The Ortolan's return

Many hours have been spent over the past weeks have been spent listening for Ortolan bunting's in suitable habitats around Kvismare. After a preliminary study last year found Ortolan's to still be breeding here. Only around 100 territories still exist in this area of in south-central Sweden, spanning much of Närke and Västmanland. The Ortolan's have declined massively in the past 2 decades and the population in Närke is now a fraction of it's former self. The Ortolan population in northern Sweden however is esitmated to be around 6000 pairs.

Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana)

 With the Ortolan population decreasing so rapidly across much of northern Europe action is being taken in many areas. Here at Kvismare, we aim mainly to provide suitable breeding areas for the birds. The Bird Observatory and Ornithological Society of Sweden have subsidised farmers in the local area to leave parts of their land unsown next to outcrops of woodland/rocks and in strips at the edges of fields; this is not only to provide the black soils which is a niche for breeding Ortolans', but also to aid the birds feeding habits.

So out and about this week we have now found 3 Singing Ortolan males around the areas where they were seen to breed last year. So far all is looking good and the land still seems suitable. Our aim over the next few weeks is to monitor these birds and distinguish whether they can breed successfully here. We will visit nests and count and measure chicks, undertake feeding counts and study the adults behaviour if/when nesting occurs. We will also make several attempt to catch insects at various points in the survey area to understand more about the Ortolans' needs.

I will update on progress when there is any, but for now we hope for decent weather and plenty of Ortolans'.

Time to blog?

Since my last "update" I've not really had much time to blog.

The first week here I've just been up at dawn and counting wildfowl and waders using Kvismaren as either passage or breeding sites, it's really nice to be out at first light and I've seen some great things this week whilst being out and about. A first for me was a Lesser black-backed gull (intermedius) though I don't class this as a species I'd still never see 'one' before. Also I saw a male Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) which again I'd never seen before. I've seen a female before but it was way back through some horrible binoculars (which have been lovingly likened to "like looking through cardboard" by my ringing trainers and group). So after stunning view of both of these a male Long-tailed duck turns up and again giving great views, I've not seen these so well since a memorable trip to Iceland a couple of summers ago with Kane, Chris and Ciaran.

So enough of that. Other decent birds this week: 3 Osprey, White-tailed eagle, Green sands (here there and everywhere), Rough-legged buzzard at least 4, 2 Hen Harrier (Female and 2cy male, hunting together). 20+ Marsh Harriers, 200 Bean Geese (inc 2 Anser fabalis rossicus) 25 Pinkies, 80 White-fronts (all albifrons) , 20 Barnacles. Hundreds of Meadow pipit in a roost. 1000+ Cranes (Grus grus). Lots of Roe Deer around the house, a hare and today I almost fell over a Beaver before it slapped it's tail and with a glug disappeared out of site.

I've also started ringing in the garden.

1 Great Tit.
1 Chaffinch.
1 Robin.
1 Kestrel.

Sorry about the lack of photos with my laptop dead I'm reduced to the old fashioned office PC here at Kvismaren.

Update

So the ringing season here at Kvismaren is drawing to a close and I now have a little bit of time to briefly update on the seasons preceedings! (Only due to Miss Katia's tail)

The season has been great, many more juvenile birds than normal have been caught and a few observatory records have been broken; maybe this is due to new methods being used however?

Up to now we have caught a little over 5200 birds and recaptured in the region of 1500. So we've been busy. I refer to we as me and the small team of assistants (and 2 other ringers.) We started June 22nd as a team of 3 setting 24 nets at Vallen and 20 nets at Banvallen, alternating days. Many birds were caught in the first few days before weather turned a little bit into the begining of July. Peter (Hungarian Ringer) Jalle and Rebecca then arrived (making us a team of 6, 2 ringers 4 assistants) we felt over staffed and didn't really catch "many" birds throughout July, around 30 the daily average. Peter and 4 assistants left and 3 new assistants came, we saw out July as me being the only ringer with 3 assistants, a very busy time with 60+ new birds a day and long hours of data input to follow.

Into August and Simon (Italian ringer) came to help. Just in time as the daily catch had gone up dramatically. We didn't get out ringing everyday in August in fact only 22 out of 31. We managed to ring 2239 birds. The highest catch of birds was 251 new birds in 4 hours (168 Willow Warblers.

September came and as did new assistants, Simon left and so we're now a team of 3. 1 assistant will leave in 1 weeks time leaving myself and Martin to see out the season. We won't be ringing many birds however unless this wind stops. September up to now has seen 625 birds ringed and we have only been out 7 times so we're still very busy (when we get chance to ring)

Highlights for the season include.

(1)Goldeneye
(1)Crested Tit
(5)Penduline Tit
(160) Great Reed Warbler
(1)Savi's Warbler
(8)Icterine Warbler
(10)Marsh Warbler
(1)Wryneck
(1)Bluethroat
(2)Willow Tit
(42) Tree Pipit
(502) Barn Swallow
(1006) Willow Warbler

Hopefully soon the Bramblings will find the nets.

Hopefully Photo's will follow soon also.

A big thank you and a new start.

I do not blog as often as I may hope but I feel that if I am to blog it has to be something of interest. There has been a few developements since I last blogged...

Firstly I would like to say a massive thank you to Seumus Eaves, Phil Slade and Kane Brides in particular for all their help and hard work putting up with me throughout my training to ring birds. I have recently applied for a restricted netting permit and this should appear hopefully before I vacate (More on this later) So many thanks to these 3 and all the other great people who I have been lucky enough to spend some time and great experiences with whilst out catching birds.

Next, the fantastic group of friends I have been lucky enough to travel around with, having countless laughs and triumphs as well as failings and frollocks which has temporarily split up. With Chris (Birdman) Bridge always at Uni I suppose we are all used to this and he seems to get back often enough to spend time with us, however Ciaran, after spending the whole last winter working hard and enjoying it being Kane's assistant has now vacated to the Farne Islands to be a Warden until September and possibly longer? I am sure Ciaran will do fantastic work out there and I wish him all the best with his travels. Stay safe mate. Kane and me have held the fort before whilst Ciaran and Chris travel far and wide birding or working, but never before have I left. This will mean all of the fantastic bunch are now fragmented, I am off to Sweden to Kvismare Bird Observatory to aid with Census work and from June to September run a ringing base.

I must wish Chris good luck with his academic studies whilst I am away, please concerntrate on Uni studies this year. Twitching is not the way forward and do NOT let Mr Hincliffe twist your arm for some "tick", it really isn't worth losing out on uni for!

Cia, stay safe and do well mate. I have faith you will be having a cracking time and will be in your element out there. I've seen the pics and it looks like you're already settling well.


Kane, look after yourself and keep busy (I'm sure you will). Thanks for all the help and hard work you've put in with me :) Really appreciate this.

All three of you have been a fantastic inspiration whilst out and about and I will miss you all greatly. I'm sure that the next time we each meet will be a fantastic occasion and I look forward to it already.

Possibly a joint belated 21st for Cia (very very late for you mate) and Birdman just a little late? I'll be back in October, however I hope to keep the blog updated from Sweden if at all possible.

Good birding and best wishes to all.

C