Revtangen BO May 2018 - the BLOG has moved!

To all our readers: Revtangen BO has released a brand new wedsite and FB-pages. We will continue the BLOG in English at our website here: http://revtangen.no/revtangen-blog

Please update your bookmarks and continue reading about Birdringing, observations and moth trapping at the oldest BO in Scandinavia!

FB-pages here: https://www.facebook.com/revtangen/

Best wishes,

Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO April 29th

NNE turning NNW, 8-10 m/s. Clears skies, but only 2 degrees in the morning. Nets open 05.30-19.30, netmeter hours approx. 3900. 

The first Sedge Warbler of the season was trapped today. Sivsanger.

Ringed: Song Thrush 1, Sedge Warbler 1 (first this season), Blackcap 2, Willow Warbler 6, Chiffchaff 1, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2, Greenfinch 1, Eurasian Siskin 2 (first this season). Total = 17. Also 6 controls. 

Eurasian Siskin, 3cy+ male. Grønnsisik 3K+ M

Observations: European Golden Plover 400 (approx), European Goldfinch 2+. Migrating Red-throated Loons numbered 40 in a sample count 07.15-08.15 past Revtangen, apart from that little visible migration. 

Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO April 26th

5-7 m/s from the S - SW. Cloudy. Nets open 05.15 - 15.15, netmeter hours approx. 3300. Very quiet, but work in progress with the new windbreaker wall as well as some trimming of the treetops in the southern part of the trapping garden. 

Only 5 birds ringed: Fieldfare 1, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 1, Common Starling 2. Also 2 controls. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO April 25th

SW 5-7 m/s, mostly cloudy. Nets open 05.30-16.30. Work in progress in the garden all day, some disturbance to the trapping area. 

Ringed: Woodpigeon 1, White Wagtail 1, Fieldfare 3, Willow Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 4, Greenfinch 1, Common Linnet 1, European Goldfinch 2. Total = 16. Also 6 controls. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO April 22nd

SE light winds around dawn, turning S and increasing from around 9. Rather cold, only 2 degrees at dawn. Nets closed at 11 because of wind and in coming rain. Netmeter hours approx. 1800. 

Ringed: White Wagtail 2, European Robin 1, Common Blackbird 1, Song Thrush 1, Fieldfare 2, Blackcap 4, Willow Warbler 3, Chiffchaff 7, Goldcrest 1, Chaffinch 1, Common Linnet 1, European Goldfinch 1. Total = 25. Also 6 controls. 

Alf Tore Mjös. 2 visitors.

Revtangen BO April 21st

A bit too windy from the W early in the day for trapping. Kept the nets around the feeder open 15.30-18.30, while enjoying myself with washing the floor of the ringing lab. Netmeter hours approx. 280. 

Ringed: House Sparrow 2, Tree Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2, Greenfinch 1, European Goldfinch 2. Total = 8. Also 15 controls, including a Chaffinch with a British ring and a House Sparrow ringed in 2013. 

Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO April 20th

Nets open 06-17. Light S turning SW, 5-7 m/s. A bit windy most of the time because there is little protection from this wind direction. A bit of work also today: Haavard finished digging holes for the foundation to the new windbreaker wall. Two more nets were put up in the NW, and some repairs were made to the net next to the feeder. The annual fight with the invasive Rosa rugosa kicked off with a systematic removal of remaining shoots on the flower field created two years ago north of the cabin. 

Ringed: Collared Dove 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Dunnock 6, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 2, Common Blackbird 2, Blackcap 4, Willow Warbler 3 (first this season), Chiffchaff 4, Goldcrest 2, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 7, Greenfinch 3, Common Linnet 1, European Goldfinch 4, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 44. Also 17 controls, including a male Chaffinch ringed as a 1cy in 2009! According to the ringing database it should be the 3rd oldest ever recorded in Norway. 

This male Chaffinch was ringed as a 1cy at Revtangen BO in July 2009, and has not been controlled previously. Bokfink, ringmerket som 1K i juli 2009.

Very few Goldfinches have ever been trapped at Revtangen in spring, so four today was a nice surprise. 2cy male. Stillits, 2K hann.

The first 3 Willow Warblers of the year turned up in the afternoon. As usual with the first wave, all were males. Løvsanger.

Observations: Merlin 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Golden Plover 300+, Whimbrel 1, Tree Pipit 4 migrating north.

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO April 16th

Nets open 05.30-13.30. Quite a few birds around, blackbirds in particular, but the wind was a bit too strong from the S for efficient trapping. 

Ringed: Common Blackbird 13, Fieldfare 3, Redwing 1, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 3, Chaffinch 2, Greenfinch 3, Mealy Redpoll 3, Common Linnet 4, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 34. 

Vemund Opedal

Revtangen BO Aptil 15th

Trapping from 05.30-16.00. Light shifting breeze in the morning, later turning W. Light clouds to sunny, 10-15 degrees.

Ringed: PIED WAGTAIL 1, Dunnock 1, European Robin 7, Common Blackbird 1, Song Thrush 2, Fieldfare 1, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 2, Goldcrest 1, Great Tit 1, Treecreeper 1, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2, Brambling 2, Greenfinch 6, Common Linnet 1, Yellowhammer 2. Total = 33. 

 Pied Wagtail. Svartryggerle.

Renate Berg, Atle Espen Helgesen, Jon Andreas Antonsen, Christel Våland Pedersen, Bjørn Mo, Vemund Opedal. 

Revtangen BO April 14th

Trapping from 05.30-13.00, netmeter hours approx. 2200. Light NE later turning N. Light clouds, later sunny. 10-14 degrees. 

Ringed: Collared Dove 1, Dunnock 5, European Robin 16, Common Blackbird 4, Song Thrush 3, Fieldfare 1, Chiffchaff 4, Goldcrest 2, Common Starling 3, House Sparrow 3, Tree Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 14, Greenfinch 5, Mealy Redpoll 2, Linnet 4. Total = 68. Also 12 controls. 

Renate Berg and Atle Espen Helgesen

Revtangen BO April 10th

Light shifting breese, afternoon-session with nets open 16.30-20. Cloudy, 9-11 degrees.

Ringed: Dunnock 1 (first this season), Common Blackbird 2, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 2, Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit 1, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2. Total = 11. Also 12 Controls.

Renate Berg and Atle Espen Helgesen. 2 visitors.

Revtangen BO April 8th

Nets open 0545 - 1300. 6 degrees. Early morning light easterlies, turning SSE and increasing from around 10. A light drizzle around dawn, later cloudy with no rain.

Ringed: Wood Pigeon 1, Collared Dove 1, European Robin 20, Redwing 3, Song Thrush 5, Common Blackbird 2, Blackcap 2 (first this season), Chiffchaff 3 (first this season), Goldcrest 7 (first this season), Common Starling 4, House Sparrow 1, Linnet 1 (first this season), Chaffinch 3, Yellowhammer 2. Total = 55. Also 8 Controls.

First Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps of the season today, the latter on a rather early date. Gransanger (øverst) og Munk.

Renate Berg and Atle Espen Helgesen. 4 visitors.

Revtangen BO April 2nd

Another cold morning, minus 3,5 around dawn. Light shifting breeze, NE in the morning turning W. It felt like the spring finally arrived between 10 and 11, when there was a significant temperture rise. The first White Wagtails appeared as fly-owers a few hours later. Nets open 06-16, netmeter hours approx. 2800. 

Ringed: Eurasian Woodcock 1, Wood Pigeon 1, European Robin 1, Common Blackbird 9, Song Thrush 3, Common Starling 14, House Sparrow 2, Greenfinch 5. Total = 36. Also 26 controls. 

Observations: Hen Harrier 1 female by the Gocart range, Sparrowhawk at Hodne. White/Pied Wagtail 2-3 flew over.

Alf Tore Mjøs

Revtangen BO April 1st

Another cold morning, minus 3 around dawn. Light NE turning NNV around 10. Nets open 06-12, netmeter hours approx. 1600. The 3 nets in the NE corner of the trapping area was put up late morning, and one other worn/bleached net was replaced with a new net. 

Ringed: Wood Pigeon 1 (first this season), European Robin 3, Song Thrush 5, Common Blackbird 14, Common Starling 3, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 1, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 29. Also 22 controls, including a Yellowhammer ringed as 2cy in March 2012. 

The first Wood Pigeon of the season was ringed today. Ringdue.

Observations: Short-eared Owl 1 by the Gocart range, Song Thrush 15. 

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

Revtangen BO March 31st

Still cold and clear, minus 3 degrees celcius at dawn. Light easterlies. Nets open 06-12, netmeter hours approx. 1600. Despite the cold weather, birds are arriving. Two European Robins just after dawn were a surprise given the cold front over Norway at present. 

Ringed: European Robin 2, Common Blackbird 29, MISTLE THRUSH 1, Blue Tit 1, Common Starling 5, Greenfinch 2. Total = 40. Also 16 controls. 

Mistle Thrush 3cy+. Aged by lack of contrast in the greater coverts (all feathers of adult type). Only the 9th ever ringed at Revtangen BO, and only the 3rd in spring. A group of 3 landet in the trapping area today and one was trapped. Duetrost 3K+.

Observations: Eurasian Curlew 45, Long-eared Owl 1, Song Thrush 10, Mistle Thrush 3. 

Arild Breistøl and Alf Tore Mjøs

Revtangen BO March 30th

A day much like yesterday, easterlies but cold. Sunny, minus 2 in the morning. The wind increased and the nets were closed around 10. Netmeter hours approx. 1100. A decent arrival of Blackbirds around dawn, otherwise very quiet.

Ringed: Common Blackbird 35, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 36. 

Observations: Eurasian Woodcock 1, Common Linnet 1 (first sighting in 2018). 

Renate Berg, Arild Breistøl, Espen Helgesen, Alf Tore Mjøs.

Revtangen BO March 29th

We've had a few very cold and windy days on the 26th-28, too windy for trapping. Today it was still cold with minus 1 degrees celcius in the morning, but the wind had settled somewhat. Nets open 06.30-12.30, netmeter hours approx. 1600. 

Ringed: Eurasian Woodcock 1, European Robin 1, Redwing 1, Song Thrush 1 (first this season), Fieldfare 2, Common Blackbird 20, Common Starling 1, Tree Sparrow 1, Greenfinch 1, Yellowhammer 3. Total = 32. Also 14 controls. 

Male Yellowhammer with chestnut eyering and mustache. Gulspurv hann.

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

Revtangen BO March 25th

Cloudy and S 4-6 m/s. Nets open 07-11, Netmeter hours approx. 1200. Very little migration going on. 

Ringed: Eurasian Collared Dove 1, Common Blackbird 4, Fieldfare 1, Chaffinch 1, Yellowhammer 1, Reed Bunting 1. Also 6 controls, including a female Yellowhammer ringed in 2012.

This 3cy+ male Reed Bunting was a small surprise today. This is the earliest ever spring catch at revtangen, and the first Reed Bunting ever ringed in March at Revtangen BO. Sivspurv 3K+ M.

Observations: A few Curlews have turned up, and a European Golden Plover flew over. One Eurasian Woodcock (probably arriving from the sea) flew low over the road at Reve kai at dawn.

Alf Tore Mjøs

Revtangen BO March 24th

Nets open 07-11.30, netmeter hours approx. 1200. Cloudy and SW light breeze. 

Ringed: Common Blackbird 9, House Sparrow 5, Tree Sparrow 2, Greenfinch 2, Yellowhammer 3. Total = 21. Also 12 controls. 

Observations: Eurasian Woocock 1

Jon Andreas Antonsen, Jone Antonsen and Alf Tore Mjøs

Revtangen BO March 22nd

Work day at Revtangen today. Haavard is digging the foundations for a new tool-shed next to the ringing barrack. The nets were open between 10-15, netmeter hours approx. 1300. 

Ringed: Common Blackbird 2, House Sparrow 3, Tree Sparrow 3, Chaffinch 1, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 10.

Eilef Herikstad, Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjøs

Summary of the 2017 season

The 2017 season was a wet and windy one, and this had a negative impact on the season total on the Bird Observatory. The spring total was decent and there were 3 days with more than 100 birds in the catch, unusual in spring. Autumn came, as many times before, with wind and rain and there was not a single period with stable nice weather for more than a few days. In particular, the latter half of October and all of November was dominated by wet and windy weather. This was unfortunate, since there were some interesting irruptions of woodpeckers and redpolls that went under-recorded. A big thanks to everyone who participated and all our visitors!

Species	Revtangen BO	Other sites	Total
Greylag Goose		1	1
Pink-footed Goose		1	1
Brent Goose (B.b.bernicla)	1		1
Mute Swan		3	3
Mallard		76	76
Pintail		1	1
Tufted Duck		29	29
Coot		7	7
Moorhen		5	5
Water Rail	1		1
Herring gull		154	154
Lesser Black-backed Gull		323	323
Great Black-backed Gull		53	53
Common Gull		186	186
Black-headed Gull		22	22
Glaucous Gull		2	2
Sparrowhawk	1	2	3
Bar-tailed Godwit	60		60
Dunlin	1007		1007
Purple Sandpiper	2		2
Curlew Sandpiper	3		3
Little Stint	8		8
Red Knot	58		58
Sanderling	113		113
Turnstone	38		38
Common Redshank	46		46
Spotted Redshank	2		2
Greenshank	5		5
Wood Sandpiper	15		15
Green Sandpiper	46		46
Common Sandpiper	5		5
Common Ringed Plover	33		33
Woodcock	1		1
Common Snipe	5		5
Wood Pigeon	9		9
Collared Dove	19		19
Common Cuckoo	1		1
Black Woodpecker	1		1
Green Woodpecker		3	3
Grey-headed Woodpecker	4	2	6
Great Spotted woodpecker	33	11	44
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	12	1	13
Three-toed Woodpecker		1	1
Wryneck	3	7	10
Skylark	1		1
Sand Martin	7		7
Barn Swallow	47	5	52
Tree Pipit	52	10	62
Olive-backed Pipit	1	1	2
Meadow Pipit	502		502
Pechora Pipit	1		1
Rock Pipit	4		4
White Wagtail	34	3	37
Pied Wagtail	1		1
Grey Wagtail	74		74
Wren	116	20	136
Bohemian Waxwing	3		3
Dunnock	21	10	31
Robin	228	101	329
Redstart	58	1	59
Black Redstart	2		2
Bluethroat		1	1
Whinchat	3		3
Northern Wheatear	11		11
Greenland Wheatear	4		4
Song Thrush	100	7	107
Redwing	303	26	329
Redwing (T.i.coburni)	3		3
Fieldfare	140	4	144
Blackbird	250	38	288
Ring Ouzel	2		2
Mistle Thrush	1		1
Icterine Warbler	3		3
Blackcap	251	55	306
Common Whitethroat	63	1	64
Lesser Whitethroat	21	2	23
Garden Warbler	152	34	186
Barred Warbler	3		3
Grasshopper Warbler	16		16
Reed Warbler	25		25
Blyth's Reed Warbler	1		1
Marsh Warbler	1		1
Sedge Warbler	30		30
Wood Warbler	1		1
Willow Warbler	706	167	873
Chiffchaff	124	7	131
Siberian Chiffchaff	2		2
Yellow-browed Warbler	2		2
Goldcrest	78	12	90
Spotted Flycatcher	11	1	12
Pied Flycatcher	28	26	54
Long-taild Tit	23	20	43
Great Tit	109	416	525
Coal Tit	39	8	47
Crested Tit	1	3	4
Willow Tit	61	22	83
Marsh Tit		3	3
Blue Tit	841	247	1088
Eurasian Nuthatch	22	45	67
Tree Creeper	7	13	20
Starling	177	7	184
House Sparrow	189	79	268
Tree Sparrow	109	15	124
Eurasian Jay		2	2
Magpie	1	3	4
Hooded Crow	1	1	2
Chaffinch	82	156	238
Brambling	87	61	148
Greenfinch	199	408	607
Siskin	7	108	115
Linnet	80		80
Lesser Redpoll	100	41	141
Mealy Redpoll	569	33	602
Arctic Redpoll	7		7
Common Rosefinch	2	1	3
Parrot Crossbill	2		2
Bullfinch		13	13
Hawfinch	1	2	3
Goldfinch	23	1	24
Reed Bunting	13	1	14
Little Bunting	2		2
Yellowhammer	75	10	85
Total	7848	3141	10989

Revtangen BO March 10th

SE - SSE winds 5-7 m/s, a bit too windy at times. Cloudy, 2-4 degrees, later a bit of sun. Nets open 07-13, netmeter hours approx. 1600. 

Ringed: Collared Dove 1, Winter Wren 1, Common Blackbird 2, Fieldfare 12, Common Starling 1, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 18. Also 5 controls. 

Two new Common Blackbirds today, both were adult males. Probably the first migrants?

Observations: Eurasian Woodcock 2, Sparrowhawk 1. 

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

Revtangen BO March 7th

Spring is here according to the calendar, but we are just coming out of the coldest week-and-a-half we've had this winter. The lakes and ground is still frozen, but today saw temperatures of 3-4 degrees and cloudy. The wind was in the SE-SSE, a bit variable and a little too much for efficient trapping at times. Nets open 07-15, netmeter hours approx. 2000. No indication of any migration, the catch is still made up exclusively of wintering birds. 

Ringed: Eurasian Woodcock 2, Collared Dove 1, Common Blackbird 2, Fieldfare 8, Redwing 3, Tree Sparrow 1, Greenfinch 2, Chaffinch 1, Yellowhammer 3. Total = 23. Also 19 controls. 

Observations: Eurasian Woodcock 5+. Also, a White-Tailed Eagle ringed as a chick in Suldal in 2014 was read (coded black ring with white inscription) sitting on the ice at lake Orrevatnet. 

Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO February 18th

SW 5 m/s, later light shifting breeze, a few light rainshowers early. 3-4 degrees, mostly cloudy. Nets open 09.30-18, netmeter hours approx. 2200. Few birds around, most of the thrushes were on fields 0,5-1 km away. 

Ringed: Redwing 3, Common Blackbird 1, Fieldfare 5, House Sparrow 1. Total = 10. Also 8 controls, including a Greenfinch not from Revtangen. 

Observations: Whooper Swan 105 in the fields west of the station; around 200 Eurasian Wigeon also flew over the station at dusk towards the same fields. Eurasian Woodcock 1, Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Eurasian Skylark 2-3 flew over. 

Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO February 3rd

Light SE to almost no wind. Nets open from dusk till dawn. Around minus 2 degrees in the morning and a bit warmer in the middle of th day, but no snow on the fields. Still lots of Fieldfares around, now in "good to normal" condition. 

Ringed: LONG-EARED OWL 1, Redwing 1, Fieldfare 46, Mealy Redpoll 1, Yellowhammer 3. Total = 52. Also 13 controls. 

Ringmerket: HORNUGLE 1, rødvingetrost 1, gråtrost 46, gråsisik 1, gulspurv 3. Også 13 kontroller. 

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen, Alf Tore Mjøs.

Revtangen BO January 26th

SE breeze, part cloudy. Warmer weather with 4-5 degrees. The number of thrushes in the are are significantly down, and the catch was poor compared to earlier this winter. Nets open 08.30-15, netmeter hours approx. 1700. We worked parts of the day securing some vertebrae from a recently stranded Northern Bottlenose Whale, and Haavard started digging holes for a new windbreaker wall towards the road. 

The upper neck vertebrae of a Northern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus)

Ringed: Fieldfare 3, Redwing 1, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 1, Tree Sparrow 2, Chaffinch 1 and Greenfinch 1. Total = 10. Also 11 controls. 

Haavard Huseboe and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO January 20th

Nets open 09-18. Mostly cloudy, but a few sunrays hit us now and then. Around 0 degrees, light SE. Most nets were frozen so it took a long time before all nets were catching, and we had to use at least 100 liters of hot waters to thaw the most difficult cases. The disturbance to the trapping area was quite significant before lunch because of this. Another Long-eared Owl was caught just after dark, in exactly the same spot as the one caught earlier this month. The weights revealed a significant drop i body condition among most Fieldfares, it is obvious that they are struggling now as the ground is snow-covered. We put out a lot of fruit and other snacks for the birds during the day, and we won't be trapping tomorrow despite promising conditions to allow them to feed undisturbed.

Ringed: LONG-EARED OWL 1, MEADOW PIPIT 1, European Robin 2, Redwing 8, Fieldfare 22, Common Blackbird 2, Blue Tit 1, Chaffinch 1, Yellowhammer 8. Total = 46. Also 12 controls.

Ringmerket: HORNUGLE 1, HEIPIPLERKE 1, rødstrupe 2, rødvingetrost 8, gråtrost 22, svarttrost 2, blåmeis 1, bokfink 1, gulspurv 8. Total = 46. Også 12 kontroller. 

The last time Revtangen BO trapped a Meadow Pipit in January was in 1958, so this is not a common winter catch!

One of the Redwings ringed today had an unusual amount of juvenile feathers for a mid-winter bird. All the greater coverts and even the scapulars are still juvenile.

Observations: Northern Lapwing 1, Common Snipe 1, Sparrowhawk 2, Short-eared/Long-eared Owl 2. 

Renate Berg, Espen Helgesen and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO January 11th

Cloudy, light easterlies. Nets open 11-17, netmeter hours approx. 1500. Playback on Fieldfare the last 3 hours. No birds used the trapping area for night roosting, therefore the catch was limited. 

Ringed: Fieldfare 10, Redwing 3, Tree Sparrow 3, Chaffinch 1, Mealy Redpoll 5. Total = 22. Also 8 controls, including a female Yellowhammer ringed as a 1cy in September 2014. 

Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO January 8th

Another calm day, 3-4 degrees and cloudy. Very little wind. Nets open 08.30-18, netmeter hours 2500. Playback on Fieldfare all day and (in the morning only) Redwing. 

Ringed: LONG-EARED OWL 1, Winter Wren 1, European Robin 1, Common Blackbird 1, Redwing 8, Fieldfare 22, Common Starling 1, Tree Sparrow 7, House Sparrow 1 and Greenfinch 1. Total = 44. Also 8 controls. 

A 2cy Long-eared Owl was the surprise catch of the day. We've noticed that the thrushes settle quite late when it's almost dark, and this is a good time to catch them. An owl is always a possible bonus after dark but this species is less than annual at Revtangen BO.

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös

Revtangen BO January 5th

Nice weather with mostly sunny/part cloudy and very little wind. Nets open 08.30-17.30, netmeter hours approx 2300. Playback on Fieldfare in the afternoon. Still unusually many thrushes around, and the 2018 season got off to an excellent start.

Ringed: Collared Dove 1, Winter Wren 2, Common Blackbird 3, Redwing 10, Fieldfare 49, Tree Sparrow 4, House Sparrow 2, Chaffinch 5, Brambling 1. Total = 77. Also 9 controls. 

Redwing 2cy. Good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares are wintering in Norway this season, in part because thare are lots of rowanberries in central Norway, in particular in Nordland county.

Haavard Husebö, Alf Tore Mjös and Jörgen Rosvold.