacock Butterfly spent the day in our garden feeding on nectar from a late-blooming bush. Dagpåfugløye.

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjøs. 3 visitors.

Revtangen BO August 17th

Light north-NE in the morning, turning NNV, light fog and slight drizzle in the middle of the day. Nets open 05.30-19.30, netmeter hours approx. 4600. Playback on Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler overnight, Green Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit and Tree Pipit during the day. 

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 2, Collared Dove 1, White Wagtail 1, Meadow Pipit 18, Tree Pipit 5, Fieldfare 1, European Robin 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 4, Blackcap 14, Garden Warbler 5, Common Whitethroat 7, Willow Warbler 8, Chiffchaff 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Great Tit 1, Common Starling 2, House Sparrow 3, Tree Sparrow 2, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 1, Common Linnet 2, Yellowhammer 3. Total = 85. Also 14 controls. 

The first Grasshopper Warbler (1cy) in 2016 was trapped today. Gresshoppesanger 1K.

Ringmerket: Skogsnipe 2, tyrkerdue 1, linerle 1, heipiplerke 18, trepiplerke 5, gråtrost 1, rødstrupe 1, gresshoppesanger 1, sivsanger 4, munk 14, hagesanger 5, tornsanger 7, løvsanger 8, gransanger 1, svarthvit fluesnapper 1, kjøttmeis 1, stær 2, gråspurv 3, pilfink 2, bokfink 1, grønnfink 1, tornirisk 2, gulspurv 3. Total = 85. Også 14 kontroller. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO August 11th

Finally a day with no rain and and only light winds! Nets open 07-21, netmeter hours appox. 4000. Playback on Green Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit, Common Linnet, Tree Pipit (08-13) and Barn Swallow (17-20). 

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 5, Feral Pigeon 1, Collared Dove 1,  Meadow Pipit 43, Tree Pipit 1, White Wagtail 3, Barn Swallow 9, Northern Wheatear 2, Whinchat 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Common Whitethroat 4, Willow Warbler 8, Coal Tit 1, Common Starling 9, House Sparrow 18, Tree Sparrow 3, Chaffinch 2, Greenfinch 4, Common Linnet 27, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 145. Also 13 controls. 

Ringmerket: Skogsnipe 5, bydue 1, tyrkerdue 1, heipiplerke 43, trepiplerke 1, linerle 3, låvesvale 9, steinskvett 2, buskskvett 2, sivsanger 1, tornsanger 4, løvsanger 8, svartmeis 1, stær 9, gråspurv 18, pilfink 3, bokfink 2, grønnfink 4, tornirisk 27, gulspurv 1. Total = 145. Også 13 kontroller.

Feral Pigeon - or perhaps "Rural Pigeon"? This bird belongs to a sub-population of Feral Pigeons breeding on farmland, and they are typically much more shy and closer in plumage details to Rock Pigeon than the urban flocks we see in Norwegian cities. A rare occurrence anyway, since this is the first ever to be caught in one of our mist-nets at Revtangen BO. Bydue, ny merkeart for Revtangen OS. 

The 42nd Collared Dove ringed in 2016. Despite the poor weather this summer resulting in a low number of trapping days we have broken the record 41 from last year! Tyrkerdue nr. 42 i 2016, vi er dermed en forbi rekorden fra i fjor. 

Whinchats are very scarce at Revtangen BO. This one was easily aged as a 1cy by a pale inside of the upper mandible, and can be sexed as a male by the large amount of white in the inner greater coverts. Buskskvett, 1K hann.

Northern Wheatears are ringed with colour-rings from the Norwegian Northern Wheatear colour-ringing project. If you see a Northern Wheatear or a White Wagtail with yellow colour-rings and you are able to read the 3-letter code, please report them to the Norwegian colour-ringing website here: http://www.ringmerking.no/cr/

A record 5 Green Sandpipers caught today took the season total to 20. If you are lucky enough to spot one of our birds wearing a yellow flag with a 3-letter inscription, please report them to: at.mjoes@gmail.com

The first tree pipit of the autumn was trapped today. This species seems to be affected by ticks more than most species. We usually remove the ticks (5 from this one) and make a comment about the number in the "remarks"-column in our ringing software "RingAccess". Trepiplerke med flått.

Observations: Common Buzzard 1, Marsh Harrier 1 adult male, Peregrine 2, Common Greenshank 10, Spotted Redshank 1. 

Alf Tore Mjös. 1 visitor.

Revtangen August 4th

The wind turned SE for a short while, accompanied by some rain which brought 6-700 waders to Revtangen. We managed a short session with 8 walk-in traps in the evening between 17 and 21, before the wind turned back to strong NW on the 5th. 

Ringed: Dunlin 60, Purple Sandpiper 2, Little Stint 5, Red Knot 3 and Turnstone 1. Total = 71. 

Adult Little Stints like this one are rarely trapped. Little Stints are ringed with colourrings from the Norwegian Little Stint colourringing-project, with a red marker above the metal ring on the left tarsus, and a yellow colour-ring with a 3-letter code on the right tarsus. If you see any, please report them to Kjell Mork Soot at kjellmorksoot@fugler.com.

Asbjörn Folvik, Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO August 3rd

The weather is not doing us any favours at the moment, lots of rain and the wind is mostly from the northwest-southwest sector. Not good. We got decent conditions this morning and put the nets up 06-12.30, netmeter hours approx. 2000. Playback on Green Sandpiper, Willow Warbler and Common Linnet.

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 1, Collared Dove 3, Barn Swallow 1, Northern Wheatear 3, Garden Warbler 1, Commion Whitethroat 3, Willow Warbler 11, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 3, Tree Sparrow 2, Lesser Redpoll 1, Common Linnet 10, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 42. Also 16 controls, including a male Northern Goshawk that we ringed as a 1cy in September 2014!

Alf Tore Mjøs