My first blog post and my first time volunteering at Skagen Fuglestation!

It is great to be here and I have already met a lot of awesome people who are teaching me so much: Sarah, Janna, Simon, Simon Jr., and Youri. There is a lovely community, including our guests Helle and Johan, and local birders who often join and help out.

Not an hour goes by without learning something new about birds, moult limits, moths, handling nets, night catching etc. I am also learning that sleep is a smaller part of life here, but who wants to sleep when you can watch birds. I have ringed my first bird ever which was a strong young House Sparrow (Gråspurv)!

Today we woke up to some windy conditions which meant that we had to skip ringing. This gave us an extra hour of sleep before we went to do observations at World’s End 3, in front of a beautiful sunrise. It was my first time doing migration count, and Janna and Sarah were great in introducing me, and luckily we were joined by Knud (thanks for spotting birds and counting the many gulls!) and Ole as well.


Janna and Sarah counting Northern Gannets (Sule) and Common Scoters (Sortand) in the morning sun

A very exciting bird today was a Great Skua (Storkjove), the first one for me, and I even spotted it myself! Besides that, some honourable mentions from the day are Caspian Gull (Kaspisk Måge), Velvet Scoter (Fløjlsand), Black Guillemot (Tejst), Tufted Duck (Troldand), and Sandormen (the bus that takes people to Grenen) that almost got stuck in the sand. Two migrating Wood Pigeons (Ringdue) flying along the shore were a cute sight. We also enjoyed a couple of Swifts (Mursejler) who still haven’t moved south yet. Whenever we see swifts these days, Janna bids them farewell, wondering if these might be the last of the year. Maybe these two were.

People walking or taking Sandormen to the tip (when Sandormen gets stuck it is definitely faster to walk!)

In the afternoon, Florian and Gabriel moved in, and Barbara will arrive in the evening, so there’s a lot of activity at the station again!

We are going to try to catch Storm Petrels (Stormsvaler) tonight, and hopefully Gabriel, Florian, and Barbara brought some luck with them and we can make up for the empty nets a few nights ago.

But now the smell of Sarah’s cooking is filling the air - time for dinner!

Highlights from World’s End 3:

Storkjove

Kaspisk Måge

Fløjlsand

Tejst

Mursejler

Today’s observations in DOFbasen from observers in the area.

People:
Barbara Leone, Gabriel Axelsson, Florian Hatt, Selina Veng, Janna Ouedraogo, Sarah Partridge, Simon S. Christiansen, Knud Pedersen, Ole and our guests Helle and Johan.

Hallojsa and Juhuu- I am back at Skagen Fuglestation!! And it already started with many interesting activities. During the night we tried to catch Nightjars (Natravn) and Storm Petrels (Stormsvale).

Setting up the Stormsvale net

Luckily, there were no people on the beach when we started the Stormsvale playback. A canon of scary noises resounded over the beach, accompanied by red lights of the speaker. That is how aliens appear in movies. During the night, we kept the sky in sight- just in case. Through the scope we were able to spot Saturn and its rings. Later in the night polar lights appeared. When Sarah and I saw pictures, the others had made of the colourful sky, we first thought it would be a joke- in real life we had to look very closely to see them. Over the night they got stronger and we could see the bright lines on the sky. That was very impressive. Together with some shooting stars they created a perfect atmosphere.

Ideal conditions to stay awake

Regularly, we were checking the nets. Between the rounds we looked out for moths that came to the moth trap we built. There were some interesting ones and after rounds with no birds in the net it was nice to see some new moths. Our favourite one was an Ennomos (probably the Canary-Shouldered Thorn/ Elle-Tandmåler) and we accidentally brought in into the house. There it was very clingy, climbing on our fingers and trying to stay in the house. But Selina managed it to bring her new friend outside again.

Our little friend the Thorn

Because the nets stayed empty, Lille Simon and Youri went out to catch some birds with the net. They came back with a Skylark (Sanglærke). So, we had a bird to ring. When it got later, the others went to bed. Lille Simon and I stayed awake to check the nets. Driven by the believe to find a Stormsvale, I was not tired. Sadly, no bird appeared in the nets.

In the morning, we had to say goodbye to Simon (it was nice to see you again, we hope you had a nice travel back) so Sarah is the only one left from the former team. And as it is often when someone leaves, after that there was a cool bird found. They caught a Barred Warbler (Høgesanger) at Kabeltromlen. I counted in the morning with Knud from worlds end 3 and when we heard that, we headed out to see the bird. When we arrived at Kabeltromlen, the ringers were busy with many birds. Besides the Barred Warbler (Høgesanger) there had been around 15 birds in the nets this round. We were all very happy to see this beautiful bird so close. With two Barred Warblers (Høgesanger) caught, this season is pretty good for the species.

1cy. Barred Warbler (Høgesanger)

One Barred Warbler (Høgesanger) later, Knud and I arrived back at the beach. There Knud focused on the gulls and read some colour rings. The sea was very calm and there was not much migration going on. Around Kabeltromlen there were many passerines in the bushes. It was again a good day for Coal Tits (Sortmejse). 265 of them flew through the area and 12 of them got caught.

Around noon we were all back at the station. After some resting and Sarahs daily swim we entered some data. After that I went on a walk to look if some passerines had hidden in Ellekrattet. There were some birds around in the wake of the trees. In the evening we said goodbye to Youri (also have a good travel home :))

Now Selina is cooking some nice food. Let´s see what tomorrow will bring. The weather forecast looks inconvenient for ringing. But maybe there will be some more migration on the sea. Vi vil se.

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):

Høgesanger 1

Gulspurv 1

Rødhals 11

Løvsanger 1

Rørsanger 1

Sortmejse 12

Grå fluesnapper 1

Rødstjert 2

Gærdesanger 1

Tornsanger 1

Rørspurv 1

Munk 3

Lille dompap 1

Gransanger 3

Fuglekonge 1

Jernspurv 1

Total 42

Highlights from World’s End 3:

Rørhøg

Krikand

Islandsk ryle

Kaspisk måge 7

Gråstrubet Lappedykker

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area.

People:

Selina Veng, Janna Ouedraogo, Sarah Partridge, Simon S. Christiansen, Youri Van der Horst, Simon Kiesé, Knud Pedersen, and our guests Helle and Johan.

Last night the four of started our group bonding by going out hand catching at the beach. We went to Grenen on the sandworm track and walked around for a while, but all we saw were three Red Knots (Islandsk Ryle) who flew away before we even got close. After a little bit we gave up and stopped by the kiosk to catch a few House Martins (Bysvale) and house Sparrows (Gråspurv), which we brought back to the lab and Selina ringed her first bird! We then delivered the Bysvale back to the kiosk and called it a night.

This morning I went with Selina to open the nets at Kabeltromlen and show her the route where all the nets are. We were joined by Lille Simon, who seems to have finally caught up on sleep just in time for a night of storm petrel catching, and Youri and SSC also joined us. We had a very good day with three different types of tits (Musvit, Sortmejse, and Blåmejse), a few Robins (Rødhals), one adult female blackbird (solsort) looking quite scrappy in wing and tail moult, and a very fine adult Gærdesanger specimen. We also had over 100 sortmejse flying overhead as well as a Havørn (White-tailed Eagle) which passed by very close several times.

Janna went out observing with Knud, where they had a still morning over the sea. Highlights included Lille flagspætte (Lesser spotted woodpecker), Rørhøg (Marsh harrier), Sølvhejre (great egret), and 6 Kaspisk måge (Caspian gulls). Janna even found time to age the resting Sule while Knud read some gull rings.

After lunch together and a swim with Janna, I went to the shop for provisions and Selina went to explore Skagen town while the others went out birdwatching. Lille Simon went to the beach for is final seawatch, and although he wasn’t able to get the nice gull photos he wanted, he was happy to see a carrion crow (Sortkrage) on the beach.

Janna went out along the boardwalks and had a nice time looking at dragonflies, adders, frogs, wheatears (stenpikker), and many passerines flying around.

Then we joined together again for a delicious dinner cooked by Janna, followed by crumble she made with some apples donated from the garden of our guests Helle and Johan. Now we will set out the storm petrel (stormsvale) and nightjar (natravn) nets so Lille Simon can forfeit his last night of sleep to see what we can catch. Janna and I put out a makeshift moth trap (which has nothing on Hanelie’s) so we will check this for a few hours to see if any moths can be tempted.

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):

Solsort 1

Musvit 1

Rørsanger 3

Rødhals 3

Jernspurv 3

Løvsanger 1

Gærdesanger 1

Sortmejse 5

Tornsanger 6

Munk 4

Blåmejse 1

Gransanger 4

Bogfinke 1

Total 34

Highlights from World’s End 3:

Lille flagspætte

Rørhøg

Krikand

Islandsk ryle

Kaspisk måge

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area.

People:

Selina Veng, Janna Ouedraogo, Sarah Partridge, Simon S. Christiansen, Youri Van der Horst, Simon Kiesé, Knud Pedersen, and our guests Helle and Johan.

The Milky Way hung hidden by dark clouds over the Støvring plains. Somewhere out there, under the cloak of darkness, the birds were sleeping. But not us. Not tonight.

Simon Jr. - better known in these parts as the Lille Sheriff - tightened his boots, adjusted his headlamp, and gave a nod to his seasoned partner, SSC (Simon Sr.), the old gunslinger of bird science. Armed with torches and trusty handnets that swung like lassos in the night, we rode out to two secret spots near Støvring. The mission? To track, catch, and ring the elusive Great Snipe (Tredækker). And let me tell you, pardner - it wasn’t our first rodeo.

With the stealth of bity cats and the precision of diving gannets, we managed to lasso one Skylark from the shadows. A fine catch. But just as we were admiring our feathered prize, Johan Funder rolled in like a whirlwind from the north. While we were wrangling one, he was rounding up five: three Common Snipes (Dobbeltbekassin) and two Skylarks (Sanglærke). The man’s got bird sense like Indiana Jones got whip skills.

Three Common Snipes (Dobbeltbekassin) and a Skylark (Sanglærke).

Not long after, Lars Bo appeared on the horizon, boots crunching through the dewy grass. The posse was complete.

We saddled up and headed to the second site, where the night’s true treasure awaited: an adult Great Snipe (Tredækker). A rare gem in the ornithological wild west. I had the honor of measuring it myself - its plumage glowed like ancient gold under the torchlight. A moment of awe, etched into memory.

Look at this beauty: Great Snipe (Tredækker)!!!

Two feather generations in the wing: this bird interrupted its moult. The older feathers are more bleached out and brown.

Simon Sr. measuring "Bill-Head". This measurement is very helpful in many waders.

The ride back with SSC was quiet but rich, those kinds of talks that only happen after a night in the field. I grabbed a quick hour of sleep before heading to Kabeltromlen, where Louise and Youri had already opened the nets. The wind howled across the site, and Sarah rode her out to Denmark’s last dune to count seabirds against the crashing waves.

Ringing was slow and birds seemed to be sleeping in. But one Redwing (Vindrossel) turned up in the net, a recapture from July. Maybe an oversummering bird in the Grenen bog. A little mystery tucked into a feathered frame. And watching Louise work, I couldn’t help but smile: she’s learned so much in just one month of scientific bird ringing. Sharp hands, sharp eyes. The makings of a fine field biologist.

Between net rounds, I’d glance out over the sea, past the heads of the counters, scanning the horizon like a sheriff watching for trouble. And then it came—the best bird of the day: a Long-tailed Skua (Lille Kjove), what a surprise! The phone cell made a loud noise and I grabbed the hearer. It was Sarah, shouting excited words through the breeze: there is a Peregrine Falcon (Vandrefalk) flying over you. When we turned around we could get a quick view on it before it appeared on the horizon. Great one. Otherwise migration count was fun with many Gannets (Sule) and some pretty Velvet Scoters (Fløjlsand).

In the noon, we had to say one more painful goodbye to Louise, who headed back home today. Before leaving she offered me a meal in The Skagen Fuglestation Saloon, look at this burger!

Homemade Veggi Burger

Even though her time at the bird observatory stopped for now, bird migration continued. I just stood in front of Det Grå Fyr to look at birds flying by, when suddenly an Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove) appeared. Since the Gulls (Måge) were closer, I decided to take some pictures.

Herring Gulls (Sølvmåge) joined by a Common Gull (Stormmåge) on the right.

A flock of 12 Bar-tailed Godwits (Lille Kobbersneppe) passing by the lighthouse.

Cormorant (Skarv) does not mind the wind.

In the afternoon, Sarah and I – the last people remaining in this ghost town – climbed the lighthouse and had a nice chat with cake and coffee – ehm whiskey – in the shop. Then Selina and Janna arrived. It is nice to see both familiar and new faces at the station!

The august was really fun. Ringing was great with +156% birds caught in comparison to my August 2023. Soon I will have to mount my horse and gallop back to Germany into the sunset. Thanks to all the nice people at the station!

Why did the Lille Sheriff wear two hats? One for the sun, and one for the attitude.

Spotted Flycatcher (Grå Fluesnapper) 1

Blackcap (Munk) 2

People: Selina Veng, Janna Ouedraogo, Louise Buksti-Ladefoged, Sarah Partridge, Simon S. Christiansen, Youri Van der Horst, Simon Kiesé, Johan Funder, Lars Bo Jakobsen and our guests Helle and Johan.