Full of Fulmars

Another windy day in Skagen… So, all of us volunteers went for observing again today with Knud at World’s End 3. Angus and I were quite tired from another night of catching at the tip of Denmark last night. Unfortunately, we had some competition for the birds yesterday, as a fox was trying to hunt for a Common Tern (Fjordterne). Still, it was amazing to observe the fox.

This morning we were greeted with a beautiful sunrise. The birds seemed to like the weather, too, as we saw over 500 Northern Fulmars (Mallemuk) and 67 Great Skuas (Storkjove) migrating North-West. Highlights today were a really close Hen Harrier (Blå Kærhøg) and a Sooty Shearwater (Sodfarvet Skråpe)! Sooty Shearwaters are rare here, because Skagen is a detour on their migratory route. They are spectacular long-distance migrants traveling north up the western side of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans at the end of the nesting season in March-May, reaching subarctic waters in June-July, where they cross from west to east, then return south down the eastern side of the oceans in September-October, reaching to the breeding colonies, mostly on small islands around New Zealand, in November.

Highlights for me were a Fulmar flying really close right in front of us and some close Great Skuas, as I’m still learning to identify them.

Later in the morning, Angus and I went for checking out a nice wetland spot near World’s End 3, where we might try putting up mist nets sometime. There, we saw a lot of White Wagtails (Hvid Vipstjert), some Dunlins (Almindelig Ryle), a Meadow Pipit (Engpiber) and a Curlew Sandpiper (Krumnæbbet ryle) just a few meters away from us!

After the migration count Martin went to see this area, as well and saw two metal ringed Dunlins. Maybe these are the birds Angus and I caught two nights ago.

In the afternoon we had to cut some vegetation at Kabeltromlen, so that the mist nets won’t be broken by branches hanging in the lanes. After that, the four of us went on a little trip to Jenne Sø and the cormorant lake to do some birdwatching. Angus saw his first Crested Tit (Topmejse) there! Also, Martin caught a Migrant Hawker.

Lesser Redpoll (Lille Gråsisken) at Skarv Sø:

Now, Angus will make dinner for us and we are going to enjoy a nice movie night together.

Michael Ancher is now out ringing again at Jennes Sø starting the autumn season here. We will join him tomorrow.

Ringing (Jennes Sø):

Stor Flagspætte - Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Blåmejse - Blue Tit - 1

Løvsanger - Willow Warbler - 2

Gransanger - Chiffchaff - 4

Fuglekonge - Goldcrest - 1

Gærdesmutte - Wren - 1

Rødhals - Robin - 5

Jernspurv - Dunnock - 2

Stor Gråsisken - Mealy Redpoll - 3

Lille Gråsisken - Lesser Redpoll - 8

Grønsisken - Siskin - 5

Total: 33

People: Simon S. Christiansen, Knud Pedersen, Martin Grienenberger, Christina Stinn, Angus Barnett, Amelie Zeller, Michael Ancher

Klik her for at se dagens observationer indtastet i Dofbasen af observatører i området