WINGS OVER FALSTERBO

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REPORT RECOVERIES

Report recoveries of ringed birds directly to the Swedish Ringing Centre.

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2 September 2010: Coming up: Falsterbo Bird Show.
Falsterbo Bird Show is a Bird Fair named after Falsterbo Horse Show and actually situated at the Horse Show Stadium. It runs from 3rd ro 5th of September. The aim is to increase interest for birds and bird protection.
There will be lots of lectures about birds, there will be good food and drink, there will be guides to help with identification of birds passing over, there will be a photo competition etc. etc. You can read the full program here.
Additionally, guides will be situated at the Lighthouse, showing the "Real Bird Show", that is the migration. Both on Saturday and Sunday, P-G Bentz will be helping with the identification of passing birds. At 08:30 (both days) the Bird Observatory will have a special show of ringed birds. All is free. The Lighhouse shop will be open from about 08:30.
And remember... then there is a Bird Show all autumn!

27 July 2007: Aquatic Warbler ringed.

This morning at 6 a.m. an Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola was trapped in one of the mistnets at Flommen (reedbeds). This was the ninth Aquatic Warbler ever ringed at Falsterbo and the first one in nine years. A record list can be found in the Species list.

There was a very funny incident in connection with the capture of this rare warbler. One of the ringers judged the morning as "quite suitable for an Aquatic Warbler" and on the next net round he got it! It is not hard to imagine his smiling face...

24 June 2010: "Transmission breakdown..."
Four Kestrel chicks were ringed in the Lighthouse nestbox today. Unfortunately, the cable connected to the web camera snapped and since it is a specially designed cable, we were unable to repair it. Thus there is a risk that there will be no broadcasting at least until the chicks have left the nestbox. We are very sorry about this...

12 June 2010: Ringing in spring 2010.
A grand total of 3 406 birds of 53 species, was the result of the standardised trapping this spring. It is about 400 birds below the long-time average (1980-2004). Generally, small numbers were recorded in short/medium-distance migrants while large numbers occurred in long-distance migrants. The harsh winter conditions surely influenced the small numbers in the first case. Maybe the opposite condition favoured the wintering of long-distance migrants. However, the numbers of bids stopping over at Falsterbo during spring migration is more accidental and weather-depending than in autumn.

A bit oddly, both the seasonal total and the total in European Robin were exactly 420 below average. Other short/medium-distance migrants recorded in small numbers were Hedge Accentor, Song Thrush, Redwing, Goldcrest and Chaffinch. The Blackbird total was near average while Winter Wren and Common Chiffchaff were above (as usual).

Long-distance migrants generelly were trapped in large numbers. All Sylvia-sångare
except Lesser Whitethroat exceeded their averages. medelvärdet. Willow Warbler too
was quite numerous (about 200 above average). The same goes for Common Redstart(2nd
highest total ever), Icterine Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher.

Thrush Nightingale, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear were very few and Tree Pipit
wasn't even trapped.

Some species not often ringed at Falsterbo were (number in brackets shows the
all-time total at Falsterbo): Common Kestrel, Euroasian Hobby(7), Eurasian
Woodcock(4), Black Woodpecker, House Martin, Ring Ouzel (36), Barred Warbler(54),
Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper(20) and European Serin (24).

2010-06-01: Welcome to the world!
Here is the first picture of one of the new-born Kestrel chicks (cf. below).

You can see the head of the chick at the bottom-left of the page. Photo: Arvid Löf.

1 June 2010: Hatching time in the Kestrel's nest.
The first young are hatched in the Kestrel's nest on the Lighhouse! Yet, none of the new-born has shown up in front of the camera, but egg-shells and the behaviour of the female surely indicate that there are baby-Kestrels hatched.
If you are lucky to see one of the young, please press the snapshot-button (just above the upper right corner of the video screen) and mail the image to us. Thank you!

20 May 2010: Pigs in the pond?
During the last few weeks a Red-necked Grebe is kepping a territory in the pond west of the lighthouse. It's "song", which is heard quite often, is somthing you rather would expect to come from a pig than from a bird.
Arvid Löf recorded the embedded clip - so just click and enjoy!

17 May 2010: More than 100 pairs of Pied Avocet nesting at Landgrens holme, Skanör.
The late egg-laying period of the Pied Avocets at Landgrens holme, Skanör, still brings an increasing number of nesting birds. The day before yesterday, 80 nests were counted, yesterday there were 93 and today (17 May) at least 106 nests. A second count today resulted in 119 nests , the highest number ever recorded in this colony!

This year's breeding season is 3-4 weeks delayed because of the cold weather. Now the nests are spread on the higher parts of the islet, safe from pools of water caused by heavy rain (like yesterday).
The electric predator protection fence works well so far. Mikael Kristersson is keeping a close watch at it and thus it seems like the Pied Avocets wiil have every chance of a successful breeding season.

27 Apr 2010: New shared webshop for SkOF and Falsterbo B.O. now launched.
We are happy to introduce a new extended webshop with more items than before. There are own products like Where to watch Birds in Skåne, Wings over Falsterbo etc. but also some other items like KITE binoculars, Mikael Kristersson's films on DVD, litographies etc. Select "Webshop" from the top menu bar to check in and have a look! Welcome!
 

20 Apr 2010-04-20: Kestrels at home.
Now you have the chance to visit the Kestrels living at the top of the Falsterbo Lighthouse. A webcamera sends streaming video (no audio yet) all day. The page will be modified later - we just couldn't wait.

To pay a visit - just click the Kestrel button above.
To cancel: Click any other button above

N.B. If too many visitors are connected at the same time, speed may slow down or you may even be unable to contact.
You must also install Quicktime Player (free) on your computer.

The web camera with all its accessories, including setup, is a gift from Wildlife Garden Ltd. by owner Robert Nobel. We are very greatful for this equipment which gives a golden opportunity to create our first real time web page.

12 Apr 2010: "Curlew Treecreeper" no. 20.

Late this morning a Short-toed Treccreeper Certhia brachydactyla was trapped in the Lighthouse Garden. There was no doubt about the species since this bird seemed to have borrowed a Curlew's bill. It was  the longest bill we have ever measured on a Short-toed Treecreeper (that's why we suggest the name in the headline instead...): 21.4 mm. In the common Treecreeper it is at most some 17-18 mm.
The Short-toed Treecreeper was aged as 3cy+ on clear brown iris colour and the pattern of the spots on the primary coverts. It was sexed as a male on size. Not only had it the longest bill we've seen so far. Its winglength equalled the longest wing: 67 mm.
This was the 20th ringed Short-toed Treccreeper (15 in spring and 5 in autumn) at Falsterbo since 1983. Five birds were ringed in the 1980s, seven in the 1990s and 2000s respectively and today's bird was the first in the 2010s. Additionally, there is a control of a bird wearing a Danish ring from June 1988.

11 Apr 2010: Articles from the Photo Project digitalised.

The articles on ageing and sexing of Tree Pipit, European Robin, Whinchat, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher and Reed Bunting, published in Vår Fågelvärld and ANSER 1985-1993 are now available as pdf-files in the Publications section of our website. Select ageing as search word to get the full list. We regret the poor quality in some of the colour prints.
A publication of the Photo Project with original photos are on the list of future contributions to this web site.

9 Apr 2010: Falsterbo B.O. contributes to map distribution of the Trichomonas disease.

This spring, throat swabs are collected from Greenfinches and Chaffinches trapped for ringing at the Bird Observatory. The throat swabs are collected at the request of the National Veterinary Institute, SVA, as a contribution to map the distribution of the Trichomonas disease.
Trichomonas is caused by a single celled flagellum, Trichomonas gallinae. This parasite lives on moist mucous mebranes and causes damage and sores in the buccal cavity, the pharynx and the gizzard. Infected birds cannot eat and drink properly. Thus they lose weight and finally die from starvation, dehydration or additional infections. Since the summer of 2008 an increasing number of sick birds, especially Greenfinches, has been reported from all over Scandinavia.
The Trichomonas disease is spread at feeding stations or birdbaths where many birds gather. It is probably also spread by infected adults feeding their young. The parasite does not infect mammals (including humans).

21 Mar 2010: Traditional start of the ringing season.
This year's standardised ringing startes today. It was almost to wet with a dense fog and som drizzle. However, some nets were put up and as expected only a few birds (7) were ringed. But you might also say: As expected, one of them was a Firecrest!

Out of the fog bird sounds were heard all morning: Oystercathers, Ringed Plovers and Redshanks. Two Mistle Thrushes sang. When the fog lifted Wood Lark, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet and Yellowhammer were heard or seen migrating northwards.

18 Mar 2010: SPRING IS HERE!!!
The morning fog lifted like a curtain opening - and what do you see? The snow is gone! The ice has melted! The birds are singing! SPRING is here!
So it was really the accurate day for this week's counts of resting birds. Lots of "spring species" were recorded: Shelduck (lots), Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, Marsh Harrier (1), Oystercatcher (many), Pied Avocet, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail (1), Starling and Reed Bunting. Also, five Cranes were seen (P. Öhrström).
In the Falsterbo Canal more than 3,000 Tufted Ducks were counted along with some Pochard and Greater Scaup. Check Counts of Resting Birds (at the end of the week) for more numbers.
At dusk, Blackbirds were singing rounding up this memorable first day of apring.

26 Feb 2010: Like the turning of a page...
After two months of cold, hard winter and then only one day with temperature over zero, it happened: During today's count of resting birds at Nabben, Common Shelduck (6), Ringed Plover (2), Northern Lapwing (1) and some Skylarks were observed. Common Shelduck and Skylark were also seen at Ängsnäset. Nice! There is hope!

13 Feb 2010: Crested Caracara in Skanör!
There was an e-mail from Bengt Grandin in Skanör:
"This morning I had a call from Åke Jönsson about a strange bird, looking like a Caracara, was sitting just outside our houses. And yes - in the pine trees along Båtsmansvägen was a Crested Caracara. I managed to get some photos of it. The bird flew away towards Knösen but returned and was last seen flying westwards towards Skanör town center."

The Crested Caracara originates from Central and South America. This particular bird (we assume it is the same) was seen migrating into Skåne from Denmark already 8 May 2009. Since then it has been spotted on various places in southern Sweden (Skåne and Halland). Without doubt, it has escaped from a "Raptor park" somewhere (it has a strap around one tarsus, visible on the photo to the right).

30 Jan 2010: LOTS of snow!

Just when we finished yesterday's counts of resting birds, it started to snow. It then continued past midnight and at times it was quite heavy. At the same time the wind increased and the snow piled up itself in  enormous drifts. The Lighthouse area became totally isolated from the rest of Falsterbo and may probably stay isolated till Monday when the staff at the Golf Club come back to work.
 

27 Jan 2010: Coldest January in 23 years!
The iron grip of this winter gets worse with every day: the open sea is now freezing and lots of snow covers the ground. According to the Danish Weather Office, this is the coldest January in 23 years and probably the same goes for southernmost Sweden.

Today's snowfall covered even more of possible feeding sites for wintering birds. Therefore we saw an increasing number of birds at our bird feeding site, which of course was kept clean from snow, but instead partly covered with wader traps. Out of these we took 61 birds which all were ringed (52 Bramblings). One was a Common Starling, a species very seldom seen at the feeding site. Maybe another sign of lack of food in the surroundings.

22 Jan 2010: Ringing at the Feeding Site.
Despite the repugnant season right now, there are at least lots of birds at our feeding site. This winter there is an extra addition of quite many Bramblings around.
This afternoon four wader traps were set out on the feeding site. Two hours later, 40 Bramblings and five Blackbirds were ringed, which is quite a good number!
There were no sights of lean, emaciated, poor birds in the captures. All Bramblings had fat score 5 (3 sp.) or more (6: 22 sp., 7: 15 sp.). The same goes for all the Blackbirds except for one poor bird with fat score 1.

20 Jan 2010: Species list updated.
Both species and records lists have now been updated up to and including 2008 by Björn Malmhagen. There were three new species for the Falsterbo Peninsula during 2008: Blue-winged Teal, Great Grey Owl and Red-flanked Bluetail. Three totally new species in the same year have not been recorded since the mid-1990s.

Some other very rare species at Falsterbo recorded in 2008 were::
Cory's Shearwater (4th record).
Pectoral Sandpiper (5th record).
Eagle Owl (5th record).

Click on "Species" in the top menu bar for more information.

11 Jan 2010: Documentary films by Mikael Kristersson on DVD.
Now you can buy Mikael Kristersson´s highly praised and rewarded documentary films on DVD in our web shop. Mikael's films are unique in their way of setting humans as a part of nature and not as viewers from outside. The imagery is quiet and contains many long uncut sequences. Extraordinary well composed sound tracks makes the films "speaking by themselves", leaving out all speaker voices and background music.

At present we have Ljusår (Light Years, 2009), Falkens Öga (The Falcon's Eye, 1998), Porträtt av en vagabond (Portrait of a Vagabond, 1993) och Pica pica (1987) for sale. Click on Sales above and then select DVD-film for more information and ordering.

9 Jan 2010: ICE AGE...?
Very cold weather has dominated the first week of 2010. Temperatures below -10 C were recorded in some nights. All shallow lagoons and bays are frozen with ice thick enough to allow the rare opportunity of skating for the residents.

After a few more nights with strong cold and no wind the open sea will probably freeze too...

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Stiftelsen
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Jonas Ellerstrand,
Falsterbo/Singapore