Strong blustery winds battered the area all day and meant that no ringing took place this morning. However, I still headed to World's End for observation. Other than a Great Skua [Storkjove] and a Great Northern Diver [Islom] that were seen by other birders, the seawatching was quiet compared to past days. Thankfully later in the morning things started to improve when a female Honey Buzzard [Hvepsevåge] and several active Common Buzzard [Musvåge] appeared. I also managed to see my first ever Black Kite [Sort Glente] and it was joined by a Red Kite [Rød Glente] so I had good comparison views. Also 2 Fieldfare [Sjagger] flew past, as well as a male Rosefinch [Karmindompap] and a Corn Bunting [Bomlæke]. On my way back to the observatory I had a close singing Icterine Warbler [Gulbug] and also a Marsh Warbler [Kærsanger].

When I got back to the observatory Michael informed me that a Buzzard [Musvåge] had been caught at a raptor trap and that Simon was going to take us to see it, ring it and add a GPS tag. It was the first Buzzard [Musvåge] that Michael has ringed. It was also great to meet Carlo Pedersen, and see how he manages parts of the site for nature. Whilst adding the GPS tag we also noted a singing male Common Redstart [Rødstjert], Tree Sparrow [Skovspurv], Bullfinch [Dompap] and Crossbill [Lille Kornæb].

Buzzard [Hvepsevåge] being ringed and GPS tagged

Group enjoying some refreshments after a successful raptor ringing

Jan Ejlsted arived at the apartment after Søren and Karen Marie left this morning.

A full list of today's observations can be found here.

People: Chloé Meymy, Lisa Vergin, Michael Colley, Simon S. Christiansen, Jan Ejlsted and Zach Pannifer

Ringing (Tversted):

Musvåge (Common Buzzard): 1

Total: 1

Fotos: Søren Leth-Nissen.

Zach begyndte dagen på observationsposten, hvor denne uges lidt sløve træk fortsatte. Nogle af fundene var Almindelig Kjove (Arctic Skua), 2 Hvepsevåge (Honey Buzzard), 24 Musvåger (Buzzards), og en Bomlærke (Corn Bunting). 
Chloe, Michael og Simon åbnede nettene før solopgang, og det blev en rigtig god dag for ringmærkningen, med 44 ringmærkede fugle, 6 genfangster, og i det hele taget med bred diversitet og en del forskellige arter, bl.a. mange bogfinker og gulbug.

Chloe fik sin første udfarvede Gulspurv i nettet.

Fuglen var den anden gulspurv i sæsonen, men den første var en genfangst, så denne var første nymærkning.

Søren og jeg var med fra kl. 6.00, og fra Kabeltromlen var vi med til at spotte en Rødrygget Tornskade (Red-backed Shrike) med mad i munden.

En lys Hvepsevåge (Honey Buzzard) kom også forbi. 

Vi så også en smuk udfarvet Blå Kærhøg (Pallid Harrier).

Gøgen kom også forbi en tur.

Chloe gik en lang tur om eftermiddagen, rundt i området. Michael, Søren og jeg tog på en lille rundtur, først til Saftevandsbakken, hvor en Lille Skrigeørn var set en tid forinden. Vi havde ikke det store håb om at nå at se den, for den var allerede i Hulsig, da vi nåede frem. Men måske noget andet godt ville dukke op? Der kom en del rovfugle, mest Musvåger (Common Buzzard), og vi valgte i stedet at tage en tur til et par af Simons gode steder. Først til Buttervej Industrikvarter, hvor vi bl.a. så Tornirisk (Linnet), Hvid vipstjert (White Wagtail) og Gul Vipstjert (Yellow Wagtail). 

Ved Stald Grenen hørte vi Grønirisk (Greenfinch), Karmindompap (Rosefinch) og Fuglekonge (Goldcrest), som var Zachs første. Vi sluttede af med Grå Fluesnapper ved Nordstjernevej og Sortbrystet Bynkefugl ved det sorte sommerhus på Fyrvej.

Da vi kom tilbage, stod Zach for aftensmad på stationen – mmm :-)

Alt I alt en rigtig dejlig dag med ringmærkning, observationer, vandretur og spot på nye steder. Tak for denne gang, og velkommen til stationens nye gæst fra i morgen.

Link til dagens observationer.

Skagen Fuglestation: Chloe Meymy, Michael Colley, Zach Pannifer, Simon S. Christiansen, Søren og Karen Marie Leth-Nissen.

I dag var det lærkernes dag.

(Fotos: Søren Leth-Nissen)

Vejrudsigten meldte hård blæst fra nordvest, så ringmærkningen var aflyst. Det gav hele stationen mulighed for at tage på fællestur til naturreservatet ved Gerå enge og Asaa, syd for Sæby. Stor tak til Oluf Lou for at lægge bil til og være guide for på hele turen.

Vi var spændte på, om der stadig - så sent på sæsonen - var rastende vadefugle på stedet. DOFbasen har meldt om vadefugle i store mængder indtil for få dage siden, men da vi ankom til engene, var fuglene fløjet.

Vi nød i stedet de mange Sanglærker (Skylark), som yngler ved engene, forsvarer deres territorier og hænger storsyngende under den blå himmel. 

Vi så også flokke af Gravænder (Shellduck), 2 Viber (Lapwing), 2 Hvidklirer (Greenshank), 2 Rødben (Redshank) og en lile flok på 15 Almindelig Ryle (Dunlin), - måske de sidste af de mange, som har rastet her før de drog nordpå?

På vej tilbage mod Skagen gjorde vi holdt i Asaa havn, hvor de fleste af os registrerede en ny første: rejer, som for flere af de frivillige var en overraskelse at se i vandet. 

Havnen bød også på en Hvid Vipstjert (White Wagtail), inden vi kørte nordpå igen. Vi gjorde kort stop ved Jerup Strand for at se, om der stadig var fugle der, men også Jerup Strand var tømt for vadefugle. Vi ses igen næste år!

Skagen Fuglestation: Michael Colley, Dante Shepherd, Chloé Meymy, Lauren Evans, Zach Pannifer, Oluf Lou, Søren & Karen Marie Leth-Nissen.

I dag foregik ringmærkningen ikke ved Kabeltromlen, men ved fuglestationens nye CES (Constant Effort Site), som er en lokalitet med regelmæssig ringmærkning på enkeltdage gennem sæsonen. CES-lokaliteten ligger ved Skarvsøen mellem Nordstrand og Sandormssporet.

Fotos: Søren Leth-Nissen.

De unge frivillige stod derfor i dag op før kl. 3.00 for at nå til Skarvsøen i tide, for spejlnettene skal åbnes før solopgang som i dag var 4.37.

Det lykkedes, og Lauren, Michael og Chloe havde heldet med sig og fik både en Vandrikse (Water Rail) og en Gul Vipstjert ssp. thunbergi (Yellow Wagtail) i nettet og ringmærket. Det var Chloes første voksne, udfarvede gule vipstjert, og samtidig også første gang Skagen Fuglestation har sat ring på en gul vipstjert (thunbergi).

Dante og Zach observerede fugletræk hele morgenen fra Verdens Ende III. Zach’s store øjeblik i dag var synet af en Dværgfalk (Merlin), som sad i kort afstand fra ham i hele 20 minutter. Dante talte hele 61 Mallemuk i dag, selvom det var en forholdsvis stille dag med ikke mange trækkende fugle. Han så også to Bomlærker (Corn Buntings) og en Spætmejse (Nuthatch).

Om eftermiddagen cyklede Dante en tur i Byfogedskoven i den ende af Skagen. Lauren så efter, om der var kommet unger i svalerederne (Bysvaler/House Martins og Landsvaler/Swallows) ved kiosken på Grenen. Michael tog sig af opsummeringerne af observerede rovfugle for flere dage (raptor summaries). Og så blev der også tid til en lur for alle på stationen.

Søren og jeg nød at være med ved Skarvsøen, og få lov til at følge arbejdet med indsamling af fugle og ringmærkning, deltage i tællinger af unge og voksne fugle i skarvkolonien, og tælle reder med unger i.

Vi glædede os også over de Gråstrubede Lappedykkere (Red-necked Grebe), Krikænder (Teals), Mudderklirer (Common Sandpiper) for slet ikke at tale om guldsmedene.  

Jeg fik desuden hurtigt brug for min nye viden om gul vipstjert, for om eftermiddagen løb jeg ind i en mindre flok ved rundkørslen på Grenen, og kunne straks se i kikkerten, at der var 5 Gul Vipstjert ssp. thunbergi (Yellow Wagtail) helt voksne og i fuld dragt, sammen med unge fugle og et par hunner. Dejligt at lære af de unge på stationen, og blive lidt klogere på fuglene.

Link til alle dagens observationer i Dofbasen

Skagen Fuglestation: Michael Colley, Dante Shepherd, Chloé Meymy, Lauren Evans, Zach Pannifer, Simon S. Christiansen, Søren & Karen Marie Leth-Nissen.

Ringmærkning (Skarvsøen - CES)

Vandrikse (Water Rail): 1

Gul vipstjert ssp. thunbergi (Yellow Wagtail): 1

Rødhals (Robin): 1

Tornsanger (Common Whitethroat): 1

Rørsanger (Reed Warbler): 5

Gransanger (Chiffchaff): 2

Løvsanger (Willow Warbler): 1

Total: 12

 As usual, we started the day with a ringing session at Kabeltromlen at sunrise where nets were open at 4:15 am. I was with Lauren and Chloe; we were later joined by Simon and the guests at the apartment, Søren and Karen Marie.

We had a slow morning session with 14 birds of 8 species. But throughout the ringing session we were kept busy by the mosquitoes at Kabeltromlen. The nets were closed by 9:30 because there were only few birds to ring. Sunny weather and almost no wind gives only few birds in the nets - but those we had were great.

Photos: Søren Leth-Nissen.

Link for today’s observations 

Ringing total 14 birds:
Common Whitethroat/ Tornsanger 3
Lesser Whitethroat/ Gærdesanger 4
Chiffchaff/ Gransanger 1
Wren/ Gærdesmutte 1
Pied Fiycatcher / Broget Fluesnapper 1
Icterine warbler/ Gulbug 1
Blackcap/ Munk 2
Garden Warbler/ Havesanger 1

Dante and Zack were at the observation site, they had many birds around but with less migration than other days.

The highlights of the observation this morning:

Rosefinch / Karmindompap 1
Shag / Topskarv 3
Ring Ouzel / Ringdrossel 1
Short-Eared Owl / Mosehornugle 1
Red-Backed Shrike / Rødrygget Tornskade 3
White-tailed Eagle / 1

At Skagen Fuglestation:

Michael Colley, Dante Shepherd, Chloé Meymy, Lauren Evans, Zack, Simon S. Christiansen, Søren & Karen Marie Leth-Nissen.

Honey Buzzard/Hvepsevåge observed from Kabeltromlen.

This morning was a rainy day, we couldn’t open the nets. We spent the morning entering data.

However Zach and Dante went outside before the heavy rain doing some nice observations.

During the afternoon the weather improved, we could go bird watching around.

Michael was lucky to see a new first for him, which was a Ringed Plover (Stor præstekrave).

Zach is a new volunteer here, and first time in Denmark, he also enjoyed many firsts too like the Rosefinch (karmindompap).

Dante and Lauren went out the afternoon, and found the red breasted flycatcher (Lille Fluesnapper) and a Pied Wagtail yarrellii (Sortrygget vipstjert).

Chloe enjoyed the nice view of the many Eider (Ederfugl)  resting on the sea close to the station.

Søren and Karen Marie went out for a long walk across Storsig and found a nice looking Stone Chat (Sortstrubet bynkefugl) and a Tree Pipit (Skovpiber). Photographs by Søren Leth-Nissen.

Skagen fuglestation : Michael Colley, Dante Shepherd, Chloé Meymy, Lauren Evans, Zach, Søren & Karen Marie Leth-Nissen.

Link to today's observations

Observations of the day

Islom (Great Northern Diver) 2

Karmindompap (Rosefinch) 1

Lille Fluesnapper (Red Breasted Flycatcher) 1

Rødrygget tornskade (Red Backed Shrike) 20+

Sortrygget vipstjert (Pied Wagtail) ssp yarrellii 1

Solen stod op 4.45 til en skøn sommerdag med højt humør på Grenen og godt med fugle i nettene.

Eneste skår i glæden var de helt utroligt store myg, som det våde forår og varmen har hjulpet på vej. Det glemte vi dog alt om, som morgenen skred frem, for Michael, Lauren og Chloé bragte den ene posefuld af fugle efter den anden tilbage til ringmærkning ved Kabeltromlen.

Michael havde drømt om at fange og ringmærke en Rødrygget Tornskade (Redbacked Shrike), og det lykkedes i dag, selvom den nappede ham.

Lauren blev bidt af både myg og de hidsige Gulbug (Icterine Warbler).
Chloé var vild med Kernebideren (Hawfinch) selvom den bed i arrigskab, mens hun ringmærkede den.

Erik Thomsen og Vibeke Glifberg holdt skansen ved Kabeltromlen sammen med os nye gæster (Søren og Karen Marie Leth-Nissen) hele formiddagen, og hjalp med bestemmelse af Hvepsevåge (Honey Buzzard).

Fotograf: Søren Leth-Nissen.

Link til alle observationer

Observationer i dag:
Dante tog observationerne i dag, og så følgende bemærkelsesværdige fugle:

Pirol (Golden Oriole)-5
Hvidnæbbet Lom (White-billed Diver)-1
Karmindompap (Common Rosefinch)-7
Aftenfalk – gammel han (Redfooted Falcon – old male)-1
Temmincks Ryle (Temminck’s Stint)-2
Om eftermiddagen tog Dante til Stald Grenen, hvor en Lundsanger (Greenish Warbler) var observeret, så den kom også i bogen :-)

Skagen Fuglestation: Michael Colley, Dante Shepherd, Chloé Meymy, Lauren Evans, Søren & Karen Marie.

Kabeltromlen Ringing Totals:
Tornsanger (Common Whitethroat)- 8
Fuglekonge (Goldcrest)-1
Gransanger (Chiffchaff)-1
Løvsanger (Willow Warbler)- 12
Gulbug (Icterine Warbler)-6
Gærdesanger (Lesser Whitethroat)-9
Broget Fluesnapper (Pied Flycatcher)-5
Skovsanger (Wood Warbler)-1
Grå Fluesnapper (Spotted Flycatcher)-1
Munk (Blackcap)- 6
Havesanger (Garden Warbler)-10
Bogfinke (Chaffinch)- 1
Rødrygget Tornskade (Redbacked Shrike)-1
Solsort (Blackbird)-1
Kernebider (Hawfinch)-1
Total 64

As per usual, Michael and I had the nets open at Kabeltromlen for sunrise and were later joined by Oluf Lou and our newest volunteer Chloé, who arrived last night after a mega 16 hour drive from France. We had a more productive morning than the last few days catching 24 new birds including a young, male Spurvehøg (Sparrowhawk), our 7^th Skovsanger (Wood Warbler) of the spring and a surprise Grønsisken (Sisken).

Spurvehøg (Sparrowhawk).

Michael showing visiting birders the Skovsanger (Wood Warbler).

Dante joined Erik Christophersen in the outer dunes for morning observations. Their highlights today included an adult Mellemkjove (Pomarine Skua), 1 Topskarv (Shag), 2 Islom (Great Northern Diver) and 1 Pirol (Golden Oriole). We all spent the afternoon tidying up the station after the all the excitement of the Bird Festival as well as catching up with entering data. We also welcomed our new guests to the apartment, Søren and Karen Marie, who we’re very much looking forward to ringing and observing with this week.

A full list of today's observations can be found here.

Skagen Fuglestation: Michael Colley, Dante Shepherd, Chloé Meymy, Lauren Evans, Søren & Karen Marie.

Kabeltromlen Ringing Totals:

Spurvehøg (Sparrowhawk)- 1

Gærdesmutte (Wren)- 1

Sivsanger (Sedge Warbler)- 1

Gærdesanger (Lesser Whitethroat)- 8

Tornsanger (Common Whitethroat)- 2

Munk (Blackcap)- 1

Skovsanger (Wood Warbler)- 1

Løvsanger (Willow Warbler)- 3

Bogfinke (Chaffinch)- 3

Grønsisken (Sisken)- 1

Lille Gråsisken (Lesser Redpoll)- 2

Today was the third and final day of the Bird Festival. Michael and I headed to Kabeltromlen and had the nets open by 04:15. Lisa and Simon then joined Michael at the ringing whilst I headed out to Sandclit for morning observations with Dante, Jan, and the other birders gathered there. It was a rather quiet morning in terms of numbers, but we had some excellent birds including 2 Islom (Great Northern Diver), 2k Hedehøg (Montagu’s Harrier), 1 Steppehøg (Pallid Harrier), 1 Gulirisk (Serin), 3 Biæder (Bee-eater) and 1 Rødstrubet Piber (Red-throated Pipit).

The ringing team at Kabeltromlen caught 15 birds including the first Landsvale (Swallow) ringed of the year which the Bird Festival visitors were more than happy to see.

Gærdesanger (Lesser Whitethroat).

Simon gave two presentations throughout the day; the first on plastic pollution in Mallemuk (Fulmar) and the second, entitled ‘Night at the Station’, about night monitoring and night catching.

Simon giving a presentation on plastic pollution in Mallemuk (Fulmars).

The festival concluded this evening with an open barbeque which was well attended by both local birders and visitors. Simon also awarded the prize for the rarest bird found during festival to Kent Olsen for the outstanding find of the Stillehavs Lom (Pacific Diver)- the second record for both Skagen and Denmark.

A full list of today's observations can be found here.

Skagen Fuglestation: Michael Colley, Dante Shepherd, Lauren Evans

Kabeltromlen Ringing Totals:

Munk (Blackcap)- 2

Rødhals (Robin)- 3

Landsvale (Swallow)- 1

Gærdesmutte (Wren)- 2

Gærdesanger (Lesser Whitethroat)- 3

Sivsanger (Sedge Warbler)- 1

Tornsanger (Common Whitethroat)- 1

Havesanger (Garden Warbler)- 2

Total: 15

The day started well with an early morning ringing session, where nets were open by 4:15 am at Kabeltromlen. We had a good morning session with 19 birds of 8 species, including the first marsh warbler for this spring and it was my first marsh warbler I have seen and ring, it is a great day for me because Simon and Lisa help me in knowing the difference futures between Reed warbler and the marsh warbler. I have a lot of experience here which will help me as a young Ornithologist. The guests in the apartment where with us at the ringing site, Kristen Bregn and Jan Speiermann . We had about 27 visitors at the ringing site that included Benjamin who was a volunteer here last year and møtter millet Christensen who works at the stations light house.

The ringing totals 19 Birds

Garden Warbler / Havesanger 7

Common Whitethroat / Tornsanger 1

Blackcap / Munk 3

Lesser Whitethroat/ Gaerdesanger 3

Wren / Gærdesmutte 1

Willow Warbler / Løvsanger 1

Marsh Warbler / Kærsanger 1

Today is the second day of the Bird festival at the station and I had the opportunity to attend the talk about whales which made me know their family structure, with their life expansion.

The observation this morning was so positive with some good species seen around that include all the five (5) species of Divers in Europe.

picture taken by JAN SPEIERMANN

The observation for today is as follows.

White- billed Diver / Hvidnæbbet Lom 1

Great Northern Diver / Islom 1

Black-throated Diver / Sortstrobet Lom 17

Red-throated Diver / Rødstrobet Lom 1

Pacific Diver / Stillehavs Lom 1

Bee­­­­-Eater / Biæder 1  

Skagen Fuglestation: Michael Colley, Dante Shepherd, Lauren Evans, Kirsten Bregn,Jan speiermann.