Nice to be back

I arrived back at Falsterbo yesterday evening. Ringing totals had been extremely low during the time I was away so I was ready to get the party started again this morning...

There party never really happened, with just 11 birds of nine species ringed (totals online — click Ringing); however, this smart individual did turn up for the last round:

3+cy male Red-backed Shrike

Both age classes of Red-backed Shrike undergo a complete winter moult, so ageing relied on iris colour.

Also ringed, this smart 3+cy male Chaffinch:

I was badly in need of some sleep so took an early afternoon nap while the others headed to the north of the peninsula... where they found a Red-rumped Swallow! That'll teach me!

We headed up to the north of the peninsula again in the evening but there was no sign of the Swallow; we did, however, have three Short-eared Owls.