Hej allesammen,

as the season is getting busier, the field productivity of the volunteers is rising. That is why I am writing yesterdays blog this early morning in the outdoor office at Kabeltromle. Yesterday was a long day. Isis and I went ringing which now means getting up from bed at 03.30 am in the morning. However, it was rather windy so we could just open 14 of our 21 nets and they did not catch much. Three new birds and one recapture, but one of them was a Treepipit (Skovpiber) which is worth 20 birds, as Simon jr. explained us later at the station. There was one Waxwing (Silkehæle) flying over Kabeltromle and soon after, we observed some Barn Swallows (Landsvale) so it felt like having winter and summer at the same time.

Skovpiber (Tree Pipit)

Ringmækning Kabeltromle

Skovpiber: 1

Gærdesanger: 1

Løvsanger: 1

Total: 3

We closed early. Hayley in the meantime went shopping and Magnus and Simon were at Nordstrand for the morning observations.

The observers had three second calendar year and one adult female Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg) and a few Hen Harriers (Blå Kærhøg), some Hobbys (Lærkefalk) and one Rough-legged Buzzard (Fjeldvåge). But on the sea, it was vey quiet. 16 Whimbrels (Småspove) were a nice observation of a species, that we don´t get that often in the morning obs and some Black Guillemots (Tejst) and Velvet Scoters (Fløjsand) are always nice birds to observe.

Back at the station, Simon jr. made luxury six star lunch for us: not our usual sunny-side up or down eggs, depending on preference on bread but scrambled eggs with onions! After some data entry, naps and phone calls, Knud proposed go to Flagbakken together in the afternoon. What a brilliant idea, Simon, Hayley and I packed our scopes while Magnus and Isis preferred to enjoy the calm of the station this afternoon.

At Flagbakken, already many birders smiled at us when we were arriving, among them Jørgen Hulbæk. But even better: Ther were exceptional many Hobbys (Lærkefalk) which were hunting Swallows before continuing migrating north!

Hobby (Lærkefalk)

I can´t decide if the highlight of the day was the number of Hobbys or one adult male Montagues Harrier which stayed around for a while before continuing northeast. Some nice Ospreys (Fiskeørn) also showed up and a gorgeous lizard which let me come very close and it was really a perfect afternoon, thanks Knud for taking us with you!

While we were at Flagbakken, Lisa, Troels and Mads were observing from the radar. Before they arrived, Alex Sand Frich was observing close to their observation spot and putting numbers together and comparing, Knud calculated a minimum of 128 Hobbys (Lærkefalk) for the day. It was a new record day for Skagen and the whole of Denmark!

In the evening, Hayley and I checked some sheets of the ringing while the potter trap was not catching any Wheatears (Stenpikker) and after dinner, Simon jr. and I went out hoping to see some northern lights – without success, so we rather decided to go back in and get some sleep.

This is my last blog at Skagen for this season, I will leave on Sunday, which is kind of sad, as it feels like spring is just beginning and all the Hobbys (Lærkefalk) make you look forward to the Red-footed Falcons (Aftenfalk) which will come soon! Also, more african migrants are arriving in the nets now. But these, I will also get to ring as I will continue this spring season at Gedser Fuglestation.

Thanks to the team for experiencing a part of the world of birds with me, and especially the world of Cranes, planes and ships, having a lunchbreak with some fried eggs. I wish you the best birds for the rest of the spring season (but some of them should also come to Gedser though…).

And of course, thanks to Simon, Lisa and all the local and “spring-local” birders for your advice, lifts food and company!

Take care and I hopefully see you soon again!

Hanelie

Todays observations from observers in the area

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day

People: Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kisé, Lisa Vergin, Troels Eske Ortvad, Mads Bunch, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorte and Anders Østerby

Happy 1st of May! Today was the first day of our Constant Effort Site (CES) at Cormorant Lake (Skarvsøen) monitoring breeding birds! Although we were very excited to begin the CES program, it also meant being awake by 03.00 (long before sunrise) so that Hayley and I could be at Cormorant Lake (Skarvsøen) in time to open the nets. Hanelie and Simon (Snr) joined us a bit later, and the day began with a stunning sunrise. 

Sunrise at Cormorant Lake (Skarvsøen).

We could also see the famous “Skagen Light” very clearly this morning, the Skagen Painters did such a wonderful job of capturing this beautiful phenomenon!

The Skagen Light.

Our CES site is a little smaller and more remote than Kabeltromlen, so we had to improvise a little with our equipment. Nonetheless, we all had a great time using the resources around us to stay comfortable while ringing:

Simon (Snr) checking a bird while sitting on the ground.

Hayley ringing and writing in the warm sun and soft grass.

Hanelie checking a bird on the grass.

This morning was slow, but we could hear a Sedge Warbler (Sivsanger) singing clearly. We also caught several Reed Buntings (Rørspurv), and the usual suspects: Common Chiffchaff (Gransanger), Willow Warbler (Løvsanger), and Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger). We had a lot of fun running around the site and through the water (and luckily nobody fell…). Johanna visited us for a while while we were ringing. Simon (Snr) had also set up a small sticky trap to catch flies, but one of his flies was stolen by a greedy Willow Warbler (Løvsanger)!

Willow Warbler (Løvsanger) eating a fly.

While all of this was happening at Cormorant Lake (Skarvsøen), Simon (Jr), Mira, Johanna, and Magnus were not far away. This morning they counted at Nordstrand, but migration was incredibly slow. They still enjoyed their time, and stayed out as long as we did, some of them chose to spend the time taking a nap in the dunes. Their highlights from the count were an adult Glaucous Gull (Gråmåge) very close, and a new record of Eurasian Hobbies (Lærkefalk) for Skagen! We ran into each other as we were preparing to leave the CES site, and they helped us carry our ringing equipment back to the station, vielen dank! 

Back at the station, Simon (Snr) and I entered the CES data (and caught up on some other sheets). Meanwhile, Johanna, Mira, Simon (Jr), Magnus, and Hanelie went out to enjoy Råbjerg Mile. 

After this, Johanna and Mira had to prepare to migrate once again after their brief stay. It was lovely seeing them again, and we all wish them lots of luck and fortune on their upcoming journeys! Vi ses! 

In the evening, Hanelie prepared a lovely dinner and Hayley stayed up late in a 3 hour long meeting with the BTO, we’ll see if she makes it out into the field tomorrow morning… 

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet)

Coal Tit (Sortmejse) 1

Common Chiffchaff (Gransanger) 4

Song Thrush (Sangdrossel) 1

Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger) 3

Eurasian Blackcap (Munk) 5

Willow Warbler (Løvsanger) 12

Reed Bunting (Rørspurv) 4

Total: 30

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

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasen the same day.

People:  Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Johanna Veentjer, Simon Kiesé, Mira Kieckbusch, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorte and Anders Østerby

Hej allesammen,

we as the part of the team who was going observing today already prepared everything for a long long count yesterday evening, as we were expecting a good morning today. It turned out to be a bit slower than expected, but still we got some really nice highlights, the main highlight today was definitely the Black Tern (sortterne)! To my mind it is an amazing species and the record today was the first record for Skagen this year. So all of us were glad to see it.

Despite the Black Tern (sortterne) we also got Little Gulls again (dværgmåge) as well as a White Billed Diver (Hvidnæbbet lom) in breeding plumage (and a nice variety of Raptors, including Pallid Harrier (steppehøg) and Steppe Eagle (steppeørn).

The other part of our team went ringing at Kabeltrommeln, where they were also accompanied by Dorte and Anders Østerby, they stay at the station in the guest apartment for this week. You can look up the ringing totals in the end of the blog entrance.

Ringing at Kabeltrommelen. Photo: Anders Østerby.

Besides us watching, counting and ringing birds on this sunny dazy, we also noticed that nature just starts getting more and more dynamic these days, after the long winter in Skagen. While counting at Nordstrand in the morning, we had an observation of White-beaked dolphins and in the field we also saw a lot of insects, adders (hugorn) and a giant individuum of a Sand lizard (markfirben).

In the afternoon, some of us were out for a trip to Råbjerg Mose, where Magnus not only found a gylden jagtrovbille (Dinothenarus pubescens) but we also saw five Whinchats (bynkefugl), heard a Green Woodpecker (grønspætte) and enjoyed the atmosphere in the amazing area. Afterwards we also had a stop at Råbjerg Mile, before we went back to the station where we were welcomed again with a delicious dinner.

Can you spot Hanelie in this picture?

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet):

Sangdrossel 1
Løvsanger 6
Gærdesanger 10
Rødhals 2
Jernspurv 1
Munk 16
Bogfinke 5
Rørspurv 1
Gransanger 2

Todays observations from observers in the area.

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day.

People:  Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Johanna Veentjer, Simon Kiesé, Mira Kieckbusch, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorthe and Anders Østerby

Hej everyone,

When we (Johanna and Mira) left on the 20^th of March, we promised to come back soon, so here we are again, only for five days, but we enjoy every second of this little vacation from university before we leave on the first of May.

This morning, Johanna, Simon, Magnus and me went out for morning observation to Worlds End 3. The migration was slower than yesterday, but there were still some birds around. The highlight was a Short-eared Owl (Mosehornugle) over the beach, three Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove) and four Fulmars (Mallemuk). When the sun came out after the first hour there was also a group of Snow Buntings (Snespurv) around the dune we sat on. It’s not that typically to see them around here now, normally they would be further north at this time. Around the time we left after four hours of counting, the Steppe Eagle (Steppeørn) was reported over Nordstrand, so we watched out for it from Worlds End and were able to see it. For Johanna and me that was the first time seeing a Steppe Eagle, which was really cool, even though it was quiet far away.

Johanna and Magnus counting at Worlds End 3

Isis, Hayley and Hanelie went out to Kabletromle for ringing in the morning. They caught not as many birds as yesterday, but with a total of 69 birds there were still some birds around. The highlight was a recapture from a Chiffchaff (Gransanger) ringed in Spain.

Chiffchaff ringed in spain

Ringing (Kabeltrommlekrattet)

Todays observations from observers in the area.

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day.

People: Johanna Veentjer, Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Mira Kieckbusch, Simon S. Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Jørgen Hulbæk, Jan Eske, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorte and Anders Østerby

Dagen startede som så mange gange før, før solopgang. Vejrudsigten meldte regn fra morgenstunden og et par timer frem. Dog lod vi os ikke kue af en smule vand, og skuden gik derfor i retning mod Nordstrand. Vi ankom omkring solopgang, og vi indfandt os hurtigt på vores pladser. Inden længe fandt SK en formodet citronvipstjert. Desværre blev den kun hørt en enkelt gang, og ikke optaget. Snart ville hvidnæbbet lom og islom også være med, hvilket også resulterede i en dagstotal på henholdsvis to og én. Også steppehøgene ville være med, sammen med dværgterner, dværgmåge og almindelig kjove. Sidstnævnte med 31 i alt for dagen. En lokalt rastende gråmåge kiggede forbi omkring kl. 10.35. Dagens helt store overraskelser, var dog den første pomeransfugl i Skagen i år, samt en adult han af amerikansk sortand i flugt - blot ti minutter senere.

På billedet  bliver der eftersøgt amerikansk sortand.

Eftermiddagen blev brugt på at få samlet kræfter og kigge på fugle fra den høje klit vest for Det Grå Fyr.

Ved Kabeltromlen havde ringmærkerne også travlt. I alt 108 fugle blev ringmærket, herunder blandt andet 87 løvsangere.

Ringing:

Red start - rødstjert 3

Song Thrush - Sangdrossel 2

Gærdesanger - 2

Black cap - munk 9

Chif chaf - gransanger 5

Willowabler - løvsanger 87

Total: 108

Todays observations from observers in the area.

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day.

People:  Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Johanna Veentjer, Simon Kiesé, Mira Kieckbusch, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorte and Anders Østerby

This morning, Simon jr. went to the Radar, while Magnus was observing at North Beach and Hayley, Isis and I went to Kabeltromle for ringing.  The ringing was slow though, we had hoped for some more birds after yesterday had been quite good. The first round brought three Song Thrushes (Sangdrossel) and we had two more new Lesser Whitethroats (Gærdesanger) today.

Song Thrush (Sangdrossel)

Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger)

Simon sr. had a tour today and joined us at Kabeltromle for a bit to the third round.

Ringmækening Kabeltromle

Sangdrossel: 3

Gærdesmutte: 5

Rødhals: 2

Løvsanger: 3

Gærdesanger: 2

Munk: 2

Fuglekonge: 2

Gransanger: 1

Total: 20

Ringmækening Jennes Sø:

Gransanger: 1

Gærdesmutte: 1

Ringmækening Nordstrandvej:

Munk: 1

Gransanger: 1

Musvit: 1

Total: 3

Magnus had a busy morning counting at Nordstrand with Jørgen Hulbæk and Jan. The numbers and variety species was very good today so Magnus decided to stay for six hours. They had about 9500 Common Scoters (Sortand), as well as about 1000 Red-throated Divers (Rødstrubet Lom), one Glaucous Gull (Gråmåge), one Little Gull (Dværgmåge) and one Shag (Topskarv) and two Waxwings (Silkehale). But the highlight was definitely a Surfscoter (Brilleand). This bird made Simon jr. and Mads leave the radar and run along the beach all the way to Nordstrand. They arrived quite exhausted but were rewarded with seeing the bird very well.

Brilleand (Surf Scoter)

Mads and Simon jr. stayed 10 hours in total at the radar and had 155 raptors of 15 species: two great Pallid Harriers, that unfortunately, no one else in the team got to see.

We got to see and hear the ethical ringing section by Simon sr. in which we discussed how to behave in different difficult situations that can appear in the ringing.

When we came out of the conference room, it smelled delicious in the kitchen. Helle had made a cake for us! But the cake needed to wait a bit because when Simon jr. returned from the radar, we soon left to the animal rescue centre, where a Tawny Owl (Natugle) that flew against a window had been nursed back to health and was soon ready to be set into wild again. The beautiful adult female was ringed by Isis and the whole station including Knud, Lisa and our guest Helle came to see it.

Tawny Owl (Natugle)

Back at the station, Helles cake was waiting for us. It was delicious, mange tak!

Also, Simon sr. and I had made a deal some days ago: I would clean his car and he would cook for us one time. Simon fulfilled his part today and cooked us a traditional Danish new Years Dinner. Glühwein from Jan and Jørgen yesterday, today new Years dinner, it is a feast at the bird observatory every day! Anyway tak for mad, Simon, it was very good and enough fish so I can have the rest tomorrow for breakfast! So I guess, it will soon be time to fulfil my part and clean the batmobile.

Let´s hope tomorrow observations will be as good as today and the ringing will get a bit busier!

See you in the field!

Hanelie

Todays observations from observers in the area

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day

People: Michael Ancher, Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Simon S. Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Jørgen Hulbæk, Jan Eske, Knud Pedersen our guests Helle Rasmussen and Johan Deichmann.

The rain delayed the start of ringing this morning but it turned out to be well worth the wait for Isis, Hanalie and Magnus. They caught many many more birds than the last few days! Their highlight was the first Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper) ringed this season, a beautiful adult male.

There were also many more Willow Warblers (Løvsanger) caught and ringed.

These beautiful birds can now be heard singing all around Grenen.

A Waxwing (Silkehale) was also spotted migrating over Kabeltromlen and a Redstart (Rødstjert) was seen flying nearby. It seems there are finally some new spring arrivals. Hopefully they will soon be in our nets too!

The sea was very quiet so it was another slow migration count for Simon Jr and I at World’s End 1. However, we saw two Shags (Topskarv) one of which roosted for a short while on the bunker and we were able to get some very nice views of it. We also saw a Slavonian Grebe (Nordisk Lappedykker) flying into Kattegat and two Wheatears (Stenpikker) over the beach.

After a brief stop at the ringing, Simon Jr and I returned to the station and ticked off a few jobs including data entry, kitchen cleaning and swapping the poles in the old lighthouse garden so they can be used at Skarvsøen instead. We then had a very nice cup of coffee with Mette in the lighthouse shop whilst having an interesting discussion about the ageing of raptors. Then, hearing over Zello that a Steppe Eagle (Steppeørn) had been spotted, Simon and I ran up the lighthouse to try and see it from the top. Not only did we see the Steppe Eagle (Steppeørn), we also saw a White-tailed Eagle (Havørn), Common Buzzards (Musvåge) and Red Kites (Rød Glente). It really is a great place for raptor watching!

We got back down again just as Hanalie, Isis and Magnus arrived back from the ringing and we all had a very nice lunch together. There was no time to rest afterwards however. Just as we finished eating a Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg) was reported over Zello so we ran all the way back up the lighthouse again. That time really hurt the legs! Unfortunately we didn’t manage to see the Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg). We hope to see one soon, it is a species that keeps eluding us!

From the top of the lighthouse we saw Simon Sr arriving so back down again we went to load up his car with the equipment needed to finish setting up the CES nets at Skarvsøen. It was very hot work for Hanalie, Isis and I putting up the last three nets; it really felt like spring had finally arrived. Unfortunately we realised the last net was broken so Magnus kindly cycled over with a new one.

Meanwhile, the two Simons were out and about putting out some recorders in the area. These will be out for three weeks and hopefully will record the calls of some interesting bird species.

We all finally arrived back at the lighthouse to a nice evening surprise; Jørgen and Jan joined us at the apartment and brought with them some delicious traditional bread to celebrate Store bededag tomorrow, all washed down with a glass of glühwein. Tak for such a nice treat. What a great way to end such a busy day!

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet):

Total: 48

People: Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Jan Eske, our guests Helle Rasmussen and Johan Deichmann.

One of my bucket list wishes was to catch and ring an Owl. When we started trying it in the old lighthouse garden I‘ve got closer to my dream but with every try without success I realized that Skagen might not be the best place for ringing Owls. This should change yesterday evening when the wind dropped down and a lovely pink coloured the sky. After Magnus spotted three Short-eared Owls (Mosehornugle) hunting in the dawn we opened our Owl net Hanelie and I set up some weeks ago. The first net checks brought me back to reality how hard it can be to succeed, but the nice phone call in between the checks made it worth staying awake. When I finally decided to close I saw a bird flapping in the net and there it was!

Pictures say more than 1000 words, so enjoy my pictures of Skagen Bird Observatory‘s 2nd every Shorty!

You can recognize that it was born last year, since the wing feathers are from one not moulted generation and still from the juvenile plumage. If you see Shortys close (f.e. in the hand) it is quite easy to sex them. Two main features help: First of all the underwing of males is bright white (and can even shine pinkish), while females have some less bright white or beige colouration. Just have a look at the picture of our female:

One more very helpful feature is the outermost tail feather. While males have no or just a weak banding, the outermost tail feather of females is quite heavy banded. 

The nightly catching session caused a very short sleep until we went out in the morning.

It must have been the toughest for the ringers, who opened the nets at 04:45 am.  The weather felt already a bit more like spring but the explosion of arriving birds will happen the next days, not today. In anyway, the numbers at Kabeltromlen were way better than in the previous week. The stars of the days were several finches - mostly Chaffinches (Bogfinke) but also a Brambling (Kvækerfinke).

In the meanwhile, the count was still very slow. This does not mean, that we did not get nice birds. A adult Great Nothern Diver (Islom) in breeding plumage flew by and showed up so good, that we were able to study its proportions and head moving behavior. That was very helpful because it is hard to always just rely on the bill colour to say if it could not also be a White-billed Diver (Hvidnæbbet Lom). A Great Skua (Storkjove) was another highlight. The species used to be a frequent migrant here in spring but since avian flue killed a big part of the population the numbers went as low, that we are happy about every single one. It was fun to see Magnus from the lighthouse-shop-autumn-team again and he got a new nick name: BigMag. This helps us to keep the overview about all the Magnuses around. I - Simon Jr. - talk out of experience! Should we call Station’s Magnus now FyrMag? One Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove) a outflying Crand (Trane) and a close 2nd cy Rough-legged Buzzard (Fjeldvåge) were nice, too. 

During the entire morning Hanelie joined at the radar and experienced -like I did yesterday- how fun it is to see how high the birds fly out. Even if the numbers of migrating raptors were quite low („it’s at least better than ringing three birds like yesterday“) the highlights from WE1 could also been seen from here.

 Talking about the radar:

Yesterday our Black-winged Kite (Blå Glente) made a migration attempt in the morning at Grenen. At 12:06 it made a second attempt and flew for at least 5 minutes straight north over the sea, which is rare in this species since they don't like the open sea. It gained hight from 51 to 137 meters and flew straight out until we lost it around 2 km away. Today Norways first ever Black-winged Kite was found at Elingård, Frederikstad, which is straight north of Skagen. We can not say it for sure, but since the time, behaviour and age of the birds fit, it is probably our bird. It is very rarely documented, that this species flies such a long distance out - no wonder it is the first ever for Norway now. Isn't it exciting?!

On my way out this morning a Greenshank flew over and telled me with its characteristic „djü djü djü“ that winter is finally over. I thanked it for the nice news and continued my walk to World‘s End 1. If you ask yourself now „What? Why does Simon (Jr.) walk to the count and does not take his bike?“ I‘ve got the answer for you. After I broke my arm one and a half weeks ago I was told to not do dangerous things anymore until my bone is starting to grow together. This makes sense since I want to be fit as soon as possible to also carry all the heavy stuff again (and not just like now with my right arm). But how can you know if the arm heales? Right - you go to the hospital again. Therefore I went to Hjørring hospital again. Our guests were so nice to drive me to Skagen St., than I took the train. In the train I met my good friend Hans Christophersen and his wife, who were guests last autumn. Hans and I feel very connected since we found Denmarks first Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Østlig Gul Vipstjert/Alaskavipstjert) together, so it was nice to see him and his wife again. The trip took some time and it was annoying that exactly now the years first Citrine Wagtail (Citronenvipstjert) (I love pipits and wagtails!!) showed up in Skagen. Fortunately, the X-ray showed that everything is how it should be. Simon Jr. 2.0 is back on his peak of existence!

While I writhe the blog and migrate back north, the other volunteers migrate south of town to twitch the Citrine Wagtail (Citronenvipstjert). It is a second year male (thanks to Simon Sr.'s Batman-eyes). Luckily, Jan picked me up so we met up at the flooded field and enjoyed the great views of the ????.

Citrine Wagtail (Gyvelmarken)

Since I can't get enough of it - here is one last picture of the Owl! :-)

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet):

Total: 20

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

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasen the same day.

People: Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Simon S. Christiansen, Helle Rasmussen and Johan Deichmann.