After the greatest observing succes yesterday with a magnificent BROWN BOOBY (brun sule) found by our very own Ragnar, then our hopes for today were HUGE!

The morning started with Ragnar and I going to world’s end 3 to observe and Ezra, Rosa and Simon going to Skarvsøen for CES ringing.

The ringing period gave a good amount of birds. They never had a round with less than 10 birds and they caught a beautiful Kingfisher (Isfugl) as one of the first birds. They also had a flock of 14 common buzzards soaring above the site at 11 around the time they had to take down all of the nets for maintenance.

The observing where quite slow today. There was no migration over the sea today compared to yesterday, but the passerine migration disappointed today even though the weather forecast had said it should have been a good day for it. But we managed to get some good species anyways like a calling wood warbler (skovsanger), which was pretty cool! Later Hans joined us for the migration and sometime after Jørgen and Igor came by.

Hans hadn’t seen much but counted many roosting terns on the beach. And a cuckoo and some arctic skuas.

Over the seas as well as on the beach as mentioned before, there were a huge present of common tern with around 832 in total! 700 over the seas at one point in the early morning.

After ended migration count, Ragnar and I went to look after warblers. We started off at Kabeltromlen where we had a good amount of willow warbler (løvsanger), whitethroat (tornsanger) and more of the common species. When Kabeltrommel warbler mission was completed we went to Ellekrattet and had not one, but two wood warblers foraging in the tree crowns and just a fair amount of warbler individuals.

When lunch had been consumed we went out to the area around Buttervej and looked for passerines there. We had a skulky reed warbler, one of the last red-backed shrikes (rødrygget tornskade) this year, a garden warbler (havesanger) and some wheatears (stenpikker) and stonechats (sortstrubet bynkefugl).

Hans had been on a loooong walk (or several walks) around Skagen. First to count the nice terns and waders at Grenen and Nordstrand and then down to stokmilen to look after the beautiful swallowtails (svalehaler) which had been around the area for a long time until some time last week or the week before. No success unfortunately.

Ezra and Rosa have been on their own individual birding mission but didn’t add many new species to the day’s total.

This late afternoon and evening we have been completing chores that needed to be done and now we are ready for the new adventures of tomorrow!

Goodnight.

Today's CES ringing data from Skarvsøen:

Water rail / Vandrikse 1

Kingfisher / Isfugl 1

Blue tit / Blåmejse 5

Willow warbler / Løvsanger 6

Chiff Chaff / Gransanger 3

Reed warbler / Rørsanger 24

Marsh warbler / Kærsanger 1

Garden warbler / Havesanger 1

Lesser Whitethroat / Gærdesanger 1

Whitethroat / Tornsanger 4

Blackbird / Solsort 1

Robin / Rødhals 1

Reed bunting / Rørspurv 3

Total: species (13) and amount (52)

Dagens observationer i Skagen

People: Ragnar Smith, Rosa Hicks, Fredrik Johansen, Ezra Sherwell, Simon Sigard Christiansen, Hans Christophersen.

Hi everybody

The day started off rather stormy with strong winds leading to a decision not to open the nets. However, Ragner, Frederik, Hans and I decided to brave the weather out at World End 3 for a count. Some of the species highlights from the count included several Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove) and Great Skua (Storkjove), a shearwater (Skåpe), a black tern (Sortterne), a few little gulls (Dværgmåge) and good numbers of gannet (Sule) and kittiwake (Ride) migration along with a few migrating waders. Just before we started packing up we had one final surprise for the survey. A flurry of excitement ensued as a brown booby (Brun Sule) was spotted by Ragnor flying southeast, quite close to shore. As a third record for Denmark, and the first from Skagen, this was very exciting. Having never seen this species before I was also very happy to get to see this bird.

Following the success of the morning I decided to try my luck with the zitting cisticola (Cistussanger), another species I had not encountered before, which, after a short period of searching, I managed to locate.

Meanwhile, Rosa and Hans, on separate trips both found increasing numbers of waders on the pools with species present including curlew sandpiper (Krumnæbbet Ryle), turnstone (Stenvender) and dunlin (Almindelig Ryle).

After a second report of the brown booby we once again ventured out to try and re-find the bird, this time in the pouring rain, to the north beach, although our efforts were not rewarded with any further sightings of this bird.

Walking out to Højen Fyrvej to try for a resighting of the brown booby.

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):

Total: 0

We asked you yesterday to tune in for an update on the “meringue Nutella cake with a biscuit bottom”; and we can confirm that it was unanimously described as a success!

Link to todays observations in Dofbasen from the Skagen area

People at the station: Ragnar Smith, Rosa Hicks, Fredrik Johansen, Simon Sigard Christiansen, Ezra Sherwell, Hans Christophersen.

Hi folks!

Today has been a quieter day after yesterdays’ bird surprises. The day started with Fredrik and me opening the nets at Kabeltromlen, only to get halfway around opening and having to pause our pursuits as a rain shower passed. Luckily the rain quickly stopped, and we could open the remaining nets… only to have to close some more an hour later with the increasing wind speeds! Although we weren’t able to ring many birds today, this was a valuable lesson in reading the weather and online forecast.

Ringing under the shelter of the tent. Luckily it was a quickly passing shower so we could continue ringing the birds safely.

While we were out at Kabeltromlen, we had some notable observations including a short-eared owl (Mosehornugle), young (1k) goshawk (Duehøg), and hearing the greenish warbler (Lundsanger) again. This was the first greenish warbler for Fredrik in 4 years, and the last one he’d seen was in the exact same place in Skagen! Before packing up, we were joined by Ezra, a new volunteer from the UK who will be with us for a week. We appreciated his enthusiasm to help close the nets, especially after a long morning of travel.

Meanwhile, Ragnar was out at World’s End 3 conducting the daily observations. His counting began with some wader migration, before he spotted a few arctic skuas (Almindelig Kjove), and a mediterranean gull (Sorthovedet Måge). The highlights for his morning were a shearwater species (Skråpe-art) and a rock pipit (Skærpiber).

Photo: Hans Christophersen. A little stint (Dværgeryle) at Grenen today.

Inspired by yesterday’s successful afternoon sea watch, we all headed to Højen Fyrvej to watch over the North Sea. Species diversity was low and numbers even lower, with a single fulmar (Mallemuk), arctic skua (Almindelig Kjove), and two early pink footed geese (Kortnæbbet Gås).

The SKAF crew out at Højen Fyrvej, sea watching in the afternoon sun.

We’re now sat doing some admin and mulling over tomorrow’s weather forecast while Ragnar is cheffing up a “meringue Nutella cake with a biscuit bottom” – tune in tomorrow to see how it turns out!

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Løvsanger: 2

Gærdesanger: 1

Kærsanger: 1

Munk: 1

Tornsanger: 1

Havesanger: 1

Total: 7

Link to todays observations from observers in the area

People at the station: Ragnar Smith, Rosa Hicks, Fredrik Johansen, Ezra Sherwell, Simon Sigard Christiansen, Hans Christophersen.

24th august was another exciting Skagen-autumn day!

The day started with the ringers going out opening the nets and me and Frederik going out to World End 3 to do the counting. The weather changed as the wind blows, but we ended up with some really good birds! Highlights from the counting were such as Manx Shearwater (Almindelig Skråpe), several Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove), Great Skua (Storkjove) and the “usual” three Mediterranean Gulls (Sorthovedet Måge). With the Arctic Skuas there was a fun surprise hidden. We saw a 3cy. dark morph Arctic Skua that was colour-ringed and Knud went down to read the ring while Eric Christophersen got some really good photos of it. The ringing data was sent almost immediately to the relevant ringing authority and we got almost immediate answer. And what an answer we got! But a bit backstory first, 4^th august 2022 an 1cy. Arctic Skua was found on the beach in front of Worlds End 3, the earliest recorded 1cy. Arctic Skua ever recorded in Skagen! And this one was also colour-ringed and we found out that it was ringed on the 23/6-2022 in southern Norway and 79 days later it was seen in Denmark, it was one of two ringed juveniles in the same clutch. Now 794 days later this one was seen at the same beach and apparently it was the sibling to the one we saw in 2022! What a crazy coincidence and is a great showcase of why colour ringing is such a great tool in monitoring and data collection within ornithology.

Ringing data for the skua from today

Ringing data from the one seen 4th august

The colour-ringed Arctic Skua 3cy. dark morph from today

But while we were having fun at Worlds End 3, Kabeltromlen were their fair share of fun. First they caught a nice 1^st year male Bluethroat (Blåhals) and had a singing and calling Greenish Warbler (Lundsanger)! 41^st record in Skagen and 13^th autumn record, quite the rarity and everything was called out on Zello for everyone to hear. But for some reason none of us at Worlds End 3 got the Zello messages, so imagine my surprise when Simon calls me and nonchalantly tells that the Greenish Warbler is stilling hanging out at Kabeltromlen. So I picked up my bike and went down to see it and hopefully photograph it, and while I was there they also told me they had a Bluethroat?! Thankfully I have seen both but imagine if it was something crazier and we missed it. I got the Greenish Warbler thankfully though the photos left a lot to desire. I went back to the obs and it didn’t take too long to find a Manx Shearwater, what a combo.

1st cy. male Bluethroat

Greenish Warbler! notice the bigheaded impression, bright, strong supercilicum and dark loral stripe

If it wasnt for the leaf, the wingbar would probably be visible, but here the mossy green upperparts are also visible

Recording of the Greenish Warbler

After an exciting obs we went back to the observatory to regroup and then we went to Højen Fyr trying to do some seabird watching, while on our way Frederik told me he needed a Sooty Shearwater (Sodfarvet Skråpe) for his self-found list. And almost immediately when we arrived he found one! We saw it very well and not long after he found another one! We left from there quite happy and immediately went to Worlds End 1 as the wind turned southeast, which means that seabirds are being pushed out from the Kattegat. There we managed to see a very nice Sooty Shearwater that came quite close and two Great Skuas.

You sit a bit low at Worlds End 1, so to peep over the tall grass you have to be creative

We were quite happy, but we were still hoping to find something like a Cory’s Shearwater (Atlantisk Skråpe) or something crazier, and we did almost. Like having a wish granted by a Monkey’s Paw, I found a strange tern while we were packing our bags around 1740, it was flying with a Common Tern (Fjordterne) and immediately I was struck by it flew with lackadaisical wingbeats going straight up and down, compared to common terns more focused and energetic wingbeats, shorter tail, heavier build and a short bill, I was completely blank and yelled out “check this tern” and he got on it and then we followed it fly away. Here we saw a grey back, grey wings with paler coverts, no obvious dark in the primaries, broader, more roundish primaries and when it reached the outermost dunes it turned around where it showed grey outertail feather and no obvious streamers and again a short, thick bill, like a heavy arctic tern bill. It looked like it went down, and we just stared at each other. What was that??? We discussed it and concluded that it could be a Whiskered Tern (Hvidskægget Terne) and after discussing what we each had seen, we walked towards the beach trying to refind it, while also putting it out on Zello as a possible Whiskered Tern with several birders also heading out to the beach looking for it. We spent 1 ½ hours looking for it, but no dice. It would have been the second or third autumn record ever for Denmark and the first record for Skagen since 1983! A great day with a bittersweet finish, but this is what we live for as birders.

Video of migrating Sooty Shearwater (Sodfarvet Skråpe) from today

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):

Rødhals (European Robin) - 1

Bynkefugl (Whinchat) - 1

Blåhals (Bluethroat) - 1

Kærsanger (Marsh Warbler) - 2

Rørsanger (Reed Warbler) - 3

Gærdesanger(Lesser Whitethroat) - 2

Tornsanger (Greater Whitethroat) - 3

Munk (Blackcap) - 3

Gransanger (Chiffchaff) - 2

Løvsanger (Willow Warbler) - 7

Total: 25

Link to today's observations from observers in the area

Efter tre års fravær fra Skagen Fuglestation er jeg nu tilbage og så skal der jo selvfuglevis blive arbejdet hårdt igennem, for at finde nogle lækre fuglearter til nabolaget;)

Så sæt jer til rette, find en læskende drik og nyd en gammel kendings blog;)

Men inden vi går helt i gang skal I da ikke snydes for en vild nyhed!!

Ja, faktisk en ”førstegangs” i Skagen Fuglestations historie. Der er nemlig blevet genfanget en Kærsanger, som blev ringmærket her på fuglestationen!

Fuglen blev ringmærket den 29. maj og blev så genfanget den 20. august i Bács-Kiskun i Ungarn.

Inden vi går helt i gang med dagens strabasser, så får I også lige et hurtigt recap på hvad der skete af heftige sager nede i Himmerland i nat.

I nat var Simon, Andrew og Rosa nede omkring Ålborg for at prøve lykken med noget tredækker-fangst. Det lykkedes dem at se tre på to lokaliteter hvoraf de var så heldige at fange den ene af dem på nogle marker i Himmerland. Eftersom at vejrudsigten for dagen efter (i dag velogmærke (23. august)), så de forsøgte fangst længere ud på natten for så at få en overnatning hos Simons mor, som lavede dem lækker morgenmad:)

Nå, lad os så komme i gang med fuglefolkenes oplevelser for i dag:)

Ragnar og jeg havde valgt at blive hjemme for at forsøge noget obs og lusk. Vejrguderne var dog ikke med os og efter at vi havde vågnet hver halve time siden klokken fem, for bare at kunne se en vejrudsigt der sagde "røv og nøgler", da kom endelig et fald i vinden og et svagere regntryk. Vi kørte så ud mod Grenen og satte os i klitterne vest for Sandormesvinget. På vejen kunne jeg glæder mig over en ny Danmarksart; nemlig den stationære Cistussanger, som blev fundet af Rolf Christensen omkring den 14. august. Det blev min art nummer 383 i Danmark.

Obsen gav ikke det helt store, men efter endt obs tog vi ud for at tælle småfuglefaldet. Havde kørt med skopet og scannet krattene i reservatet og Grenen for at blive mødt af krat levende med småfugle!

Af nævneværdige fugle fra obsen og lusketuren kan nævnes:

Cistussanger,

Sorthovedet måge 3 ungfugle

Kaspisk måge 2 ungfugle

Broget fluesnapper 2

Og så en lille joker(?)

Under lusken hørte Ragnar og jeg lige pludselig nogle sylvia-kald, som skilte sig markant ud ift. de omkringværende gærdesangere. Ja, den skilte sig så meget ud at vi begge to stod måbende, fordi at vi begge to havde en mavefornemmelse der sagde ”HIT!”.

Mens den kaldte løs på livet løs, gik vi hurtigt ind for at tjekke kaldende på vestlig og østlig hvidskægget sanger, og ja, der var et match! Faktisk matchede vestlig hvidskægget sanger rigtig godt! Vi blev ved med at høre den, men ikke se den, og grundet vind og vejr og rent adfærdsmæssigt for nogle af fuglene, og sjovt nok også inden for den art (idet at de godt kan lide at trykke sig/fouragere dybt nede i et krat), så så vi den aldrig. Så både Ragnar og jeg tigger og ber’ til at den bliver taget i ringmærkningen i morgen!

Der blev gjort et forsøg på at genfinde den med assistance fra Rosa, dog uden nogen fortjeneste at kunne dele med resten af birder Danmark.

I morgen tager Ragnar og jeg ud på morgenobs og Rosa, Simon og Mette tager mærkningen ved Kabeltromlen. Det bliver en god dag…

Dagens observationer i Skagen

Folk ved stationen:

Ragnar Smith, Rosa Hicks, Simon Sigard Christiansen, Mette Møller Christensen og Frederik Johansen.

Hi folks!

In the UK, we have the saying “it’s raining cats and dogs” for heavy rain. I’ve asked Fredrik, and he says in Denmark, “det star ned i stænger” is more popular than “det regner med katte og hunde!” But, regardless, rain is certainly what it did today.

The rain came in from about 7:30, so we closed the nets at Kabeltromlen after 2 net rounds, and a mere 6 birds. Meanwhile, Ragnar was on observations and had reported migrating passerines moving in from the sea to avoid the poor weather conditions. This included a red-backed shrike (Rødrygget Tornskade), which he spotted from quite some distance. Hearing the news of these landing passerines, me and Ragnar headed out to Elle Krattet to see what was seeking refuge in the woodland. Between us we noted 8 spotted flycatchers (Grå Fluesnapper), 2 pied flycatchers (Broget Fluesnapper), 3 common redstarts (Rødstjert), 1 icterine warbler (Gulbug), a few whinchat (Bynkefugl), and over 30 wheatear (Stenpikker)!

A lesser whitethroat (Gærdesanger) in the beautiful Kabeltromlen sunrise.

Today was Andrew’s last day, so while we were out looking for passerines across Buttervej and beyond, he was buying souvenirs – mainly in the form of lots of licorice! But while we will be saying goodbye to Andrew tomorrow, we were joined by the lovely Fredrik Johansen, who is keen to be back at the station.

We then got on with some admin tasks before setting off Aalborg-bound for another night of great snipe (Tredækker) catching. With the car packed with slightly more jackets and coffee than last time, we drove south, where we met Sean.  There were fewer birds about this visit, and the wet weather made spotting the birds difficult in the thermal. However, we caught a great snipe (Tredækker), a common snipe (Dobbeltbekkasin), and 2 skylarks (Sanglærke). It was especially nice to be able to see the great snipe next to the common snipe and observe the morphological differences. We only saw 3 more great snipe, so it seems a few have moved on with their migration, leaving the sites. We’re hoping the younger birds could still be yet to pass through in the coming weeks.

A first year common snipe (Dobbeltbekkasin), photographed before being released.

We were grateful to Simon’s mum, for kindly offering us drinks and biscuits before heading out as well as a place to stay at the perfectly reasonable bedtime of 5am – thank you!

The team doing some essential preparation before the night catching.

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Tornsanger: 1

Løvsanger: 2

Rørsanger: 2

Gærdesanger: 1

Ringing (Lindenborg)

Tredækker: 1

Dobbeltbekkasin: 1

Sanglærke: 2

Ringing Total: 10

Link to todays observations from observers in the area

People at the station: Ragnar Smith, Rosa Hicks, Andrew Commins, Fredrik Johansen, Sean Walsh, Simon Sigard Christiansen.

Yesterday we said goodbye to Lucas and Joseph (womp womp), now we are three volunteers left at the station so we are waiting for the next volunteers to arrive shortly.

But today we could sleep in a bit, with heavy rain making counting and ringing a difficult task. But at 0930 we went out to the sandworm track to do some counting as the rain stopped. It didn’t result in any notable migration but highlights were a Short-eared Owl (Mosehornugle), the continuing Zitting Cisticola (Cistussanger), Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove) and four Mediterranean Gulls. This season is turning into a possible record autumn for this scarce species with at least 9 different individuals having passing through Grenen since 15th July.

 Two hours of counting looks like this

Mediterranean Gull 1k, always good to see this scarce migrant

While we were out Simon was doing a small tour for some visitors, and when he were done with migration count and he was done with tour, we went out to Gyvelmarkerne with the guests next door and after that to Lidl to do some shopping. Gyvelmarkerne didn’t yield anything crazy, but we found a Wasp Spider (Hvepseedderkop) and Natterjack Toad (Strandtudse) as the highlights.

 The stomping grounds of the few and proud: Gyvelmarkerne

After that we had some down time and Simon showed us a game he uses to teach visitors on his guided trips, where you to match different body parts of birds and animals with right pictures, that was quite fun, but we didn’t all of them right and Simon said after he would have gotten us ice cream if we did. Maybe if he told us before, we would have been a bit more motivated.

Doing build-a-bird

Dinner was cooked, a cake was baked and sunset trip to the top a lighthouse was a nice way to end the day. Tomorrow we return to normal schedule and we will get a new volunteer, Frederik Johansen, who will help us with the counting for a week. The more the merrier

Same same but different, still tasty!

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Total: 0

Link to today's observations from observers in the area

People at SKAF: Ragnar Smith, Rosa Hicks, Simon S Christiensen, Andrew Commins, Susanne Præst, Torben Præst

Hi folks!

Once again, this blog begins with last night! The team (minus Joe), were off on an intrepid adventure south of Aalborg to catch great snipe (Tredækker)! Filled with instant coffee and optimism, we took to the dark fields with our hand nets and torches like sword and shield. After seeing several great snipe, it was great to be able to catch one – a lifer for the majority of the team. More importantly, catching it allowed us to take biometric data on this cryptic species to add to international databases. This one was an adult, and likely a female based on its shorter measurement of bill and head.

The adult Great Snipe (Tredækker), showing its profile, upper wing and tail pattern.

Between prospecting fields with the thermal for great snipe, and catching great snipe, we were able to take turns napping in Simon’s car and dreaming of great snipe. After a long night, we finally made it back to Skagen, where we headed straight out for ringing and observations.

Joe had kindly opened the nets, which had caught a first year pied flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper) in the first round. The following rounds were slow, but luckily, we were kept company with plenty of guests, some of which brought cake! The session finished with a beautiful female yellowhammer (Gulspurv), with many of the team seeing this species up close for the first time.

Ragnor had a quiet day of migration, with waders making up the bulk of the passage birds, including 40 golden plover (Hjejle). He also spotted four mediterranean gulls (Sorthovedet Måge) and a single gadwall (Knarand). However, the star of the show was a yellow legged gull (Middelhavs-sølvmåge), picked out among the gull flock, a species Ragnar has been looking for all month!

After morning ringing, observations, and a few hours of data entry, chores, and admin, it was time to wish our American volunteers well on their long journey back across the pond to the states. Thank you for all the fun memories Lucas and Joe! We look forward to seeing what you get up to in the future.

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Rørsanger (Reed Warbler) – 2

Gærdesanger (Lesser Whitethroat) – 1

Gransanger (Chiffchaff) – 1

Tornsanger (Greater Witethroat) – 1

Gulspurv (Yellowhammer) – 1

Broget Fluesnapper (Pied Flycatcher) – 1

Ringing (Volsted Kær)

Tredækker (Great Snipe) – 1

Total: 8

Link to todays observations from observers in the area

People at the station: Ragnar Smith, Joseph Zeno, Lucas Corneliussen, Rosa Hicks, Simon Siggaard Christiansen, Andrew Commins, Susanne Præst, Peter Sørensen, Massimo Prosdocimi.

Today was a very bittersweet day for me. It was officially my last full day here at Skagen Fuglestation for the 2024 season. Not to fret dear readers, I will make my triumphant return in 2025 just you wait.

The day started off bright and early at Kabeltromelen with overall very few birds but a few good experiences with species I won’t be seeing for the foreseeable future. A nice comparison between an adult (2k+) and a hatch year (1k) Willow Warbler (Løvsanger). In total we caught 12 birds today which may not be the highest number in our history but it was nice nonetheless. But for the sake of Rosa and the rest of the ringing crew, I truly wish for their sakes it begins to pick up in pace over the next few days. On the observation front, Ragnar once again manned Worlds End 3 and had overall little other than three Mediterranean Gulls (Sorthovdet Måge), a European Shag (Topskarv) and the continuing Zitting Cisticola (Cistussanger). 

The remainder of the day continued to be quiet day - a swim was had, data was entered and lots of food was consumed and made to tidy us over for the remainder of the day. I had a short appointment in town that I needed to attend to, but after, I went over to Netto to get some ingredients for my final dinner of my stay - lasagna. We had to eat quite early as we were leaving at 6 PM to go to Aalborg in search of the semi-mythical Great Snipe (Trekædder). Joe opted to stay back to sleep and prep for the trek home, but in my dedication I decided to brave it and head south with the crew. Arriving at a birding locality just south of Aalborg, we looked for a breeding pair of Black-necked Grebes (Sorthalset Lappedykker). We then headed over to Simon’s fathers house for some cake, coffee and beer before heading out. Arriving at the predetermined locality we flushed 2 snipes without success and on the third attempt nearly 3 hours in, Simon and Rosa connected with one!! An adult (2k+) bird which we were able to ring and observe up close. Quite the way to get a lifer (for Rosa, Andrew and myself). 

Topskarv (European Shag)

Without much more luck at this location we headed off to the next field where we were able to find 5 more snipes, but once again we were unable to connect with anymore. We then began the trek all the way back to Skagen for out first Kabeltromelen round at 6 AM. What a night.

On a personal note, I wanted to thank everyone I have encountered at the station: the guests, my co-volunteers and of course Simon. These past few months have been a life changing time for me and I am so grateful to have been a part of this place. I wish everyone luck at the station. To my friends still at the station: LONG LIVE TORNSANGER! Go for some swims for me and please find some good birds -- I'll be watching the blog and DOF Basen. 

And so my time at SKAF has passed (for now), what will tomorrow bring for the rest of the volunteers? Read tomorrows blog to find out. But for now I bid you all farwell!

Vi Ses

Lucas Corneliussen

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Willow Warbler (Løvsanger) - 4

Common Whitethroat (Tornsanger) - 4

Chiffchaff (Gransanger) - 1

Marsh Warbler (Kærsanger) - 2

Total: 11

People at SKAF: Lucas Corneliussen, Rosa Hicks, Ragnar Smith, Simon S Christiensen, Andrew Commins, Joe Zeno

Link to todays observations from observers in the area

Finally! Today was a proper Skagen-autumn day birdwise. After a night ringing session that resulted in a Common Redshank (Rødben) 1k and a European Nightjar (Natravn) and Aurora Borealis! Lucas paid for it with a facial roadrash when he crashed his bike on his way out to Grenen with Rosa.

Redshank (Rødben) 1k

European Nightjar (Natravn)

Morning observation was somewhat quite numberwise, but the diversity was good for once! I was joined by visiting birder Nicolaj, which is always very welcome, it can be a bit lonely in the dunes, especially when the birds are lacking. The birds of the day were three mediterranean gull (Sorthovedet Måge) 1k, one Caspian Gull (Kaspisk Måge) 3k and Rolf found a European Shag (Topskarv) that landed out by the tip and kept us company. But the bombshell fell when Nicolaj said he thought he had received a Zello call, so I checked my phone and saw I had five missed calls, two Zello calls and a SMS message with word “BARRED WARBLER” across my screen. I told Nicolaj and we moved to Kabeltromlen and were presented a very nice Barred Warbler (Høgesanger) 1k. 55^th record for Skagen a new bird for all the volunteers, excluding me, this was my third autumn record, but I have never seen one in hand, what a stunner!

Barred Warbler (Høgesanger) 1k

Otherwise, it was somewhat quiet, though a visit at the stationary Zitting Cisticola (Cistussanger) that has been there for four days and has proven quite popular lifted my tired but content spirit. The rest of the day was doing light work and greeting our new guest Susanne and Torben, they are going to stay here for a week. Simon came by for the evening meeting and then him and the rest of the volunteers went to Gyvelmarkerne trying to look for Great Snipe (Tredækker), which ended with a Eurasian Bittern (Rørdrum) and the potential hit of the day a probable Spotted Crake (Plettet Rørvagtel) 1k they flushed a few times.When they came back we out for some dinner and ended up at a very nice pizzeria.

Pizza-party

After that me and Simon went back to Gyvelmarkerne with flashlight, thermal monoculars and a handnet to see if we could catch the crake. Though we didn’t succeed, we were very, very close to catching it as it ran around in the very tall grass 1-2 meters in front of us, but we didn’t “take the shot” so to speak. It would have been the perfect cherry on top of a very good ice cream!

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Rødstjert (Common Redstart) - 1

Kærsanger (Marsh Warbler) - 3

Rørsanger (Reed Warbler) - 1

Tornsanger (Common Whitethroat) - 2

Munk (Blackcap) - 2

Løvsanger (Willow Warbler) - 1

Grå Fluesnapper (Spotted Flycatcher) - 1

Total: 11

Link to todays observations from observers in the area

People at the station: Ragnar Smith, Joseph Zeno, Lucas Corneliussen, Rosa Hicks, Simon Siggaard Christiansen, Nicolaj Jeppesen, Torben Præst, Susanne Præst, Peter Sørensen, Rosalina Leth-Nissen et. al.