The first flycatcher

The rain delayed the start of ringing this morning but it turned out to be well worth the wait for Isis, Hanalie and Magnus. They caught many many more birds than the last few days! Their highlight was the first Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper) ringed this season, a beautiful adult male.

There were also many more Willow Warblers (Løvsanger) caught and ringed.

These beautiful birds can now be heard singing all around Grenen.

A Waxwing (Silkehale) was also spotted migrating over Kabeltromlen and a Redstart (Rødstjert) was seen flying nearby. It seems there are finally some new spring arrivals. Hopefully they will soon be in our nets too!

The sea was very quiet so it was another slow migration count for Simon Jr and I at World’s End 1. However, we saw two Shags (Topskarv) one of which roosted for a short while on the bunker and we were able to get some very nice views of it. We also saw a Slavonian Grebe (Nordisk Lappedykker) flying into Kattegat and two Wheatears (Stenpikker) over the beach.

After a brief stop at the ringing, Simon Jr and I returned to the station and ticked off a few jobs including data entry, kitchen cleaning and swapping the poles in the old lighthouse garden so they can be used at Skarvsøen instead. We then had a very nice cup of coffee with Mette in the lighthouse shop whilst having an interesting discussion about the ageing of raptors. Then, hearing over Zello that a Steppe Eagle (Steppeørn) had been spotted, Simon and I ran up the lighthouse to try and see it from the top. Not only did we see the Steppe Eagle (Steppeørn), we also saw a White-tailed Eagle (Havørn), Common Buzzards (Musvåge) and Red Kites (Rød Glente). It really is a great place for raptor watching!

We got back down again just as Hanalie, Isis and Magnus arrived back from the ringing and we all had a very nice lunch together. There was no time to rest afterwards however. Just as we finished eating a Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg) was reported over Zello so we ran all the way back up the lighthouse again. That time really hurt the legs! Unfortunately we didn’t manage to see the Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg). We hope to see one soon, it is a species that keeps eluding us!

From the top of the lighthouse we saw Simon Sr arriving so back down again we went to load up his car with the equipment needed to finish setting up the CES nets at Skarvsøen. It was very hot work for Hanalie, Isis and I putting up the last three nets; it really felt like spring had finally arrived. Unfortunately we realised the last net was broken so Magnus kindly cycled over with a new one.

Meanwhile, the two Simons were out and about putting out some recorders in the area. These will be out for three weeks and hopefully will record the calls of some interesting bird species.

We all finally arrived back at the lighthouse to a nice evening surprise; Jørgen and Jan joined us at the apartment and brought with them some delicious traditional bread to celebrate Store bededag tomorrow, all washed down with a glass of glühwein. Tak for such a nice treat. What a great way to end such a busy day!

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet):

Total: 48

People: Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Jan Eske, our guests Helle Rasmussen and Johan Deichmann.