Today (or in the night), me and the other volunteers woke up around midnight, because a European Storm-Petrel (Lille Stormsvale) has flown into the net. It’s a species that the bird station tries to ring every year, and I have been here for several times the past two years without catching any, so I was very happy (and very tired) when I saw the little, black bird. 

European Storm-petrel (Lille Stormsvale) with it's small tube-nosed bill. Photo: Simon Kiesé

After seeing (and holding!) the Storm-Petrel, I decided to try and sleep some more. But one and a half hours later we were woken up again. This time, because a European Nightjar (Natravn) had flown in the other net. A very special bird, which we were also very happy to see.

 1cy. Nightjar (Natravn) 

Another European Storm Petrel (a 3K+) flew into the net at 3 am. At 4 am, another Nightjar (an adult male with white patch in the wings and tail) flew in the net. I didn’t see any of them, because the sleep kept me in the bed.

Second Storm-Petrel (Lille Stormsvale) of the night, a 3cy.+. Foto: Simon Kiesé

When we woke up in the morning, (except for Mio, who had been up all night) me and Alexander went to Verdens Ende 3 to do migration count, while 2xSimon, Jule and Moritz headed to Kabeltromlen to ring. Here they where visited by Lars Askholm from Sjælland and an Italian Bird Ringer; Michelangelo Morganti. They both also experienced the great birds last night.

The highlight in the first two hours on observation was a Ruddy Turnstone (Stenvender), but in the last two hours, we saw over 400 Common Swift (Mursejler) on migration. There were a lot of Barn Swallow (Landsvale) and Western House Martin (Bysvale) as well. The highlight at the ringing was also the many swifts, and the wader migration. They even got a big flock of 27 Oystercatchers (Strandskade).

When we got home, almost everyone went to sleep, but Simon and Simon took to Skagen station to pick up Katia, Simons girlfriend. When me and Alexander woke up, we put the birds we saw today on Dofbasen, while the rest either slept or was eating watermelon.

Link to today’s observations in DOFbasen from observers in the area.

People: Jule Tappe, Mio Brix, Simon Kiesé, Katia Kit, Moritz Morteani, Alfred Godsk Geckler, Páll Van Kjærbo, Sophie Booker, Michelangelo Morganti, Lars Askholm, Alexander Nyholm, Simon S. Christiansen 

             

With the time, sunrise gets later and later, so our daily routine with ringing and migration counts gradually starts later as well. If you are at the station, you really feel this change, and it's cool to experience the natural day cycle. Today, the day cycle brought Simon and me to Kabeltromlen at around 04:30 to open the nets, which should be done about 30 minutes before sunrise. Alfred joined us later for the first round. During the first round, with an amazing sky above us, a Black Redstart (Husrødstjert) ended up in our nets: a species that we don't catch very often.

 Morning sky over Kabeltromlen

Later, during the second round, the other highlight of this ringing morning showed up: two Lesser Redpolls (Lille Gråsisken), one adult male and one adult female were hanging in the same net at the same time. It was great to see them and to learn how the adults look before their complete moult. Although the moult has already started in many adults birds, it had not yet begun in these individuals.

Adult female (left) and adult male (right) Lesser Redpoll (Lille Gråsisken)

The observation team, consisting of Jule and Alexander, also got to enjoy the amazing sky. However, the sky wasn't as impressive as their sightings of a total of six Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove). As yesterday, the birds came close to the shoreline and even closer when they flew over the beach, showing their typical foraging behaviour: chasing gulls and terns until they dropped their food.  All other skua species are also known for this behaviour, including the Great Skua (Storkjove), which was also seen today. It didn't come as close as the Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove), but Jule and Alexander still got some great views.

After we all headed back to the station, we welcomed Moritz, who will stay here for one week. To show him the area, Moritz and I walked out to Grenen, where we did some colour-ring reading of terns and gulls along the beach. We read a total of 14 rings, so we were quite successful! While reading the rings, we also saw three Marsh Harriers (Rørhøg) arriving from the sea and continuing their migration south.

After Moritz and I headed back to the station, we had our evening meeting and enjoyed a nice dinner prepared by Jule. Just a few minutes before Simon arrived for dinner, he spotted a Merlin (Dværgfalk) coming in from the sea. First of the season!

While eating, we looked out of the station window and noticed how calm and flat the sea was, so we decided to head out again for some evening observations at the Seal Bunker. Almost immediately after we started scanning the sea, the first bird I found in my scope was a 2K Great Northern Diver (Islom)! It was a fantastic bird for all of us to enjoy in such perfect conditions. Thanks to the calm sea, we also recorded good numbers of Black Guillemots (Tejst) and Razorbills (Alk).

Great Northern Diver (Islom)

Now we are trying to catch stormpetrels (Stormsvale) and Nightjars (Natravn) again. We'll update you in the next blog if we catch something!

Total:22

Link to today’s observations in DOFbasen from observers in the area.

People: Jule Tappe, Mio Brix, Simon Kiesé, Moritz Morteani, Alfred Godsk Geckler,  Alexander Nyholm,  Simon S. Christiansen 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning, Alexander, Simon K. and Mette jumped out of their beds to open nets at Kabeltromlen. Alfred, Mio and I were on our ways shortly after. While I joined the other ones at KAB, Alfred and Mio drove to World’s End 3 for migration count.

In ringing, we had rounds with very varied number of birds, ranging from 0 to 15. In total, we ringed 25 birds, among them a Garden Warbler (Havesanger), many Common Whitethroats (Tornsanger) and a curious looking Reed Warbler (Rørsanger) with an exceptionally long 8th primary on its right wing (4 mm longer than on left wing). We have never seen anything like that, what an odd sight!

Right wing of Reed Warbler (Rørsanger) with exceptionally long P8.

In between rounds, we were entertained by overflying Golden Plovers (Hjejle), Curlews (Storspove) and a very athletic Wood Pigeon (Ringdue). Also, Simon found a steppe grasshopper (Chorthippus vagans, steppegræshoppe), a grasshopper species that is only spread in Skagen for Denmark. In addition, Mio and Alfred, who were joined by Erik and Knud, spotted some nice birds on the sea: 5 Great Skuas (Stor Kjove) and 4 Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove) were foraging in Skagerrag and Kattegat. This is a relatively high number and allowed the counters to get exciting photos! Knud even managed to read a ring from one of the Arctic Skuas resting on the beach so we now know it was ringed in Brattholmen, Mandal, Norway as a juvenile in July 2024. This means, it's a third calendar year bird.

Great Skua (Stor Kjove) and Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove). Foto: Alfred Godsk Geckler.

Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove) with Norwegian ring. Foto: Knud Pedersen.

Next to birds, there were also mammal observations that both the counting and ringing team got to see: three Orcas (Spækhugger)! The two females and one male were observed blowing water and swimming around Denmark’s tip. Orcas are a regular sight and Grenen, but are still rare and thrilling to see!

Orcas (Spækhugger) blowing water. Foto: Simon Kiesé.

After this eventful morning, we cycled back to the lighthouse for data entry, a nap and cleaning and we said goodbye to our guest Mette. Have a good journey back! Next up was a very early dinner, because the sightings of today’s morning motivated us for another bird watching session in the evening at Grenen with better light and hopefully just as good views. So in the evening, Simon, Mio, Alexander and Alfred walked out to World’s End 3 for seawatching. Later, they were joined by me, since I had to prepare this blog post! We were all rewarded with views of over 200 Fulmars and great views of skuas.

Young Arctic Tern (Havterne) with an Atlantic Herring. Foto: Simon Kiesé

Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove) chasing a Common Gull (Stormmåge). Foto: Simon Kiesé

Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove) chasing a Sandwich Tern (Splitterne). Foto: Simon Kiesé

Let’s see if this skua streak continues tomorrow!

Link to today’s observations in DOFbasen from observers in the area.

People: Mio Brix, Simon S. Christiansen, Alfred Godsk Geckler, Simon Kiesé, Alexander Nyholm, Jule Tappe, Knud Pedersen, Erik Christophersen.

Jule was the first one who got up this morning to open the nets at Kabeltrommeln. Simon and Alexander joined her later for the first round. Due to the ongoing westerly wind, there weren't many passerines active, so they didn't catch many birds today. But on the last round they were all happy about a Tree Pipit (Skovpiber) in the net. These birds are always great to see close up.

My morning took me out to World's End 3 to do the migration count. I started with scanning the terns (Terne) and gulls (Måge). There were 7 Mediterranean Gulls (Sorthovedet Måge) on the beach, so still a good number after our and Skagen's all-time highcount of 14 (!) birds yesterday. While scanning the sea, I heard the flight calls of a Temminck's Stint (Temmincksryle), and then it flew quite close over the dune.

Temminck's stint (Temmincksryle) over World's End 3

Knud and Erik joined me at the end of the second hour, and a few minutes later, I spotted 2 Slavonian Grebes (Nordisk Lappedykker) swimming quite close to the shoreline. One 1K and one adult bird, which was moulting into winter plumage but still had some feathers of its breeding plumage. But that was not the only highlight of the count: while scanning the Kattegat to look for some resting birds, for example the known Long-tailed Duck (Havlit), which I also found later on, Knud spotted a 2K Great Northern Diver (Islom) close to the shoreline, another nice diving bird today! Jule, Simon and Alexander were also able to see both the Slavonian Grebes (Nordisk Lappedykker) and the Great Northern Diver (Islom) from Kabeltrommeln.

After we all headed back (with the good birds from today in our back), we had a quick breakfast and welcomed Alfred, who will stay here at the station until the 5th of August. Then Mette and Páll picked us up and drove us bit south to ring a clutch of Barn Owls (Slørugle) chicks. We really enjoyed the ride to this place with some music in the car! And of course, we enjoyed ringing the owls!

Taking Barn Owls (Slørugle) out of their breeding box

3 Young Barn Owls (Slørugle) waiting for their rings

After we drove back, most of us had a nap, and after that we did our daily tasks, including grocery shopping, and had a nice strawberry cake again! Thanks to Mette for bringing this delicious cake two days in a row!

1K Black Redstart (Husrødstjert) in the lighthouse garden. Picture by Alfred

And with that, another day at Skagen Fuglestation comes to an end. Let's see what the next days will bring!

Ringing (KAB):

Wren (Gærdesmutte)-2

Willow Warbler (Løvsanger)

Dunnock (Jernspurv)

Reed Warbler (Rørsanger)

Blackcap (Munk)-1

Tree Pipit (Skovpiber)-1

Total:13

Common Whitethroat (Tornsanger)- 6

Ringing (Nordøstvendsyssel):

Barn Owls (Slørugle)-3

Highlights from the observation:

Great Northern Diver (Islom)- 1 

Slavonian Grebes (Nordisk Lappedykker)-2

Temminck's stint (Temmincksryle)-1

Mediterranean Gulls (Sorthovedet Måge)-7

Cuckoo (Gøg)-1

Link to today’s observations in DOFbasen from observers in the area.

People: Jule Tappe, Mio Brix, Simon Kiesé, Alexander Nyholm, Alfred Godsk Geckler, Mette Breede,Páll Vang Kjærbo, Lisa Vergin, Simon S. Christiansen, Knud Pedersen, Erik Christophersen.