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Yellow-browed warbler (03.10.2012 Sõrve säär)

 

A tough birdcatching day at Sõrve säär. The weather was cloudy in the morning but calm and immediately at first light ringing got off at full speed. At about 10 o’clock fog came from the sea and then really a commotion broke loose in the shrubs. Thousands of goldcrests, tits, finches and warblers landed on the spit and most of the nets had to be folded quickly because alone with this great mass of birds was more than I could manage. In a day I ringed 584 birds, of them 441 goldcrests. Quite many warblers moved too with the great number of goldcrests and among the warblers I managed to get hold of a yellow-browed warbler. This visitor from Siberia has been seen here 5 times now this autumn: 2 were ringed in Pärnumaa at Kabli bird station, 2 were observed in Tartumaa at Mehikoorma and 1 was now ringed at Sõrve säär.

 

Window victims at Sõrve säär 03.10.2012 (Photo: Mati Martinson)

 

Unfortunately today a great number of goldcrests were killed or injured flying against the windows of the Sõrve säär lighthouse and weather station building complex. More details can be read in the Sõrve bird station diary. Large glassed areas in buildings on the migration paths of birds are not suitable, and in projecting and construction this should surely be taken in account. Part of the Sõrve säär buildings are in use only in summer. At other times the windows could be closed with shutters but unfortunately no building there has shutters.