Snake Bird and Mist Nets

Early this morning while Nathan and I were doing our daily migration counts, we received an exciting message from the ringing team up at KAB. The team composed of Martina, Max, and Alice had caught something extra special in their mist nets, a wryneck (Vendehals), a first for many of us. The wryneck is part of the woodpecker family and is capable of doing extraordinarily strange movements with its neck. It is said that the movements the bird exhibits are a threat display to scare away predators. In fact, they can turn their head nearly 180 degrees and the snake-like movement has given them the nickname of ‘’snake bird’’ in parts of the world.

Wryneck (Vendehals), Photo Credit: Max Laubstein

Wryneck (Vendehals), Photo Credit: Max Laubstein

While Nathan rushed to catch a glimpse of the bird and take the necessary photographs after it had been rung, I caught three Common Kestrels (Tårnfalk) in my scope down by the beach. Much to my delight, the juvenile was practicing its flying abilities in the dunes and I was briefly able to watch it hone its skills. Over the course of the morning, over 20 individuals of the species were recorded in the area, perched on trees, flying above, and practicing the skills necessary to become an efficient predator.
In the early afternoon, Knud was kind enough to drive our team to the cormorant lake to begin the arduous but necessary task of creating new mist net lanes. Although it will take many days to complete the task and the location seems to be yet another favorite for mosquitoes, many bird species were heard over the course of the activity further confirming the potential of the location for future bird ringing. The location's proximity to a lake combined with a terrain compromising of dunes and reeds is prime habitat for many passerine species, it is, therefore, our hope that new nets at the location will enable us to continue the important work conducted by the Skagen Fuglestation in the form of ringing and data collection.

Local observations of the day in DOFBasen

Ringing at Kabeltrommlen:

Vendehals (Wryneck): 1

Gråsisken (Redpoll): 1

Rørsanger (Reed Warbler): 3

Gærdesmutte (Wren): 1

Gærdesanger (Lesser Whitethroat): 3

Kærsanger (Marsh Warbler): 2

Tornsanger (Common Whitethroat): 17

Dompap, lille (Bullfinch): 1

Sivsanger (Sedge Warbler): 1

Løvsanger (Willow Warbler): 4

Sortmejse (Coal Tit): 2

Havesanger (Garden Warbler): 1

Munk (Blackcap): 2

Blåmejse (Blue Tit): 4

Rørspurv (Reed Bunting): 1

Gransanger (Chiffchaff): 6

total: 50

People:  Rita DeLucco, Alice Scalzo, Nathan Delmas, Max Laubstein, Martina Hillbrand, Knud Pedersen