Robin invasion in the early hours

After the fiasco that was ringing yesterday, it could (almost) only get better today, and with mild northwestern winds and no rain on the forecast, it looked like it would. After having opened most of the nets in both the Station and Lighthouse gardens, I realized we might get a quite busy day when I caught a whole three Robins (Erithacus rubecula) in just the Station garden on the very first round (its usually a very good sign if we catch as many as two), and after having caught another 9 Robins and a Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) in the Lighthouse garden on that same run, I realized I had to call Strummer back from obs to help me out. 

The Robin invasion slowed down considerably, however, after that first round, but we still caught good numbers of them throughout the rest of the day, as well as fewer numbers of a good range of other species, landing us on a species total of 15 different species. The Robins, with 34 individuals caught, only one of which was a recap, contributed with more than half of all of the 62 birds caught today, with Willow Warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus) ranking second with (only) 5 individuals. 

The second coolest bird we got today is one I sadly don't have any pictures of, since it was the very first bird of the day, meaning I was too busy to take any. This was the very first, and currently only, adult (2k+) Robin of the season, which could be distinguished from its younger species-mates by its rounder tail-feathers as well as greater coverts lacking any sort of moult limit, instead all being of the olive-green adult feather type.

The undisputed coolest bird of the day was caught in our least-successful capture-contraption: The Helgoland Trap. To trap birds in the Helgoland trap, we usually clap and whistle to try to scare any birds in the big part of the trap down into the small box at the end of the tract-like ruse. This bird, however, had found its own way into the box, and had I not heard it flapping from outside and closed the box off, it might have flown out and escaped as I exited the trap. Luckily I did hear it, and when I checked to see what had ventured into the box, I saw that is was an eagerly awaited catch. It was a Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)!

Northern Wheatear, a first for the season! Foto: Strummer Edwards

Since Strummer and I have both been very eager to catch one, I called them up to the Lighthouse where they got to see it just after I had finished processing it, so we could both get some good pictures before letting it go.

After having had Station nets open for some time after standard was over, we also managed to replace some of the nets in the garden that needed it most, so hopefully these nets will catch more in the upcoming time.

Today's captures:

At the station: Strummer, Alba, Johan, Emil