An exciting evening at Grenen

The day started out slowly with a very atmospheric fog coating the sea and dunes. However, this made observing birds a bit tricky but we managed to observe a cute common plover (Stor præstekrave) chick with its parent. On the way back to the station, I was delighted to be pointed out a marsh helleborine.

Back at the station, we looked at the results of the night’s moth trap. A few different species were found including garden tiger (Bjørnespinderne), poplar hawk moth (Poppelsværmer) and the little elephant hawk (Lille vinsværmer).

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Martina as she had to go back to Germany to prepare for her new job. All the best to you and hope you enjoy teaching! However, we were accompanied during the whole day by Timon, a very friendly and keen birder which was a nice surprise.

After the quiet morning, we tried to find some of the birds of Timon’s list in the afternoon. We started of with the Skagen port where there were many cormorants (Skarv) and a few common eider (Ederfugl).

The highlight of the day came at Grenen where wildlife seemed to show itself in many different forms. On the walk to the point, we came across a few yellowhammers (Gulspurv) and an adder (Huggorm). Where both seas met, we glimpsed two grey seals (Gråsæl) in the distance. From then on, a multitude of seabirds appeared as the people disappeared. Flocks of gulls and common tern (Fjordterne) rested on the beach with sanderling (Sandløber), dunlin (Almidelig ryle) and curlew sandpiper (Krumnæbbet ryle) scuttling around them. Out at sea, a large group of common scoter (Sortend) rested on the waves. As we were leaving, a fox made its way towards the resting gulls, for a attempt at a meal perhaps?

Folk på stationen: Mathilde Ducroz, Frank Osterberg, Martina Hillbrand, Timon Grove Sørensen, Simon S. Christiansen, Jesper og Margit. 

Klik her for at se dagens observationer fra Dofbasen af fugle i Skagen.