Magnificent Redstart

Post date: Aug 7, 2014 10:53:55 AM

Yesterday's CES session resulted in a decline in the number of captures (63 plus 3 retraps), but the diversity was equally high (16 species). Again, there were plenty of juvenile Marsh Warblers, but the new species and highlight of the session was a magnificent male Redstart/Rödsjärt (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), that had just finished its complete post-breeding moult. As always, full results are described in the Results webpage. Once again, I had Arne's help who endured the whole 6-hour session, but also a late visit of Pablo Salmon and, for the first time, Åke Lindström.

Adult male Redstart/Rödsjärt (P. phoenicurus)

The weather was nearly perfect for ringing: mild (10 to 24ºC), windless and with some clouds. After a rather slow start with only 4-5 birds in the first round, we got c.20 in the second round and about 3-7 in each subsequent 30 min rounds, which gave me plenty of time to collect blood samples of the target species. A flock of Bearded Tits were calling near the nets but we ended up not catching any this session. The most interesting observation was perhaps of two Caspian Terns, although I had seen eight the previous evening!

More news soon!

Júlio