Movement of large landbirds

Morning of clear sky and slight northwestern wind - ideal migration conditions for larger terrestrial birds (raptors, cranes, doves). Especially broadwinged raptors, who has been migrating in very small numbers so far, showed bigger movement over the sea. Best daily count of the season for Common Buzzard/ hiireviu Buteo buteo - 17 migrating today and several also feeding on the fields at the island and also last Honey Buzzards/ herilaseviu Pernis apivorus on the move - 3m (+at least 2 local). The best raptor of the day has been certainly Lesser Spotted Eagle/ väike-konnakotkas Aquila pomarina - first and most likely last one of the season. Spotted Eagles are not keen to cross water at all. Other migrating raptors today - Sparrowhawk/ raudkull Accipiter nisus 74m, Goshhawk/ kanakull Accipiter gentilis 1m (first for the season), Harrier /määramata loorkull Circus sp 1, Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 2m. Including other local raptors (Osprey/ kalakotkas Pandion haliaetus, White-tailed Eagle/merikotkas Haliaeetus albicilla,  Marsh Harrier/roo-loorkull Circus aeruginosus, Hobby/ lõopistrik Falco subbuteo and Merlin/ väikepistrik Falco columbarius) - altogether 12 species of raptors has been recorded today at Kihnu island. 

Beside raptors - first Crane/ sookurg Grus grus migration day of the season - 152 ind. has been counted during 8 hours sitewatch. Best daily sum also for Stock Doves/ õõnetuvi Columba oenas - 29. 

Also some movement on the sea has been detected - Common Scoter/ mustvaeras Melanitta nigra 286m, Wigeon/ viupart Anas penelope 67m, Teal/ piilpart Anas crecca 35m and Parasitic Skua/söödikänn Stercorarius parasiticus 1m.

/T.V./

The first flock of Common Cranes (sookurg) have used thermal above the Kihnu island, then climbed up to 550 m, started their journey to south over the Livonian bay.

Migration of majestic cranes is always remarkable sign of autumn 

Four Common buzzards (hiireviu) in migration

Our night-time guests in the house of the field station are the sign of autumn - Both traps have got the Yellow-necked Mouse (kaelushiir, Apodemus flavicollis)

The yellowish neck as ID of this species is visible across the throat

We have released these mice at the other end of the island. This guy is checking the situation before run to the freedom

The flock of Stock Doves (õõnetuvi) - uniformly grayish small pigeons - in the migration