Yesterday was my first day at the observatory here in Skagen, and it was a great start! I arrived around midday, and Simon was kind enough to pick me up and gave me a small introduction to the station and the surroundings.

Soon after I met the other volunteers Hanelie, Andrew and Cora, who all welcomed me. It didn’t take long before we were eating together and preparing for the evening’s big adventure: nightjar catching.

We headed out into the field around 9pm, equipped with nets, headlamps and plenty of excitement. Even though the mosquitoes almost got the best of us, the night didn’t disappoint - we caught 7 European Nightjars (Natravn), which is a new record we're really proud of! Finding out that one of them was a recapture and had already been caught in 2023 was really exciting for all of us.

On our way back, the surprises didn’t end. We came across a Natterjack Toad (Strandtudse) and even found a Moor Frog (Spidssnudet Frø) along the path. To top off the night, we heard the call of a Common Quail (Vagtel) from the field right next to and we were able to identify it just by the sound. 

After a well-deserved sleep-in this morning, we had a very productive day at the station. The team worked together on data entry, making sure everything was correctly documented, and we even managed to fit in a short birdwatching session in the evening. Our highlight of this trip was spotting some Northern Shovelers (Skeandænder). 

It’s already clear to me that Skagen is full of surprises—both during the day and at night. I’m really looking forward to what the rest of my stay will bring! 

Special ringing activity:

Nightjar catching

Natravn (European Nightjar) – 7 individuals (including one recapture, not included in ringing numbers)

Highlight of the observations:

Northern Shovelers (Skeandænder)

Common Quail (Vagtel)

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Pauline Nähring, Simon Sigaard Christiansen, Hanelie Sidhu, Tue Baaner, Andrew Jacobs, Cora Köberle and our guests Jeppe and Linda

Today we started off the day at Grenen with ringing with many young birds including first year Common Chiffchaffs, Lesser Whitethroats, and Greater Whitethroats. We also heard and saw some of the migrants that had been getting more scarce like Common Cuckoo and Common Rosefinch. Simon heard the continuing Grasshopper Warbler at the sandworm track again today.

After ringing  we went with Jørgen Kabel on a butterfly excursion where we went to a few locations to look for butterflies which we found all of our target species of various blue butterflies. Bird wise at the butterfly locations was also interesting with Common Quail, Red-backed Shrike, Tree Pipits carrying food and a few raptors like European Honey Buzzards and Red Kites out in the warm day.

Phengaris alcon photo Andrew Jacobs

In the evening we prepared to go night catching for Eurasian Nightjars and headed to sandmillan to set up nets where there were several nightjars active in full display around in the area while we set up! We ended up catching 7 birds with 6 new and 1 recapture from 2023 for an excellent night.

Natravn photo Andrew Jacobs

Ringing totals:

To be added

Highlights:

Common Quail 1 (Vagtel)

Eurasian Nightjars (Natravn)

Grasshopper Warbler 1 (Grasshoppersanger)

Common Rosefinch 1 (Karmindompap)

Common Cuckoo 2 (Gøg)

Observations in Skagen on Dofbasen today.

People: Cora Köberle, Hanelie Sidhu, Andrew Jacobs, Tue Baaner, Paulina Nähring, Simon Sigaard Christiansen and our guests Jeppe and Linda, Jørgen Kabel,

This morning Simon came to the station to pick us up because we had some ringing plans in Skagen today. 

So we packed our ringing equipment. Before we left we heard a nice Stonechat (Sortstrubet Bynkefugl) singing in front of our window. And some Honey Buzzards (Hvepsevåge) circling over the lighthouse. Just before we finally wanted to leave, Hanelie caught a Sand Lizard (Markfirben), a nice green one.

Sand Lizard (Markfirben)

First we went to the harbour to look at some Gulls. And also our Guests Jeppe and Linda joined. We found quite a lot of Kittiwakes (Rider) and two Black Guillemots (Tejst). Four of the Kittiwakes were also colour ringed but unfortunately they were too far away to read the rings.

On our way out of the harbour we also looked if we could find some Common Ringed Plover (Stor Præstekrave) chicks. We actually found one but it was already too big and fast to be caught.

Our next stop was the house of Tina who has some Swifts (Mursejler) breeding in her nest boxes. But when we got out the leather we could see that they were too far up to reach.

So we ringed the Great Tit (Musvit) chicks from another nest nest box instead. There were five of them in the nestbox.

In the afternoon Hanelie went back to the harbour to try to get on to some roofs to catch and ring some Gull chicks. And she actually found some people who let her on to a roof. She rang two Herring Gull (Sølvmåge) chicks. 

Ringing Herring Gull (Sølvmåge) chick at the harbour

Ringing Skagen By:

Musvit 5

Sølvmåge 2

Highlight of the observations:

Kittiwake  (Ride) - 64

Black Guillemot (Tejst) 2

Honey Buzzard (Hvepsevåge) 4

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Cora Köberle, Hanelie Sidhu, Andrew Jacobs, Simon Sigaard Christiansen and our guests Jeppe and Linda 

… in up to 17,5 m/s, gusting to 25,8 m/s from west. This weather was not very inviting to spend the morning outside, so we got a little more cleaning and some office work done, Andrew put pictures in the picture archive and Cora and I standarised all comments in the ringing data of this season.

In the early afternoon, our new guests Linda and Jeppe arrived. We were very thankful that they drove Cora to the grocery shop, biking in today´s wind did not sound like a good idea. There was also space for me and the new ringing table for Cormorant lake in the car so they dropped me at Nordstrand before continueing to the shop.

Holding the light aluminium table, by its handle I made my way to the lake. The wind would have liked to take it from me, but I grabbed it tight, wounder if I would have flown away if i had such a wide arm extension on each side. Of course not, but in this weather it´s easy to imagine being carried away by the wind.

Nevertehless, it was actually a quite warm and very sunny day and no matter the wind, I wanted to use the oppurtunity to be driven to also do the Cormorant „Skarv“ count. I saw a lot more 1K birds than adults in the colony, most already quite big and are sitting outside of the nests in the colony. Nevertheless, I saw two birds that got fed by one of the parants in a windshaken nest. There was not so much other than Cormorants „Skarv“ at the lake today.

Cormorants "Skarv" through the telescope. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

I walked back to the station and Cora and I finished the ringing comments.

While Cora was cooking, Andrew and I went to the beach and found a sheltered place close to a bunker to do some seawatching. Highlights were some Arktic Skuas „Almindelig Kjove“ and Kittiwakes „Ride“.

Today´s observations of observers in the area typed into DODbasn can be seen here.

After a good dinner, it was time for Wingspan.

Playing Wingspan. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Although part of the night was very windy I had the lights on but not many moth came, they also do not like to fly in very windy weather. Nevertheless, I do not run out of moth content to show to you, as the night before was very good with 43 different species, of which I would like to show one more highlight. Calophasia lunula „Kappeugle“ is a vulnerable species on the danish redlist and there are rather few observations, 206 of it on Arter.

Calophasia lunula „Kappeugle“. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

At the station: Andrew Jacobs, Cora Körbele, Hanelie Sidhu

Today was the big cleaning day around the station where we deep cleaned the station using up the majority of the day.
Hanelie had 43 species of moths in the traps today with new for the season including Soothsayer Dart, Toadflax Brocade Moth, Bordered Gothic, Rhodophaea Formosa, Bilberry Tortrix and several other species.
Later I did some window seawatch pointing the scope out towards the tip where some Arctic Skuas ended up flying past.
Cora and I went out late in the evening to see some more birds along the beach where a male Velvet Scoter was floating just offshore and a few more Arctic Skuas flew past.
As we headed back in we could see the storm starting to come in, it’s supposed to get very windy overnight.

Cleaning the fridge photo Hanelie Sidhu

Peppered Moth photo Hanelie Sidhu

Highlights
Arctic Skua 6 (Almindelig Kjove)
Velvet Scoter 1 (Fløjsand)

Observations in the area on DOFbasen today

People: Cora Köberle, Hanelie Sidhu, Andrew Jacobs, Simon Sigaard Christiansen

After not so much sleep my day started as the last night had ended, I went to the moths trap, took pictures of some moths outside and took some inside to wait until they were calm and take pictures. While it had been calm outside some hour ago when we came back from nightcatching, it was very windy now. Wind is never so good to get many moths but most of the night had been calm and althogether, I had 40 different moths species! That was so far the best night in Skagen for catching moths but, if the weather plazs along and we would not get too many more windy nights, Juli is actually the best months to get many different moth species. I had six new species for me in the trap today, there are a lot mor moths species than birds, but I usually do not get that many new. I will show some highlights from the traps. 

Six of today´s 40 moths species. Pictures: Hanelie Sidhu

Later in the morning Simon and Lisa came to finish the data work and say goodbye to Tue, who left the station today after some exciting spring months at Skagen. It was very nice meeting you here Tue and we with you the best luck with future birding and ringing and for your biology studies in autumn! 

Around noon, it was time to do a big cleanup in the attic above the lab. It took a while to organize all the boxes and traps up there but now it looks way more tidy than before.

Hanelie, Cora and Andrew cleaning up the attic. Picture: Simon S. Christiansen

At the station: Tue Baaner, Lisa Vergin, Simon S. Christiansen, Andrew Jacobs, Cora Körbele, Hanelie Sidhu

The morning started with me shortly checking the wall at the moths trap before Tue and I left for ringing at the CES site Skarvsøen at 2.45. it takes a while to get there, first biking to the parking at Nordstrand, then walking to the lake. Nets were open at 3.45 and Cora joined us for the first round at 4.15. We had quite a nice morning at Skarvsøen with Beardedd Reedlings „Skægmejse“ in the nets as well as a partially leucistic Reed Warbler „Rørsanger“ which had some white feathers.

Tue and Hanelie with four 1K Bearded Reedlings "Skægmejse". Picture: Cora Körbele

Partially leucistic Reed Warbler "Rørsanger". Picture: Cora Körbele

Jørgen and Igor visited us just after we had a yero round, so the waiting time until next round went over fast as we had nice company. Together, we saw some Honey Buzzards „Hvepsevåge“ circling over the lake. 

In the meantime Andrew took a walk at the beach and saw a Little Tern „Dværgterne“ in a flock of Terns and many Arktic Skuas „Almindelig Kjove“ over the sea. When it was time for his tour with twobritisch cruise ship passengers, these birds were unfortunately gone but it was still a good tour as the saw the Grashopper Warbler „Græshoppersanger“ and heared a Rosefinch „Kamindompap“ calling.

Today´s observations of observers in the area typed into DOFbasn can be seen here.

Ringing totals CES Skarvsøen
Rørsanger 7
Gærdesanger 4
Skægmejse 3
Blåmejse 1
Gransanger 3
Tornsanger 6
Total 24

Highligs in the nets

Skægmejse

partially leucustic Rørsanger

Highlights in the field

Dværgterne

Mallemuk

Almindelig Kjove

Græshoppersanger

Skovmår

 Back at the station, I checked the inside of the moth traps but it was only 14 species that had found their way to my light that night. One ewas new for me though, Rhyacia simulas „Simulant ugle“. As it was not so many I would like to show some highlights of the last days.

Some moths of the last days. Pictures: Hanelie Sidhu

Simon came to the station both in the morning and again in the afternoon to do some office work and check some data with us.

 After dinner we went out all together for some seawatching. We saw a good number of Fulmars „Mallemuk“ and some Arctic Skuas „Almindelig Kjove“, it had been worth to go out.

 It had been a full day but it was not over yet. We waited until it was dark, which is very late that time of year. While waiting, Cora and I saw a European Pine Martin „Skovmår“ in the garden. At midnight, Cora, Tue and I went out to the beach with thermal binocular and handnet, but we did not catch anything. We walked back on the Sandworm track and heared the Grasshopper Warbler „Græshoppersanger“ singing in the middle of the night.

Back at the station we looked at the moths traps and I stayed outside a little longer to take pictures, as there were many moths, but I will leave that for tomorrow.

At the station: Simon S. Christiansen, Tue Baaner, Cora Körbele, Andrew Jacobs, Hanelie Sidhu

Today I went out to the beach where large numbers of seabirds had gathered off of the tip with hundreds of Common Terns, European Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls feeding offshore. Two of the large puddles towards the tip remained today a large flock of roosting gulls had about 90 Lesser Black-blacked Gulls in it which is a pretty high count for the roosting flocks this season.

I then went to Batteriskov to look for a singing Common Firecrest which had been heard the day before and by the others a little while earlier. It was quite easy to hear (if you can hear the high pitched sounds) but not so easy to spot as it mostly hung out high up in the conifers peeking out of the dark places time to time.

Common Firecrest (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge)

Common Ringed Plover (Stor Præstekrave)

In the afternoon we went to the beach again but this time to ring some ringed plovers to make double ringed plovers. We found some young Common Ringed Plover chicks and ringed them with steel rings so that the ring doesn’t corrode around the water, took some weight measurements and then handed them off to the awaiting Plover parents nearby.

After the plovers we went to take a look at the large roosting gull and tern flock on the beach where we managed to read a couple of colour rings and saw nine Black-legged Kittiwakes rooting on the beach with the Common Terns, Sandwich Terns an Common Gulls.

Tomorrow we will be back out at Skarvsøen for more CES ringing, last time there were many birds with eggs and young fledglings about so we will see how the breeding birds are progressing there!

Highlights

Common Firecrest (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge) 1

Black Kite (Sort Glente) 1

Common Tern (Fjordterne) 700

Observations from on area today on DOFbasen

Ringing: Grenen

Common Ringed Plover (Stor Præstekrave) 4

People: Cora Köberle, Tue Baaner, Hanelie Sidhu, Andrew Jacobs, Simon Sigaard Christiansen and Lisa Vergin

Today we slept a longer bit after enjoying the huge Sankt Hans fire at the beach yesterday night. It was also very windy the whole day. So we started indoor doing some datawork. 

The Sankt Hans fire from yesterday

Later in the morning Lucas' family visited the station to pick him up. It was a bit sad to say goodbye to him after living together for almost four months now. Also Simon and Lisa passed by the station in the morning. 

Later we continued our datawork and Andrew went out to the beach. Out these he found the beach completely fluted because of all the wind.He saw many Terns and Gulls. Among them were two young CommonTerns (Fjordterne). The first young ones we have seen this year.

The flooded beach 

After dinner we could see many Terns flying over the sea, so we went out to the beach to do a little evening seawatch. Out there we saw a young Wheatear (Stenpikker) sitting on the stones. We put out our trap to try to catch it but it didn't work out.

And there were also some Gulls feeding on a dead Seal on the beach. Andrew tried to catch them without success.

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

People:Lucas Corneliussen, Cora Köberle, Tue Baaner, Hanelie Sidhu, Andrew Jacobs, Simon Sigaard Christiansen and Lisa Vergin

 Another day, another early morning waking up at the wonderful lighthouse, which we call home. This time, for me, will be the last time I wake up early to open the nets. Waking up before 3 AM, Hanelie and I headed out to Kabeltromlen to open the nets. Despite the incoming weather system, we headed out to Grenen and opened most of the nets. 

 Over the course of the next several hours, we caught 13 birds with the majority of those being likely breeders or young birds. The last bird I rung before I went home for the morning for the last time was a Common Reed Warbler (Rørsanger). This will likely to be the last bird I have in the hand for the foreseeable future, so I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it.

 My last bird in the hand!

In the afternoon, we spent the day cleaning the station and catching up on data from our trip to Hirsholmene. We also welcomed back Simon, who was abroad in Iceland, ringing sea ducks with Lisa. We had a long meeting about things which needed to be completed by the end of the month, and we were also lucky enough to have Simon present to us about Infectious diseases and ornithosis.

 Tornsanger Chicks!

Now we are getting ready to head to the annual Sankthansaften festival in town to celebrate the summer solstice.

On a little side note, I would like to thank all those who have made my time in Skagen over the last 5 months great. I hope to see you all again! To all of those in this year's spring crew, it was a pleasure working with you all. Keep in touch! I ended up getting nine lifers over the season, with my favorite being Dotterel (Pomeransfugl). Lastly, I would like to give a massive thanks to Simon for his endless dedication and masterful teaching. I would not be where I am today without him. Thank you, Simon.

 And so, my time in Skagen has concluded, but for those still here, they will have to wait and see what happens tomorrow! I will miss you all, but this will not be the last time I will be in Skagen!

Vi Ses!

Lucas Corneliussen

Ringing: Kabeltromelen

Gærdesmutte 1

Rørsanger 2

Gærdesanger 2

Tornsanger 6

Havesanger 1

Rørspurv 1

Total: 13

People: Lucas Corneliussen, Andrew Jacobs, Cora Köberle, Tue Baaner, Hanelie Sidhu, Simon Sigaard Christiansen