Today Mio, Rasmus, Hans and I went out to Nortstrand to do the migration count. But there was not much migration going when we arrived there at 5:45. So we had time to enjoy the beautiful sunrise. The migration on the sea was very slow today compared to the past days. But there were many Kestrels (Tårnfalk) migrating. We had 17 of them this morning. 

amazing sunrise

Because migration was so slow this morning Mio and Rasmus went to Skarvsøen in the third hour to count the Cormorants (Skarv). Now there are already 69 occupied nests. 

Also ringing was a bit slow this morning. They rang 8 birds in total. But the ringers were still very busy because they used the time to retie all the nets and cut annoying twigs out of the netlanes.  So now we have well tied and free nets again. They also had some nice birds flying over Kabeltromelen, like some nice Thrushes, some Pink-Footed Geese (Kortnæbbet Gås) and they also saw the Glaucous Gull (Gråmage) again.

Pink-Footed Geese (Kortnæbbet Gås)

When we came back to the station Hans went out to Flagbakken again to have a nice raptor midday. The rest of us stayed back to chill a bit. But then we heard on Zello that there were some nice birds like a Woodwarbler (Skovsanger), a Wryneck (Vendehals) and two Pied Flycatchers (Broget Fluesnapper) seen in Batteryskov. So we went there and tried to find them. We could find the Wood Warbler (Skovsanger), it was also singing a bit which was very nice.                                       Later Rasmus went out again, trying to find a Red-Rumped Swallow (Rødrygget Svale). He saw many Swallows but not the one he was looking for. But we are confident that we will find one at some point.

In the evening we unfortunately had to say goodbye to Mio because he had to go back to Berlin because the school starts on Monday again.

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):

Gransanger 3

Rødhals  3

Rørspurv 2

Total: 8

Highlights from the observations: 

first Wood Warbler (Skovsanger) 1

Hen Harrier (Blå Kærhøg) 20

Kestrel (Tårnfalk) 30 

Glaucous Gull (Gråmage) 1

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Rasmus Matthiesen-Juhl, Cora Köberle, Tue Baaner, Simon Sigaard Christiansen, Mio Brix, Lucas Corneliussen, Andrew Jacobs and our guest Hans.

Hejsa folkens Så er endnu en dag gået på Skagen Fuglestation. 

I dag startede jeg morgen ud ved Kabeltromlen, hvor jeg ringmærkede, sammen med Andrew, Mio, Lucas og Lisa. Vi havde en dejlig dag, med en god mængde fugle henover hele dage. Vejret var også strålende, og da fuglene blev ved med at komme, valgte vi at holde nettene åbne en time ekstra. Det gjorde, at vi havde lidt ekstra tid til rigtigt at fordybe os i fuglene, og lære en masse omkring ringmærkningen. Virkelig en fed dag. Detsuden kom den første tornsanger forbi. Dem glæder vi også til at få mange flere af fra nu af. Derudover blev vi noget overrasket, da en spætmejse fløj hen over hovedet på os. De er langt fra en normal fugl i området, så det var en super fed observation. 

Syngende tonsanger  

Også for observatørerne, som bestod af Rasmus, Cora og Hans, gik det godt i dag. De havde blandt andet et godt træk af lommer, ringdrosler og 5 kjover. Derudover var de også heldige at få både vandrefalk og mosehornugle i teleskoperne. Alt i alt en god morgen med god aktivitet. 

Da observatørerne kom hjem, gik der nu ikke længe før de tog af sted igen, denne gang til flagbakken, også her var der første klasse fuglekigning, men det vender vi tilbage til om lidt. Først skal I nemlig høre om hvad der skete for os fra ringmærkningen, da vi kom tilbage til stationen. Efter at have spist blev der nemlig kaldt en dværgørn ud på Zello, som lød til at komme lige forbi fyret om få minutter. Vi styrtede derfor ud af døren, og der gik heller ikke længe, før vi fik øje på den fantastiske fugl, der lå og kredsede i en skrue med en masse våger, lige over fyret. Sikke et syn, og en fantastisk oplevelse at få lov at bruge et par minutter med fuglen, inden den fløj videre igen. 

Nogen gange skal der ikke mere til end lidt held i sprøjten. 

Dværgørn

Efter mødet med dværgørnen, kørte vi også af sted mod flagbakken, for at slutte os til de andre. Det viste sig at være en rigtig god idé, da der virkelig var gang i eftermiddags trækket. Der gik heller ikke længe før Mio kaldte en kongeørn ud, som han fandt cirklende med en havørn ude i skyerne. Godt spottet Mio! Derudover kom der også store antal af fiskeørne lige hen over os, og også her kom der en enkelt vandrefalk forbi. Faktisk stopper det heller ikke her, vi var nemlig også glædeligt overrasket over at se to storke, som kom flyvende mod nord. Hen mod slutningen fik vi også øje på en fin steppehøg hun, som kom flyvende forbi, sammen med en blå kærhøg og 3 fiskeørne. Godt at se at selv fuglene også går ind for diversitet!

obs på flag bakken 

Stork

Vi takker af efter en hel suveræn dag med hele 4 arter af ørne, og glæder os til i morgen. Vi ses derude 

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Gransanger 5
Rødstjert 2
Rødhals 5
Gærdesmutte 2
Munk 6

Løvsanger 2
Sangdrossel 3
Jernspurv 1
Rødstjert 2
Bogfinke 2 

Total: 30

Observation Highlights

Almindelig kjove 5

Vandrefalk 1

Mosehornugle 1 

Observation Highlights - Det grå fyr 

Dværgørn 1

Observation Highlights - Flag Bakken

Kongeørn 1

Steppehøg 3

Stork 2 

Vandrefalk 1 

Havørn 2 

 Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Cora Köberle, Rasmus Matthiesen-Juhl, Tue Baaner, Lucas Corneliussen, Andrew Jacobs, Mio Brix, Lisa Vergin, Simon Sigaard Christiansen og vores gæster  Hans og Birte.

Halløj derude:)

Jeg hoppede på jernhesten med kurs mod kabeltromlen for at åbne net sammen med Tue i morges. Allerede på vej ud til nettene kunne vi se at der var mange fugle i krattene. Det blev også til mange ringmærkede fugle i dag, og en sjov genfangst af en Vandrikse:) Det var dejligt at få en ringmærkningsdag igen i dag, så jeg kan bygge videre på den erfaring jeg gjorde mig sidst jeg var her i 2021. Lucas, Tue og jeg, var desværre nødt til at lukke nettene en time før tid, da både net og vores udstyr var drivvådt, efter at op til flere byger passerede Grenen:(

Ude på Nordstrand havde Mio, Andrew og Hans også mange trækkende fugle, hvor rødstrubede lommer og sortænder dominerede. Hele 16.000 sortænder trak forbi Nordstrand i dag, det er jo helt vildt! 7 Almindelige Kjover passerede også forbi obsposten, både tæt på kysten og helt ude i horisonten

Eftermiddagen blev brugt ude ved Skarvsøen, hvor vi satte 12 net op, så vi er klar til at CES ringmærker:) Jeg var positivt overrasket over netbanerne, og tror på at i år er året for en ringmærket Drosselrørsanger eller dværghejre

I aften har Liverpool mulighed for at blive engelske mestrer! Hvis Arsenal taber til Crystal Palace, så har de ikke længere mulighed for at overhale Liverpool i tabellen, og dermed vinder Liverpool trofæet. Jeg sidder derfor i stuen med en øl og pose chips, klar til at fejre mesterskabet! (opdateret: Arsenal spillede uafgjort, og derfor bliver Liverpool først mestrer på søndag når de vinder over Tottenham)

Jeg er tilbage på morgenobsen i morgen, sammen med Cora og Hans. Det bliver (forhåbentligt) hyggeligt:)

Vi ses derude!

Ringmærkning: Kabeltromlen (Opdateres)

Highlights Obs:

Almindelig Kjove (7)

Sortand (16.553)

Steppehøg

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Cora Köberle, Rasmus Matthiesen-Juhl, Tue Baaner, Lucas Corneliussen, Andrew Jacobs, Mio Brix, Simon Sigaard Christiansen and our guest Hans (FÆL)

Today started just like many others in Skagen, with the fuglestation crew waking up before dawn to head out to Grenen to open the mist nets. Arriving at Kabeltromelen in the minutes just after 5 AM with Rasmus, who for the first time this season joined the ringing. Over the nedt several hours we were delighted to have a fairly busy morning totalling approximately 30 birds in the nets, with the most birds like normal being in the first few rounds of the morning. Thr highlight of the morning being the first Sedge Warbler (Sivsanger) of the year. It was very nice to have a new face at ringing and explore our shared experiences from previous seasons. We were also extemeley grateful to recieve, not one, but TWO Kremestangs at the ringing this morning. Special thanks to Jørgen Hulbæk Christiansen and Tue for bringing them to us!

  Sivsanger

Later in the afternoon, Rasmus, Andrew, Tue and I headed down to Buttervej and the Industrial area in search of vagrant shrikes (tornskader) and the first Wryneck (Vendehals) for the station of the year. We unfortunately, struck out, but were delighted to find around 60 meadow pipits at the fudbol fields in town. We then got the alert that Mio and Cora had found a Flavissima ssp. Western Yellow Wagtail (Gulvipstjert) at Stal Grenen. We quickly headed over to find tthe bird nicely roosting on the horse fields with several White Wagtails. After a succesful chae, we headed back to the station to find Hans and Birthe cooking us a fanastic meal. A great way to end the day after a busy morning. 

 Rasmus at the ringing! 

And so, another day passes at Skagen Fuglestation. What will tomorrow bring? We will have to wait and see!

Highlights:

1000 Meadow Pipits (Engpiber)

Sedge Warbler (Sivsanger)

Rasmus at the Ringing!

 Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Lucas Corneliussen, Rasmus Mattiesen-Juhl, Tue Baaner, Mio Brix, Corsa Koberle, Simon Sigaard Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Hans & Birthe, Andrew Jacobs.

Today I went to ringing where I went around the net lanes in waders for the first time where the nets weave throughout a large reedbed through several wet channel, a very new experience for me. The sound of Eurasian Bitterns (Rørdrum) and Water Rails (Vandriske) echo throughout the area and I assume as more of the African reed specialists return on their migration it will get even more lively with sounds. We caught a few birds today but there were more birds in the skies than the nets including a good migration push of 52 Ring Ouzels (Ringdrossel). While we were working around the station a Great Northern Diver (Islom) flew over and later on a White-billed Diver (Hvidnæbbet Lom) passed along the shoreline as well. There were a few mammals about with 4 Orca close enough to be seen from shore and several Brown Hares.
In the afternoon we did the Northern Fulmar (Mallemuk) beached bird survey looking for any birds that had been washed up. We walked along the beach for 10 kilometers where there were many cuttlebones from European Common Cuttlefish scattered across the beach. Near the end of the survey we found the usual second cycle / 3K Glaucous Gull (Gråmage) had moved over to this end and we got a close view as it flew past, nearby it there was and adult Omissus Variety European Herring Gull (Sølvmåge) with yellow legs and a crimson orbital ring which was nice to see.

White-billed Diver (Hvidnæbbet Lom)

Glaucous Gull (Gråmåge)

European Herring Gull - Omissus variety (Sølvmåge var. Omissus)

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):
Eurasian Wren (Gærdesmutte) 2
European Robin (Rødhals) 2
Common Chiffchaff (Grasanger) 1                                                                                                                                     Eurasian Blackcap (Munk) 1

Highlights from the observations:
White-billed Diver (Hvidnæbbet Lom) 1                                                                                                                                Great Northern Diver (Islom) 1                                                                                                                                                    Ring Ouzel (Ringdrossel) 52
Glaucous Gull (Gråmåge) 1                                                                                                                                                             European Herring Gull - Omissus variety (Sølvmåge var. Omissus) 1

People: Cora Köberle, Rasmus Matthiesen-Juhl, Tue Baaner, Lucas Corneliussen, Andrew Jacobs, Mio Brix, Simon Sigaard Christiansen and our guests Hans and Birte.

We actually expected that it would be raining this morning. But when we got up at 4:30 to check the radar we could see that the rain should come later. So Tue, Lucas and I went out to go ringing. While opening the Nets we saw a Short-Eared Owl (Moshornugle).  We had a slow morning at the ringing, we caught 15 birds. One of them was a beautiful but snappy adult female Blue Tit (Blåmejse), which I got to ring. Also the observers had a slower day.  But they had good numbers of Sandwich Terns (Splitterne) over 300.  When it started to rain many of the Wagtails came down to rest at the beach. Among them there also was a Pied Wagtail (Sortrygget Vipstjert) which was spotted by Andrew. 

Pied Wagtail (Sortrygget Vipstjert)

Because of the rain we stopped our fieldwork earlier. Back at the station we got a little more sleep. Later we cleaned the station and fed our new Mealworms (Melorme). After that we discovered that the table in the meeting room was finally free again, so we started a table tennis tournament. It was nice to play table tennis again.

Knud explaining how to identify a Montegu's Harrier

In the afternoon Knud came by to hold a presentation about determination, aging and sexing of Harriers. Also Simon, Lisa, Anders Boyesen, Morten Christensen came by to join the session. The talk was really nice and very instructive. We were again very impressed of Knuds nice pictures and videos of the Birds.  

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):

Gransanger 3

Rødhals 5

Gærdesmutte 5

Blåmejse 1

Jernspurv 1

Total: 15 

Highlights from the observations:

Pied Wagtail (Sortrygget Vipstjert)

Sandwich Tern (Splitterne) 321

Short-Eared Owl (Moshornugle) 

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Rasmus Matthiesen-Juhl, Cora Köberle, Tue Baaner, Simon Sigaard Christiansen, Knud Pedersen, Mio Brix, Lucas Corneliussen, Andrew Jacobs, Lisa Vergin Anders Boyesen and Morten Christensen 

Vækkeuret ringede 05.10, og lynhurtigt som en ninja var jeg oppe og klar til dagen! Jeg fik selskab af Andrew, Tue og Anders Rasmussen på morgenobsen. Det var en god morgen, hvor bla. Steppehøg AD hun, Gråmåge og 3 Almindelige Kjover sås i de fire standardiserede timer vi tæller trækket:)

Cora og Mio var i dag taget med Lucas til kabeltromlen for at ringmærke fugle. De fik ringmærket 15 fugle fordelt på 7 arter. Både Cora og Mio er glade for at kunne få lidt mere erfaring i håndteringen af fuglene, og at pille fuglene ud af nettet

Mine søde forældre kiggede forbi stationen her til eftermiddag, hvor vi delte en dobbelt dyppet romkugle. Vi gik derefter en tur ud over Storsig, forbi Jennes sø og gennem Ellekrattet. Det gav et par Rørhøge, Blå Kærhøg og en fed Fjeldvåge. Vi kørte ned i byen, spillede kort (jeg vandt), og spiste en lækker italiensk pizza til et godt glas rødvin:) Jeg er heldig!

Tilbage på stationen blev jeg mødt af den glædelige nyhed at vores bordtennisbord igen kan bruges som bordtennisbord, da alle de kasser der før stod i vejen er blevet fjernet! Jeg kunne forstå på Tue, at han havde “gennembanket” Lucas hele aftenen, men Lucas var ikke enig. Jeg tror jeg skal have en kamp mod dem begge senere!

Det var alt for nu:)

Vi ses i felten:)

Dagens ringmærkning: Kabeltromlen

Solsort (1)

Jernspurv (2)

Rødhals (2)

Løvsanger (3)

Blåmejse (1)

Rørspurv (2)

Gransanger (3)

Highlights from Obs:

Almindelig Kjove (3)

Gråmåge (2)

Steppehøg

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Cora Köberle, Rasmus Matthiesen-Juhl, Tue Baaner, Lucas Corneliussen, Andrew Jacobs, Mio Brix, Simon Sigaard Christiansen og vores søde gæster Nina & Jakob Dahl.

Today started off a bit foggy to say the least. Starting out at 5 AM, Cora and Mio blitzed out to Kabeltromelen to open the nets for the morning while I had a miuch needed lie in until 5:45. Andrew and Rasmus decided that the heavy fog was much to dense to even attempt a migration count in the morning but opted to head out to Worlds End 3 to look for any rarities lingering around. Much to their dismay they found nothing in Elle Krattet and out at Grenen.

 On the ringing front, I arrived at Kabeltromelen to find many people, mostly from DOF Ung heading out to try and observe but not much was happening so they came over to us. The ringing was quite nice this morning with the first day with lots of Willow Warblers (Løvsanger), and good numbers of Robins (Rødhals) and Chiffchaffs (Gransanger). On the third round, as I was checking the new outermosrt nets, I stu,bled across a small bird hanging in the nets with two Løvsangers. Much to my surprise, it was a FIRECREST (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge)! These birds, although fairly common elsewhere in the country are locally quite uncommon. Immediately, calling Rasmus to make sure it made it on the Zello so other observers  could see it. When I arrvied back at the Kabeltromelen, more than 40 people were waiting to catch a glimpse of us ringing the bird. Truly a fun experience to show a local rarity to so many people. The remainder of the day was quite slow and eventually slowed down to just one or two birds a round during the finals hours. Fortunately, we were able to catch a single Grasanger to show the private tour which Tue was leading around Grenen. They were very excited to learn about ringing and see it in action — so to have a bird in the hand was a very nice for explaination.

 In the afternoon, Simon came to the station to go over ringing sheets and help us get caught up when we got a zello alert which SHOOK the station. DOF Ung had located a light morph Booted Eagle (Dværgørn) heading north towards Grenen. Immediately, Rasmus, Andrew, Simon and I hopped in his car and blasted down to Saftevandsbakken (I dont think I’ve ever seen Simon move so quickly).  We watched the eagle soar high over us in a flock of over 70 Common Buzzards (Musvåge) before heading south again before we were able to refind it over Strandklit later in the afteroon with the first Eurasian Hobby (Lærkefalk) of the year. Fortunately, Cora and Mio were nearby and barely made it to see the bird as well. This record represents the 14th Skagen record and the 23rd record for Denmark! A fanatastic bird. 

In the evening we were invited by the guests, Jacob and Nina for a lovely dinner which was absolutely fantastic. We were treated to a big pot of chicken curry and Nina even made us a nice Chocolate tart for dessert! What a treat. We also were handed a piece of paper filled with questions from Skagen, asking things usch as how tall Det Grå Fyr is and how many birds we can list with ‘blå’ in them. Of course, yours truly won the test and I won a bag of easter chocolate! It was really a great way to end the day!

And so, another day passes at Skagen Fuglestation. What will tomorrow bring? We will have to wait and see.

Highlights:

Booted Eagle (Dværgørn)  

Firecrest (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge)

 Eurasian Hobby (Lærkefalk)

Ringing

Kabeltromelen

Gransanger 8

Rødhals 8

Løvsanger 6

Munk 1

Rørspurv 1

Solsort 1

Gærdesmutte 2

Fuglekonge 1

Rødtoppet Fuglekonge 1

Total: 29

Fyrhavn

Munk 1

 Total: 1

People: Lucas Corneliussen, Rasmus Mattiesen-Juhl, Tue Baaner, Cora Koberle, Mio Brix, Andrew Jacobs, Simon Sigaard Christiensen, Lisa Vergin, Jeppe Rørbæk, Benjamin Bech, Anders Rasmusssen, Nina and Jacob, DOF Ung.

I started the day going to Nordstrand with Cora and Rasmus for observations where we managed to view birds for around three hours before the rain came. We had a good variety of harriers with a female then male Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg) a couple Western Marsh Harriers (Rørhøg) and some Hen Harriers (Blå Kærhøg). The Glaucous Gull (Gråmåage) that has been staying around the area passed us early in the morning within a large gull flock heading west. It was exciting to see the Great Cormorants (Skarv) waddling along the beach collecting nest materials to bring back with them.
Tue, Lucas and Mio went ringing this morning and managed to get some ringing in before the rain came, where they got a male European Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper).
Later in the day we heard news that the Black-winged Kite (Blå Glente) had returned and ran out to see it where it was wheeling around in the distance. It then came towards us for good views before heading south where we followed the direction it was going then walked around Batteriskoven where we found a nice early Whinchat (Bynkefugl).
After the walk we set up the nets for awhile before heading back to Knud’s excellent presentation on the identification aging and sexing of raptors. I feel much more prepared to know what to look for in the migrating raptors we will see now.
Tonight, the fog is rolling in so we will see what is in store for tomorrow.

Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg)

Black-winged Kite (Blå Glente)

Whinchat (Bynkefugl)

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):
Eurasian Wren (Gærdesmutte) 1
European Robin (Rødhals) 8
Eurasian Bullfinch (Dompap) 2
Song Thrush (Sangdrossel) 1
Redwing (Vindrossel) 1
Common Chiffchaff (Grasanger) 9
European Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper) 1

Highlights from the observations:
Whinchat (Bynkefugl) 1
European Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper) 1
Glaucous Gull (Gråmåage) 1
Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg) 2
Black-winged Kite (Blå Glente) 1

People: Cora Köberle, Rasmus Matthiesen-Juhl, Tue Baaner, Lucas Corneliussen, Andrew Jacobs, Knud Pedersen, Mio Brix, Simon Sigaard Christiansen and our guests Nina & Jakob Dahl.