Sunday 9 November 2025

A young Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) was ringed yesterday and observed several times throughout the day, ranging from the “Plassen” net site to the “Double Goldcrest” net site. This was the second individual ringed this autumn and the eighth of the year. In total, 145 Woodcocks have been ringed at the station during the period 1970–2025.

Hi,

The day began with northerly winds at 1–2 m/s, 9 °C, overcast conditions, and light fog at 06:30. The wind quickly subsided, resulting in an unusually calm day with complete sea stillness from 09:00 onwards. Sebastien and Henry were transported to Sandøsund by 11:45, where Terje took over and drove them to Tønsberg to catch the bus to Gardermoen and their flight back to France. Few birds were present in the bushes, so all nets were closed at 10:15. We then took a longer boat trip past Knappen and southward around Tristein with Færder Lighthouse, returning to Sandøsund via the west side of Hoftøya and south of Sandøya. Observations during the trip included 1100 Common Eiders, 11 Long-tailed Ducks, 40 Common Scoters, 2 Velvet Scoters, 4 Goldeneyes, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 60 European Shags, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Black-legged Kittiwakes, 2 Razorbills, 17 Common Guillemots, and 9 Little Auks - two of which repeatedly dived and swam only 2–3 m from the boat. The mist nets were reopened at 13:30, but only 23 birds were ringed today, distributed as follows: 1 Wren, 1 Blue Tit, 2 Goldcrests, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Robins, 2 Greenfinches, 8 Blackbirds, and 1 Song Thrush. So far this autumn, a total of 5,333 birds have been ringed—comparable to the productive years of the 1970s. Autumn totals include 323 Greenfinches, 164 Long-tailed Tits, and 394 Blue Tits. Observations from Store Færder included one Northern Wheatear and one juvenile Barn Swallow. We wish Sebastien and Henry a safe journey back home.

​Kind regards,
Sebastien, Henry and Hans Erik