The Projects are ending.

This last fortnight has been quite a busy time on the Reserve with many people coming and going, board meetings and Magnus and I trying to finish off all of our “Spring Projects” before he departs this weekend and leaves the throne to me. The main projects we have trying to finish are Farmland Breeding Birds surveys, Wetland Surveys (WeBs), Nest boxes, Hooded Crows, Starling project, Ortolan Buntings and complete counts of wildfowl clutches on the reserve (Much harder than it sounds with such a massive area of reed, pools, field and marsh when there’s only 2 of you. I would say “There’s not enough hours in a day” but it doesn’t go very dark so there probably is!

                                             

Ortolan Bunting habitat, above left is a normal small stand of trees and right is a piece of set aside which the farmer has been paid to leave unsown, this is because apparently Ortolan’s prefer “black soil” to feed and breed in. Our studies however suggest otherwise.

Anyway, we’ve finish with many of these and some just have a few bits and pieces to tidy up, Some Starlings are having second broods (Making my life difficult), Ortolan Buntings need to be monitored throughout June and into early July (we’re trying to locate pairs and nests – If anyone has tips on nest finding please share them). The Wetlands surveys are now finished as are the Farmland BBS’. The Nest boxes continue due to many pairs of Pied Flycatchers still on eggs so I’m not complaining about that, also a mystery nest which I hope somebody can help out on. (Think it may be Spotted Fly? but it’s in a normal nest box.

            Spotted Flycatcher nest?

Very bad picture of a very smart Marsh Tit chick found in the final nest box of the lot; a very nice little “ringing tick”.

The crows are about done and yesterday when checking the final un-climbable trees we managed to see many large young in the nests. We were also lucky enough to find a newly fledged youngster on the ground. This little fella gave me one of the nicest ringing experiences ever, when after releasing him he decided he would sit, call and preen on my arm for a good 5 minutes. He made all the long hours of straining my neck back in April worth while and made me realise how much of a privilege it is to ring birds.

 

Confused Hooded Crow juvenile.

 

I tried to release him…

 

Mystery Insect

Finally we have the mystery insects, these things have turned many trees totally silver this week and I’m not quite sure what they are. The white film they cover the trees in feels like paper and is very strong stuff. I think they may be some sort of Moth Larvae? Either way I saw a cow pierce the film on a tree yesterday and enjoy eating thousands of grubs that fell all over her face. NICE

if anyone can help with anything on the Blog please comment :)

Winning

Magnus and I had a little competition throughout May to see who could see the most bird species on the reserve. It came very close and I’ll give Magnus credit for finding some great birds and sharing them with me (I’m sure he’ll do the same for me) but in the end the English man won, Magnus took defeat well and will be punished accordingly this weekend. The punishment has changed from Hair dye, to beer buyer and now final we “agreed” on a Naked Jump into the Canal on a Saturday afternoon at a famous tourist attraction. I look forward to Magnus jumping from a small bridge into the deep murky waters below and I think he looks forward to it more so. The Final scores were 139 to me and 136 for Magnus. The best birds involved were 2 Red-Footed Falcon (Male and Female), Corncrake, Spotted Crake, Penduline tit, Black Kite, Red-Necked Phalarope, Honey Buzzard and Goshawk for me and Magnus was lucky enough to hear Great Snipe displaying on one of his wetland surveys. Between us we saw 146 Species on the reserve in one month and others saw birds that we both missed. It’s funny how it came to a close with the only species separating us being very common, Magnus failed to see (Or overlooked) Dunnock, Wren and Long-eared owl. The former 2 were very often in voice throughout the start of May and the latter is nesting nearby the house. It was a fun competition with excitement to the last, seeing 7 new species in the final 2 days. I’ll post some pictures of birds we saw at a later date.

Hooded Crows

Almost a month ago me and Magnus checked every tree in the area to try and find all active crow nest within the reserve. Many hours of work were put in and 36 nests were found. This week many of these nests have been climbed to so that the chicks can be ringed. Some of the nest however are not climbable and so we will check these in early June when hopefully we can see large youngsters hanging over the edges of the nests. Many of the trees look un-climbable at first but with the aid of a special tree ladder the job was straight forward.

 

Climbing with help from the “Crow Ladder”. Basically scaffolding poles with steps on (that fit together with screws) the top section has a wide hook on it to loop over large branches. Very strong and moderately light weight.

 

Above is a picture of some large Hooded crow youngsters that have just been ringed… Adopting the “If I sit still, you can’t see me. Right?” approach. A real pleasure to ring. I really must also get a special ladder made. I feel many more nests can be reached with the aid of this.

Apologies for the quick post with barely any detail. I’m tired, busy and up early tomorrow… Hopefully I will pin down the Honey Buzzards’ nest nearby. I keep seeing the adults from my front door!!!

I’ll post a proper update soon.

This week at Kvismare…

This week we continued the survey theme… Marsh Harriers, Farmland breeding birds and in particular, Ortolan Bunting- Emberiza hortulana. Many farmers around the Kvismare area have recieved funding to set aside some bare land for the Ortolan’s to nest in. For unknown reasons the population of Ortolan bunting has gone down from Circa 100 singing males to maybe half a dozen in less than 3 decades within the reserve itself; The species still thrive in Northern Sweden however, in fire prone forests.

Managing to hear a minimum of 5 Ortolan males in the first week of surveys then is quite good and these birds are all singing in the correct areas, again promising. It is still early for these birds and so we will continue to monitor this species throughout May.

The Marsh Harriers have begun displaying high above the reed beds this week meaning that their building period is all but over. We managed to identify 14 females in total and possibly 10 nests which we will confirm when the birds are feeding youngsters later in the season. We still wait for the Montagu’s Harrier that nested here last year.

All Starling boxes have to be checked every 5-7 Days (a rule in Sweden) and so this week we confirmed all the full clutch sizes for Starlings. Most hold 5 or 6 but one or two contain 7 eggs. These should be hatching any day now. The White Wagtail in the front garden is also now incubating her 4 eggs. 2 Broods of Fieldfare have hatched just by the side of the house and are noisily protected by the adults.

Some good birds being seen this week has heated the competition for Blonde hair. I still lead but Magnus has gripped me with Savi’s Warbler, Black Woodpecker and Little gull today. I however have Peregrine, Black Tern and Icterine Warbler on him. So it’s wide open.

Birds arriving in number this week, Cuckoo, Garganey, Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher, Wood Sandpiper (flock of 140 seen regularly on Rysjon), Spotted Redshank (up to 25 present on Rysjon), Green and Common Sand also push through not in such great numbers but do reach a few dozen each some days. Common Tern in decent numbers with Arctics’ heading through some days. Myself and Magnus haven’t seen any as of yet! Today I had a flock of 47 “thunbergi” type Yellow Wagtails in one tree!

The Geese and Whooper swans continue to fatten up for their migration. Amongst the Bean geese (fabalis) this week, Barnacle,Pink Footed, Canada, White-fronted and some Bean (Rossicus).

If only races counted in our competition…

Spring in Sweden

Spring in Sweden seems to happen a good month after it did back home. So I have already seen many of the birds we await here. This last week however has been full of migrants.

Studies turned to Marsh harrier nests/ territories this week to try and pin down nests if possible (as a visit to ring the young will be made in June) or if not accessible, just count the amount of females. There is one Female per nest but not necessarily one male; Polygamy does occur in these birds. Anyway this week we have Identified 11 different females with relative ease with possibly 2 or 3 other birds, and the nests are now very well pinned down.

These birds are amazing to watch, however you have to be up early to see the main nest building; This is thought to be because Marsh Harrier pick fresh twigs from trees and in the morning dew these twigs are more flexible and therefore easier to break and place into the nest.

Whilst out on these early morning watches new birds this week…

Black-Throated Diver, Wryneck, Osprey, Common Tern, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Pied Flycatcher, Ortolan bunting, Icterine Warbler, Wood Warbler, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and the nicest birds in my opinion the “lekking” Ruff. The Bean geese and a few Whooper’s remain on the fields by the house.

The work load slows in the next week or so, so I’ll be out and about trying to see as many species as possible throughout May (me and Magnus are having a competition.) No winning prize, but the loser has a punishment…

Hooded Crow surveying

Magnus and I have been very busy this week trying to find all the “active” Hooded Crow nests within the Kvismaren reserve before the leaves open, we have previous survey data and this has been a great help as these birds often nest within metres of previous years, not always though… Having to be out by dawn every morning craning our necks trying to find nest, checking every single tree on the reserve has had it’s plus points; New birds.

We were lucky enough to stubble across a couple of Male Three-Toed Woodpeckers yesterday morning these birds gave amazing views for 30 minutes (down to 15 feet totally ignoring us) before we left them in peace. These only the 3rd and 4th records on the reserve since 1985!

A Pair of Hawfinch sang and fed happily in the glorious sun whilst above them a Rough-legged buzzard soared.

Spotted Crake and Jack Snipe displayed on the marshlands nearby.

Today I found a Yellow Wagtail, Feldegg race amongst a flock of White wagtails ( If accepted apparently only the 6th for Sweden).

Also some of the more common birds have given cracking views, Lesser spotted woodpeckers drumming down to 3 metres away, Greens Laffe at similar distances. Marsh Harriers ignore us as they go about nest building. Bean, Barnacle and White fronted geese give great views and Bitterns constantly boom.

The next few days we will finish the first round of the Crow study and then begin to pin point Marsh Harrier nests. The Yellow wagtail and many Willow warblers around today signify the start of spring migration in Sweden. (Everything here seems to be a month or so  later than England)

 

Note to self – TAKE CAMERA EVERYWHERE.

 

Technorati Tags: Flava Feldegg,Kvismaren Bird observatory,Hooded Crow. Three-toed Woodpecker. Lesser Spotted woodpecker.

Kvismaren Bird Observatory

Arriving in Sweden for the first time yesterday afternoon I was amazed by the sheer vastness of it all. I mistook lakes for seas whilst flying over them and the endless forests which hugged the horizon. I travelled across the country from Stockholm to Orebro by train where I met the reserve chief for this season Magnus.

Today Magnus and I began work surveying the Hooded Crow and Raven nests within Kvismaren itself. A cracking day with some extra special sights too. Marsh harriers floating around the woodlands picking sticks for their nests, White-tailed eagles hunting over fresh water reeds is also something different. The Eagles often pursued by Raven and Marsh Harrier alike. Green, Great Spotted and Lesser Spotted woodpecker also today; Still not seen the Lesser Spot but they’re drumming and calling somewhere nearby. Cranes danced in the fields.

Other things seen today -

 

A Beaver swam straight towards us and got within 3 metres of the car before diving.

Fieldfare and Redwing are common thrushes here and they’re nesting everywhere in good numbers.

Yellow Hammer and Tree Sparrow are not very easy to see at home but are in abundance here.

White-Fronted, Barnacle, Greylag,Bean,Canada and Pink footed geese today.

around 100 Cranes seen today, some “dancing”.

Green Sandpipers and Snipe display on the marshlands.

Bitterns Booming.

 

Magnus and I will continue surveying Crows and Wetlands this week and still await the other staff to come and join us.

Technorati Tags: Kvismaren Bird observatory,Crane,Hooded Crow.

No pictures worth posting yet, I will get some soon. First though, I need to learn some Latin.