Net fixing in Sunshine

Today, Leona and I started our morning around 3:15 in the morning as we started to prepare for our morning observations in Verdensende 1. Though it was early, the pleasant bicycle ride to the location was more than enough to wake us up and prepare us for hours of meticulous observation, but if we did need to be awoken further a cloud of mosquitoes awaited us on the shrub-bordered paths to the observation site. Once we successfully fought our way to the observation site we were greeted with rays of sunshine, and many Common Scoters (Sortand). But the scene that most impressed us was the aggressive pursuit of two skuas (Kjover) after a single determined Arctic tern clutching at its fishy meal.

Upon returning to the lighthouse, Hanelie soon greeted us with a tasty proposition we had heard much about, apple pancakes. Within an hour, all the rooms were filled with the smell of cinnamon, dough, and baked apples, and as expected the pancakes tasted as delicious as they smelled. After our morning meal, Hanelie, Alice, Megan, Leona, and I discussed how we would divide the group to tend to the mist nets in grave need of repair at various sites and in the attic. By the end of the afternoon, team Alice, Megan, and Leona successfully patched up all the nets on the north side all the while enjoying the wonderful weather and the avoiding the hungry mosquitoes, while team Hanelie and Rita struggled with the nets from the attic but remained confident it will be in working order by tomorrow.

Alice Scalzo Mist Net Repair. Photo Credit: Megan Nepshinsky

Rita DeLucco Mist Net Repair. Photo Credit:Hanelie Sidhu

The end of the day came to a natural end as we approached closer to dinner which would turn out to be a Danish surprise. Much to our surprise, the friendly next-door guests had prepared a traditional Danish home-cooked meal which they kindly and creatively turned vegetarian in order to suit our dietary preferences. The meal in question “tarteletter” stuffed with bechamel sauce and butter beans and topped ever so elegantly with mushrooms and asparagus graced a platter in several rows. By the end of the meal we were positively stuffed and were informed that “tarteletter” in Danish means “take it easy”, which we did after three or more servings of the local delicacy. As we all prepared to say our goodbyes and goodnights, our guests shared yet another surprise, a life-like painting of a feather from Nightjar (Natravne). A bird I hope to encounter in the near future for the very first time.

Tarteletter Dinner by guests Jesper & Anne. Photo Credit: Megan Nepshinsky

Water Color Painting of Nightjar Feather by guest Jesper. Photo Credit: Leona Gottschalkson

Observations of the day in DOFbasn from observers in the area

Sum of the Raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasen the same day

People at the station:  Hanelie Sidhu, Alice Scalzo, Leona Gotctshalkson, Rita DeLucco, Megan Nepshinsky, our guests Jesper and Anne