Revtangen BO April 11th

Light breeze from the east in the morning, turning south and increasing around 10. Not much trapping after that, and the nets were closed around 13. 

Ringed: Common Skylark 1, European Robin 4, Common Blackbird 1, Fieldfare 1, Song Thrush 1, Chiffchaff 3, Goldcrest 1, House Sparrow 1, Greenfinch 1, Common Linnet 1. Total = 15. Also 8 controls. 

The highlight of todays catch was this Common Skylark. Though a common breeding bird in the fields around the bird observatory, they rarely come close to our mistnets. This was the first to be ringed since 2004.

There has been a few Chiffchaffs in the catch lately. Though not the easiest species to age, this one can be put down as a 2cy by the contrast in the greater coverts (5 outer are juvenile paler feathers) and the tail (some second calendar years will moult the central tail feathers in the winter quarters, contrasting with the browner and more worn older feathers).

Work continued on the new ponds, and the last one was filled with water today. 

Observations: The first Northern Wheatears (2) and Sand Martins (3) were spotted during the day. 

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 1 visitor.

Revtangen BO April 10th

Nice calm weather, but quite cold in the morning with + 3 degrees celcius. Weak shifting breeze, easterlies in the morning. Nets up 06-19, netmeter hours = 4100. After a slow start there was a steady trickle of birds through during the day, mostly European Robins and Chiffchaffs. In the end, a decent spring catch by Revtangen standards.

Ringed: Collared Dove 1, European Robin 31, Song Thrush 1, Chiffchaff 7, Goldcrest 4, Linnet 1. Total = 45. Also 11 controls. 

European Robins made up the bulk of todays catch. This one is a 2cy (around 2/3 of the greater coverts are juvenile feathers).

Alf Tore Mjös. 1 visitor.

Revtangen BO April 9th

Calm, but cold in the morning; 2 degrees and clear skies, not the right conditions for arrivals of migrants at Revtangen. Almost no wind, light easterlies turning NW. Nets up from dusk til dawn, netmeter hours approx. 4400. 

Ringed: Collared Dove 1, Common Blackbird 1, Redwing 1, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 1, Common Starling 1, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2, Brambling 1, Common Linnet 2, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 13. Also 13 controls, including two Collared Doves ringed in 2015 and a Redwing not from Revtangen. 

Alf Tore Mjös. 6 visitors.

Revtangen BO April 7th

Nets open 06-16, netmeter hours 3100. Almost no wind in the morning, turning NW and increasing around 12. Mostly cloudy but some sun in the afternoon. 

Ringed: White Wagtail 2, Meadow Pipit 1 (first this season), European Robin 5, Common Blackbird 2, Goldcrest 7, Brambling 1, Common Linnet 1 (first this season),Yellowhammer 1. Total = 20. Also 7 controls. 

Two of the three new ponds were filled with water today, in these one we will experiment with some aquatic plants/reeds. 

Two new ponds close to the observatory buildings.

Observations: Gyrfalcon: A 2cy took a Herring Gull in the fields west of the station in the morning, then sat on the prey through the whole day. Lots of Black-headed Gulls feeding in the surf at Reve kai in the afternoon. We were able to read 10 colourringed birds among then, including JN92 that was ringed as a chick in Risavika a little further north in June 2014.

JN92, first adult plumage. 

Most Black-headed Gulls from the Stavanger-area spend the winter in the UK, most in Scotland. If anyone has sightet Black-headed Gulls with green or whote colour-rings with a code starting with the letter "J", then they are of Norwegian origin and please report them here: http://www.ringmerking.no/cr/

Haavard Husebö and Alf Tore Mjös. 1 visitor.

Revtangen BO April 4th

Nets open 06-12. Light northeasterlies. Netmeter hours = 1900. 

Ringed: Wood Pigeon 1 (first this season), White Wagtail 1 (first this season), Pied Wagtail 1 (possibly a hybrid pied x white), European Robin 2, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1, Fieldfare 1, Chiffchaff 3, Blue Tit 1. Total = 12. Also 7 controls. 

Alf Tore Mjös. 2 visitors.

Revtangen BO April 3rd

Nets open 06-15. Relatively light winds from SE, mostly cloudy. Netmeter hours = 2800. 

Ringed: Winter Wren 1 (first this season), European Robin 5, Redwing 1, Song Thrush 2, Chiffchaff 3 (first this season, ssp. abietinus), Goldcrest 3, Chaffinch 3, House Sparrow 2, Yellowhammer 2. Total = 22. Also 6 controls. 

The first Chiffchaffs of the season was ringed today, all arriving late in the day.

Alf Tore Mjös and Ingvald Ekeland. 7 visitors.

Revtangen BO April 1st

A cold morning, minus one around 6 but increasing to 6 degrees C around mid-day. Light southeasterlies in the morning, increasing and turning south, too much wind in many nets from around 9.30. Nets open 06.30-12.30. Netmeter hours = 1900. 

Ringed: Eurasian Woodcock 2, European Robin 1, Redwing 1, Song Thrush 2, Common Blackbird 4, House Sparrow 5, Tree Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2, Yellowhammer 1. Total = 19. Also 5 controls. 

Alf Tore Mjös