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Chiffchaff Chiffchaff have been ringed 117% above average, showing record numbers since 1990. Report from spring 2026
The total of birds ringed this spring has been 16 % under average: 676 birds ringed (average for spring is 803) of 44 different species, 4 more than last year. However, it is important to mention that the average for spring is lower every year because of the low numbers during the last years. 10 years ago in 2016, the average of ringed birds in spring was 1037 individuals and now it is 803. If we compare the spring numbers this year with the average from 10 years ago, it would be 35% under average. In general, the number of birds in the nets at Lista have suffered a strong decline the last years. Weather The average temperature has been 0.5°C higher than normal (from March 1 to June 10), being especially warm during March (+1.7°C), while April was close to normal and May slightly lower than normal. The precipitation in March, May and June was around normal, while in April it was much higher than average. There was three days during the first week of June with high precipitation and wind, which probably affected some nests and possibly the breeding success of some species in the area. This spring there have been 22 days without ringing due to weather conditions, which is 8 more than last year (average 18 days). The storm "Dave" hit Lista on April 5 with wind gusts of up to 40–45 m/s, which is equivalent to a strong storm to a hurricane in gusts. Ringing The number of ringed birds has been 16% under average and the number of species has been higher than last year. The "top 5 species" in the nets have been Chiffchaff (94), Willow Warbler (82), Starling (56), European Robin (54), and Blackbird (45). Most warblers have shown higher numbers than normal. Blackcap, Garden Warbler Lesser Whitethorat and Common Whitethroat have been ringed between 20% and 49% above average. Chiffchaff have been ringed 117% above average, showing record numbers since 1990. Of all the abundant species of this group, Willow Warbler is the only one showing low numbers this spring, being ringed 31% under average. This spring was the 2nd ever with more Chiffchaffs than Willow Warblers. Our longtime numbers are showing 3x as many Willow Warblers than Chiffchaff caught in spring. After reaching the lowest ringing numbers of Goldcrest in 2025, this spring the results have been much higher, but still 60% under average. The large thrushes were ringed in low numbers as it has been happening the last years. Song Thrush, Blackbird and Fieldfare have been ringed 62%, 34% and 100% respectively under average this season. The Northern Wheatear was ringed 27% down average, probably being affected by the low numbers during the last years (record low numbers in 2024). The Common Redstart and Robin were ringed 89% and 46% respectively under average. No Stonechats were caught in the nets this spring and there have been two breeding pairs in the area. Both had a successful breeding. Dunnock and Meadow Pipit were ringed in very low numbers as last year, being ringed 64% and 54% respectively under average, but showing higher numbers than in 2025. However, White Wagtail has been ringed above average (+112%) and has shown high numbers for the last 16 years. The number of finches showed in general very low ringing results, including Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin and Yellowhammer, being ringed between 39% and 83% under average. Spring 2026 was the eighth one in a row without any Rosefinch in the nets. The breeding Wheatears have not been monitored regularly in 2026 and the permission for trapping in the protected areas was not valid until end of May. Less staff was available this spring. However, our observations indicates that there is less nests than normal and that some breeding pairs are delayed (still not feeding by 10th of June). Observations From January to June, 210 species were recorded in the observatory area, which is 25 more species than last year. Some species have been recorded in very high numbers this spring. Pink-footed Goose, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Teal, Tufted Duck, Rock Pigeon, Stock Dove, Temminck’s Stint, Guillemot, Razorbill, European Shag, White-tailed Eagle, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Stonechat and Goldfinch have shown some of the best numbers since we started counting in 1990. Green Sandpiper (321%), Willow Tit (705%) and Chiffchaff (379%) showed records numbers. On the other hand, Greater Scope, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Collared Dove, Black-headed Gull, Northern Fulmar, Spotted Flycatcher and Dunnock were seen in numbers between 41% and 77% below average. For many waders, the number of observations has become much lower during the last years, but this year many species have had close to normal numbers. Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper have been seen right above average. Lapwing, which have had very low numbers the last 15 years, has shown some increase since 2023. A total of 3 Lapwing nests were found and monitored in the area. One of them was successful with two chicks another one unknown (too high vegetation to see if there was chicks) and one nest was abandoned. Green Sandpiper is the only wader registered with much higher numbers than normal (record numbers as mentioned before). There have been many notable or rare species in the area during the spring, including two new species for the observatory. The most special observations were Ruddy Shelduck, American Wigeon (2nd), King Eider, Mediterranean Gull, Caspian Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Eurasian Spoonbill, Purple Heron (1st), Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Greenish Warbler, Common Firecrest and Black-faced Bunting (1st). The bird observatory continued to guide schools and private visitors in the spring in collaboration with the Visitor Center Wetland Lista. Mari Burger (South-Africa), Nils Gunnarsson (Sweden), Nils Dittrich (Germany), Marta Skibinska (Poland), Bendik N. Berg (Norway) and Lara Strobl (Norway) have been volunteers at the station and collaborated with ringers Théophile Fontaine, Martin Eggen, Håvard Eggen and Jonas Langbråten, as well as Benjamin Grimsby and Aïda López who have been responsible for the work at the bird station in the spring of 2026. If you want to check the list of birds ringed during this spring, click HERE. | |||||||
| Ringing numbers |
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Sorry, but we are outside of the spring and autum seasons. Detailed log |
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Report from spring 2026 Begynnerkurs i ringmerking: 8.-9. august 2026 Report from autumn 2025 Looking for bird ringers for autumn 2027 Report from spring 2025 |
Lista Fuglestasjon
Fyrveien 6
NO-4563 Borhaug
post@listafuglestasjon.no Tlf: 949 86 793
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