A few new warblers

Post date: May 26, 2016 3:15:28 PM

Today's CES session (the 3rd of the year) was performed under an overcast sky, weak wind and cool temperature (11-16ºC), which is pretty much perfect for this activity!

Fourteen birds of nine species were caught, including a few new species for the year, particularly: the first Icterine Warbler, and two Sedge Warblers, one of which had been ringed by myself at the same site on 11 June 2013. As it was an adult (2+) then, this bird is now at least four years old.

Male Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), at least 4 years old

The first Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) of the year

Today's most abundant species was the Garden Warbler, with four individuals caught, but there was also a Blackcap, recaptures of a Robin, of two Marsh Tits and a Blue tit, as well as a new Willow Warbler and a Reed Bunting. The latter had a receding brood patch (score 4), so it must have large nestlings that do not need much brooding. During this session I found a nest of a Chiffchaff with at least four nestlings c. 8-9 days old, so I expect to trap the first juveniles very soon!

One of the four Garden Warblers (Sylvia borin) caught today.

Other interesting (local) observations were a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, and a Great White Egret flying by, but as the day was pretty cool, there were no active dragonflies (another of my interests, as you can see from previous posts).

There are quite a few interesting species for those living further south (such as many of my friends that follow this blog), but because they are regularly seen, I usually do not mention them. This location is basically a small/medium lake, with a perimeter of 10 Km, surrounded by a stripe of reeds/sedges, then a stripe of mature deciduous forest (neither of which usually surpasses 100 m of width, though at some parts of the lake they can be much wider), and further away from the lake there is a meadow (in some places with some bushes in between), which is partially grazed by cattle. Today, in the meadow, a pair of Cranes called frequently (I suspect they may have a youngster) and Curlews were also displaying in the area observable from the CES ringing post. The bushes held a pair of Red-backed Shrikes, which were very active and probably building a nest, as well as plenty of Whitethroats, a few Yellowhammers, Whinchats and, also in the forest edge, a few singing Tree Pipits. Thrush Nightingales and Icterine Warblers were actively singing in the forest, as were the Garden Warblers, Blackcaps and at least one Redstart (just above the ringing post); whereas the Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs seemed much quieter now, probably because they are busier with the nesting activities. Kingfishers, which are pretty uncommon in Sweden, were seen twice today, but this is one of the places where they breed and can even occur throughout the year.

Various waterfowl were seen passing by, presumably from the lake to the wet meadows nearby, including Shelduck, Greylag and Barnacle Geese, Goldeneyes, and other common ducks. Today's waders included three Oystercatchers flying by and an Common Sandpiper sitting at the end of the net line. A Water Rail called frequently just next to the nets, which is somewhat unusual, as they are not so abundant here (at least much less abundant than at my ringing site in Portugal), but no Bitterns were heard today or recently, in contrast to the previous year, when they were common all around the lake. With so few birds caught, I had time to go to the bird tower where plenty of Black and Common Terns, as well as Black-headed Gulls could be seen feeding, nesting and chasing each other. I confess that I did not bother to search for the White-tailed Eagles, which are a constant presence here, easily seen from the tower, but could not avoid the Red Kites, which are very common in Skåne and easily seen flying around from anywhere. A pair of Marsh Harriers passed by, over the meadows, and as always there were plenty of Rooks, Jackdaws, Magpies and Woodpigeons, a few Ravens and Common Gulls. Even when captures are scarce, there is plenty to see and appreciate here! Numbers of birds caught usually increase in June, but if there is any interest, I can present a complete list of bird species seen during one of the next CES sessions.

Until then,

Júlio M. Neto