Luck in the nets and luck in the sky

Hi everyone!

Leona and Megan left the bird station at three in the morning today to open the nets in Kabletromle. I went armed with the hedge cutter to Kabletromle, because after ringing the plan was to cut the remaining grass in Kabletomle. On the way, I met Simon, who was also on his way to the first round. And today we had many more vøgel in the nets than in the last few days. In the first round it was mainly Blackcaps “Munk” and today we also had two Spotted Flycatchers “Grå Fluesnapper”, three “Lille Gråsisken” and a Meadow Pipit “Engpiber” as well as a recaptured Rosefinch "Karmindompap". But all this was topped by the Barred Warbler "Høgesanger", which was in one of the nets on the south side. It is the eleventh spring record in Skagen.

Barred Warbler "Høgesanger", Foto: Erik Christophersen

I would have liked to look at the pretty guy a bit longer because this species was the first bird rarity I saw. That was last autumn in Blåvand and this time I appreciated the Barred Warbler “Høgesanger” even more. Even though we were very happy to have it in the net, I hope it will find its way back eventually, as it should be in the Breeding Grounds in the southeast of Sweden and not here in Skagen. Hopefully, it will work out next year with the breeding, maybe in Sweden.

But we couldn't look at it for long, because it was round time again. Alice, who wanted to sleep a bit longer and then do some læptop work, saw it too and ringed the Barred Warbler, we called her and she left the bird station immediately and was fast as lightning in Kabletromle. When the nets were closed after this eventful morning, the events continued, nothing with cutting grass, because the Bearded Vulture “Lammergrib” was announced on Zello. We left Kabletrommle but didn't leave immediately, Simon wanted to wait a little longer until we knew exactly which direction the Bearded Vulture “Lammergrib” was going. Back at the station, Simon showed Alice and me where to set up the nets for guided tours in the Lighthouse Garden in summer. And then the next Zello, it was finally time to go. We contacted Megan and Leona, who were in the house, and then we went. On the way, we saw Jan and Kristine on bikes with the scope. When we saw the bird, Simon threw us out of the car to get Jan and Kristine. They too had seen the bird satisfactorily and Simon drove us a little further to see it again. We were successful and saw it quite well but not close enough for us.

Bearded Vulture "Lammegrib", Foto: Erik Christophersen

But as Simon and Lisa are going to Aalborg today, he wanted to go back. But we hadn't had enough and - what luck - we saw Jørgen driving by. He took us a little further, but unfortunately, we didn't see the Bearded Vulture again. So after a while, we went back to the station, we ate lunch, entered Ringing Data sid the social media post, and now the blog. Today we have cleaning to do and Megan's burger and dessert for dinner to celebrate. My mother Karin will be coming too, she arrived in Skagen today, and will probably be more spoilt by the food than the pouring rain that greeted her when she arrived at the train station. Sounds like a nice evening, and then off to bed soon, so we'll be fit again tomorrow in the field!

See you then, Hanelie

Todays ringed birds at Kabletromle:

Gransanger: 1

Kærsanger: 4

Rørsanger: 4

Gulbug: 1

Grå Fluesnapper: 2

Lille Gråsisken: 3

Engpiber: 1

Gærdesanger: 1

Topmejse: 2

Munk: 20

Havesanger: 4

Bogfinke: 3

Høgesanger: 1

Total: 47

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

Klik her for at se opsummeret observationer af rovfugle i Skagen

People at the station: Simon S. Christiansen, Hanelie Sidhu, Alice Scalzo, Leona Gottschalkson, Megan Nepshinsky, our guests Jan Hjort Christensen, Kristine Kleffel and Karin