Revtangen BO August 31st

Light NE turning NW, increasing. Mostly sunny or part cloudy, but a few rainshowers in the afternoon. Most of the waders seems to have left overnight, so today it was back to trapping passerines in the trapping garden. Playback on Garden Warbler, Aquatic Warbler and Reed Warbler through the nigth, and Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit and Eurasian Siskin during the day. Nets open 06-17, netmeter hours approx. 4000. 

Ringed: Collared Dove 1, Tree Pipit 5, Meadow Pipit 49, European Robin 2, Sedge Warbler 5, Reed Warbler 4, Garden Warbler 21, Blackcap 8, Common Whitethroat 3, Willow Warbler 7, Goldcrest 1, Coal Tit 1, Eurasian Nuthatch 1, Common Starling 3, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 1. Total = 113. Also 5 controls. 

Ringmerket: Tyrkerdue 1, trepiplerke 5, heipiplerke 49, rødstrupe 2, sivsanger 5, rørsanger 4, hagesanger 21, munk 8, tornsanger 3, løvsanger 7, fuglekonge 1, svartmeis 1, spettmeis 1, stær 3, bokfink 1, grønnfink 1. Total = 113. 

Observations: Marsh Harrier 1 1cy, Sparrowhawk 1, Peregrine Falcon 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Grey Wagtail 3, Eurasian Nuthatch 3, Common Crossbill 8, Eurasian Siskin 200 migrating N. 

Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjös and Njaal Sölvberg.

Revtangen BO August 30th

SW light breeze, mostly sunny. Still good numbers of waders at Revtangen, and we operated 9 walk-in traps and 7 clapnets from 10-20. 

Ringed: Dunlin 125, Red Knot 24, Little Stint 3, Sanderling 67, Common Redshank 7, Turnstone 10, Common Ringed Plover 10, Common Starling 10. Total = 256.

Ringmerket: Myrsnipe 125, polarsnipe 24, dvergsnipe 3, sandløper 67, rødstilk 7, steinvender 10, sandlo 10, stær 10. Total = 256. 

 Wader ringing at the outdoor office at Revtangen.

Part of the 150 or so Sanderling flock frequenting the north beach at Revtangen today. 7 walk-in traps were sat to catch these and other waders on the north shore, and an astonishing 67 Sanderlings were caught! Sandløper og myrsniper.

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen, Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 16 students and a teacher from Bryne VGS came along for a ringing demonstration.

Revtangen BO August 29th

Strong wind yesterday and no ringing. Today there was rain in the morning and we had to wait until around 11 to put out 9 walk-in traps and 7 clapnets at Revtangen. Still quite a lot of waders, mostly Dunlins, but the water level and wave action was higher and there was also more waves than last Sunday. Therefore we could not put walk-in traps in the best spots on the north side, somewhat limiting the catch. 

Ringed: Dunlin 146, Sanderling 12, Curlew Sandpiper 1, Little Stint 1, Red Knot 16, Common Redshank 8, Common Ringed Plover 6, Turnstone 5, Common Starling 1. Total = 196.

Ringmerket: Myrsnipe 146, sandløper 12, tundrasnipe 1, dvergsnipe 1, polarsnipe 16, rødstilk 8, sandlo 6, steinvender 5, stær 1. Total = 196.

Observations: Brent Goose 150 migrating south. A flock of 55 stopped briefly at Revtangen, all were adult birds. Curlew Sandpiper 3, Little Stint 3, Spotted Redshank 1, Wood Sandpiper 1. 

Renate Berg, Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO August 27th - Open day

Today was "Open day". Once a year, normally the last Sunday of August, we open up the bird observatory to the public from 09-15. Visitors can join a netround, we have of course ringing demonstrations, stuff to do for kids indoors and a small kafé. The local BirdLife partner NOF also has a stand, and helps out with the arrangements. The weather was, increadibly enough, very nice with almost no wind and mostly sunny. A bit too nice for efficient mist-netting.

Nets were open 06-16, netmeter hours approx. 3600. Playback on Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler and Aquatic Warbler through the night, and Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit and Grey Wagtail during the day. Also 7 walk-in traps, 7 wader clapnets and 6 baited claptraps at Revtangen from 08-19. 

Ringed: Dunlin 241, Sanderling 12, Little Stint 1, Common Redshank 10, Spotted Redshank 1, Common Ringed Plover 8, Turnstone 4, White Wagtail 1, Tree Pipit 15, Meadow Pipit 19, Winter Wren 1, Dunnock 1, Northern Wheatear 2, Common Redstart 1, European Robin 3, Grasshopper Warbler 5, Sedge Warbler 2, Garden Warbler 20, Blackcap 3, Common Whitethroat 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 5, Coal Tit 1, Eurasian Nuthatch 1, Common Starling 14, House Sparrow 2, Tree Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2, Greenfinch 1 and Common Linnet 1. Total = 381. 

A good wader catch today, and in the afternoon after most people had left the beach we also succeeded in catching 10 Common Redshank (left) and 1 Spotted Redshank. Rødstilk (venstre) og sotsnipe.

Ringmerket: Myrsnipe 241, sandløper 12, dvergsnipe 1, rødstilk 10, sotsnipe 1, sandlo 8, steinvender 4, linerle 1, trepiplerke 15, heipiplerke 19, gjerdesmett 1, jernspurv 1, steinskvett 2, rødstjert 1, rødstrupe 3, gresshoppesanger 5, sivsanger 2, hagesanger 20, munk 3, tornsanger 2, møller 1, løvsanger 5, svartmeis 1, spettmeis 1, stær 14, gråspurv 2, pilfink 1, bokfink 2, grønnfink 1, tornirisk 1. Total = 381. 

Observations: A flock of 26 Black-tailed Godwits migrated west at Revtangen. Also a few Peregrines and at least one Merlin at Revtangen. Fly-overs at the observatory included Great Spotted Woodpecker, Yellow wagtail and 2 Grey Wagtails.

Ringers: Renate Berg, Asbjörn Folvik, Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjös, Björn Mo and Morten Stokke. A big thanks to everyone who participated in another successfull "Open day" at Revtangen BO! 200 people visited, including 70 children.

Revtangen BO August 26th

Very weak easterlies in the morning, a few light rainshowers and a quite heavy cloudcover. Nets open 06-13, netmeter hours approx. 2500. Playback on Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler and Garden Warbler throgh the night, later Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Tree Pipit and Meadow Pipit. 7 Walk-in traps at Revtangen from around 14-19, in part to prepare for "Open day" at Revtangen BO tomorrow. 

Ringed: Dunlin 82, Curlew Sandpiper 1, Sanderling 5, Green Sandpiper 1, Common Redshank 1, Red Knot 3, Common Ringed Plover 1, Tree Pipit 1, Meadow Pipit 6, Northern Wheatear 2, Fieldfare 1, Gresshoppesanger 3, Reed Warbler 3, Common Whitethroat 5, Garden Warbler 4, Willow Warbler 8, Great Tit 1, Eurasian Nuthatch 1, Common Starling 8, Chaffinch 1 and Common Linnet 2. Total = 140. Also a control of a Norwegian 1cy Dunlin not from Revtangen. 

Ringmerket: Myrsnipe 82, tundrasnipe 1, sandløper 5, skogsnipe 1, rødstilk 1, polarsnipe 3, sandlo 1, trepiplerke 1, heipiplerke 6, steinskvett 2, gråtrost 1, gresshoppesanger 3, rørsanger 3, tornsanger 5, hagesanger 4, løvsanger 8, kjøttmeis 1, spettmeis 1, stær 8, bokfink 1, tornirisk 2. Total = 140. En fremmed norsk myrsnipe ble kontrollert på Revtangen.

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO August 24th

Nets open 06-15, netmeter hours approx. 3200. Cloudy, periods with rain. Playback on Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler through the night, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Tree Pipit and (last part og the day) Meadow Pipit. 

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 1, Wood Sandpiper 1, Meadow pipit 20, White Wagtail 1, Northern Wheatear 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 3, Garden Warbler 14, Blackcap 1, Common Whitethroat 1, Chaffinch 1, Common Rosefinch 1 (first this season). Total = 58. Also 5 controls.

The first Common Rosefinch of the season was trapped today. As usual, it was a 1cy. Rosenfink 1K.

2 cy+ Reed Warbler (top) and 2cy+ Garden Warbler. We trap very few adults of these species, and both on the same day was a rare opportunity to show them together. Both are aged as adults by the generally worn plumage, often most pronounced on the tertials but clearly visible also in the primaries. The Garden Warbler has replaced most of the tail apart from the central pair. Rørsanger (øverst) og hagesanger. Begge 2K+.

Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjös and Njaal Sölvberg.

Revtangen BO August 23rd

Ligth easterlies and cloudy in the morning, turning SSW in late morning. Mostly sunny the latter part of the day. Playback on Garden Warbler and Reed Warbler through the night, from early morning Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and Tree Pipit. Nets open 05.30-21, netmeter hours approx. 5500. A notable fall of warblers in the morning, no doubt much because of the playback.

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 1, Wood Sandpiper 4, Greenshank 1, Spotted Redshank 1 (first this season), Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (first this season), White Wagtail 1, Tree Pipit 6, European Robin 1, Whinchat 1, Common Redstart 1, Fieldfare 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1 (first this season), Reed Warbler 11 (first this season), Garden Warbler 20, Blackcap 12, Common Whitethroat 4, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 10, Goldcrest 2, Pied Flycatcher 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Treecreeper 1 (first this season), Tree Sparrow 3, Greenfinch 1, Common Linnet 2, Reed Bunting 1. Total = 90. Also 5 controls.

This 1 cy Grasshopper Warbler was the hightlight in a decent arrival of warblers just after dawn, but 11 Reed Warblers was also a good number. Greasshoppesanger 1K.

The second attemt at catching a Spotted Redshank by the observatory ponds succeeded. This species has now been added to the Norwegian Tringa project, a red marker on the left tibia and a yellow flag with a 3-letter inscription on the right tibia, similar to codes used on Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank and Common Sandpiper.

Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjøs, Renate Berg and Atle Helgesen.

Revtangen BO August 22nd

After a few very windy days with strong westerlies-northwesterlies the wind settled this morning to a light NE, turning N-NW and increasing a bit to make trapping inefficient after lunch. Nets open 06-14, netmeter hours approx. 2900. Playback on Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Barn Swallow and Tree Pipit. 

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 5, Common Redshank 1, Barn Swallow 7, Tree Pipit 1, Meadow Pipit 2, European Robin 1, Garden Warbler 1, Common Whitethroat 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 4, Great Tit 1, Eurasian Nuthatch 1 (first this season), Common Starling 14, Tree Sparrow 2, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 3 and Common Linnet 1. Total = 47. 

 

 Surprise of the day was this male Eurasian Nuthatch, a specis we don't catch every year.

Observations: Marsh Harrier adult male, Common Kestrel 2, Spotted Redshank 1 fly-over, Wood Sandpiper 1 (in the net, escaped), Yellow Wagtail 2 fly-overs, Common Crossbill 30 migrating north.

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO August 19th

Too windy for any trapping and ringing. Today the local Birdlife partner NOF Rogaland held a course in wader identification at the bird observatory. An excellen presentation by Björn Mo was followed by a short excursion down to Revtangen. Despite wind and a few rainshowers a good selection of waders were seen, including adult Grey Plover, juvenile Spotted Redshank and juvenile Black-tailed Godwit (ssp. islandica). 14 participants. 

Sanderlings and Dunlins migrating past Reve kai in the evening.

Mixed wader flock past Reve kai in the evening. Jubenile Red Knot, juvenile Turnstone, adult Sanderlings, adult and juvenile Dunlins.

Renate Berg, Alf Tore Mjös and Björn Mo.

Revtangen August 18th

SE turning S, sunny to part cloudy. Too much wind and sun in the nets most of the day. Playback on Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Tree Pipit and Barn Swallow. 

Ringed: White Wagtail 1, Tree Pipit 1, Barn Swallow 5, Icterine Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 14, Great Tit 1, Chaffinch 1 and Greenfinch 2. Total = 26. Also 2 controls, including a Barn Swallow not from Revtangen. 

Observations: Around 150 waders at Revtangen, including 50 Red Knot, 1 Ruff, 1 1cy Black-tailed Godwit and an adult Grey Plover. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen Bo August 16th

Nets open 07-19. SE light breeze turning S-SW, mostly sunny. A few birds in the morning, later very quitet and a bit of sun and wind in most nets. Playback on Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Tree Pipit and Barn Swallow. Work in prograss most of the day in the garden. Haavard made a finishing touch to the windbreaker-walls, and we cleared a lot of shrubs and weeds from the trapping area.

Ringed: Dunlin 1, Wood Sandpiper 1, Barn Swallow 1, White Wagtail 1, Tree Pipit 4, Garden Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 11, Common Starling 1, Brambling 1, Common Linnet 1. Total = 
23.

Ringmerket: Myrsnipe 1, grønnstilk 1, låvesvale 1, linerle 1, trepiplerke 4, hagesanger 1, løvsanger 11, stær 1, bjørkefink 1, tornirisk 1. Total = 23. 

The 10th Wood Sandpiper (1 cy) of the season was caught today, and we have more than doubled the all-time total for this species at Revtangen BO. Grønnstilk 1K.

This 1 cy Dunlin was a surprise catch, and the 7th wader species caught in the new garden ponds. Myrsnipe 1K.

Observations: Goshawk 1, Yellow Wagtail 1, Common Crossbill 20 migrating north.

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 4 visitors.

Revtangen BO August 14th

Light shifting breeze, mostly cloudy. Nets open 06-12, netmeter hours approx. 2100. Playback on Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Tree Pipit. 

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 7, Greenshank 1, Common Snipe 4, White Wagtail 3, Tree Pipit 2, Meadow Pipit 2, Northern Wheatear 1, Garden Warbler 1, Common Whitethroat 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 14, Great Tit 1, Common Starling 1, Tree Sparrow 2. Total = 43. A new singe day record again on Green Sandpiper, the fourth Greenshank of the year and a surprising 4 Common Snipe caught in the garden ponds was the highlights, but the first Lesser Whitethroat of the autumn was also a nice catch. 

Ringmerket: Skogsnipe 7, gluttsnipe 1, enkeltbekkasin 4, linerle 3, trepiplerke 2, heipiplerke 2, steinskvett 1, hagesanger 1, tornsanger 3, møller 1, løvsanger 14, kjøttmeis 1, stær 1 og pilfinkt 2, Total = 43. 

Alf Tore Mjøs. 1 besøkende.

Revtangen BO August 8th

Western Norway has had the rainiest summer for about 50 years, and the bad weather is set to continue. A break in the weather today though, with light shifting breeze and - increadibly - no rain! Nets open 06-20, netmeter hours approx. 4500. Playback on Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Common Linnet (most of the day), Barn Swallow (afternoon/evening) and Sand Martin (afternoon/evening).

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 6, Barn Swallow 5, Sand Martin 7 (first this season), White Wagtail 6, Fieldfare 4, Common Whitethroat 2, Willow Warbler 19, Chiffchaff 2, Great Tit 3, Common Starling 1, Common Linnet 2. Total = 57. Also 3 controls, including a 1cy Willow Warbler not from Revtangen. 

A record catch of 6 Green Sandpipers today took the 2017 total to 30 ringed. 

Alf Tore Mjös. 3 visitors.

Revtangen BO August 5th

Strong westerlies 10-12 m/s. Tried seawatching from around 8, but little movement apart from 4-5 Great Skuas. Lots of Common Gulls and a few hundred Oystercatchers on the move from around 12. 

Not many waders, but most were fairly concentrated on the north shore so we made an attempt with 6 walk-in traps from 10-16. 

Ringed: Red Knot 1, Dunlin 10, Purple Sandpiper 2, Common Sandpiper 2, Common Redshank 13, Common Starling 1. Total = 29. 

The most typical catch at Revtangen 1937-2017 is a juvenile Dunlin, with more than 42.000 ringed in total.

Juvenile Purple Sandpipers breed in alpine regions in southern Norway. Some arrive at Revtangen before the plumage is fully developed , with lots of downy plumage still in the head and feathers still growing in the tail and wings!

A good number of Common Redshanks was the main target for the traps today, and we are very pleased with 13 caught and ringed (12 1cy, 1 adult). Common Redshanks are ringed with a slightly different colour combintion that the other Tringa-waders, with a yellow marker and an orange flag with a 3-letter inscription. Sightings can be reported to Kjell Mork Soot at kjellmorksoot@fugler.com

Alf Tore Mjøs

Revtangen BO August 4th

Light shifting breeze, but like yesterday we had to close just before strong rain set in around 11. Nets open 06-11, netmeter hours approx. 1800. Playback on Green Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper. 

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 1, Wood Sandpiper 1, Common Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 13, Chiffchaff 2, Commion Starling 1, Greenfinch 1. Total = 20. 

Ingvald Ekeland and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO August 3rd

Quite strong ESE and cloudy, rain from 11.30 and nets closed then. The nets in the north and south of the trapping area was not in use because of strong wind. Netmeter hours approx. 1400. Playback on Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Common Linnet. 

Ringed: Green Sandpiper 5, Wood Sandpiper 1, Barn Swallow 1, Northern Wheatear 1, Fieldfare 1, Garden Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 21, Common Starling 1, Greenfinch 3, Lesser Redpoll 5, Common Linnet 5. Total = 45. 

Alf Tore Mjös