Bluethroats in the nets and Nightjars by light

There were almost no birds migrating when Tue and I started the count at world's end 1 today. Because there was no wind there were many mosquitoes around, who had it in for us. So we were very happy to hear the message about a female Bluethroat (Blåhals) they catched at Kabeltromelen. The first one this season! 

So we went to see it. Out there we met Mette and our guest Karen-Marie who were supporting the ringers and there were also three very nice journalism students who were joining today. Who should also be mentioned are Denis Lepage the creator of Avibase and Peter Hosner the Bird Curator at the Natural History Museum  Copenhagen who were at Kabeltromelen today. 

Our journalist guests at Kabeltromelen

Back at our observation point a Golden Oriole (Pirol) was called out but we didn't manage to see it. Not much later we got another message from the ringers. They catched another Bluethroat (Blåhals), a beautiful second year male this time!

male Bluethroat (Blåhals)

There was a  sharp change in the weather forecasted for the morning. And in the last hour of counting suddenly many Fullmars (Mallemukker) started to come in from the sea. Not 20 minutes later suddenly the wind really picked up. We counted 225 Fullmars (Mallemukker) in just forty minutes! It was really impressive to observe how strong the birds react to such weather changes.

Another bird which was probably also pushed in by the weather was a Nightjar (Natravn). It came in from the sea and flew directly over our heads. It was really cool to see this bird in daylight! At the same time there was also a Caspian Tern (Rovterne) seen flying along the shore. And the ringers got to see that one.

Nightjar (Natravn) over Grenen

Later in the morning they caught another male Bluethroat (Blåhals). That One was an adult. Appart of the Bluethroats (Blåhalser) they caught 26 other birds today. One of them was a Hawfinch (Kernebider). They were again migrating in good numbers today. 

Later in the day Rasmus and Tue got interviewed by the journalism students and Andrew went out to see a Serin (Gulirisk) which was found earlier. In the evening we went for a little walk  and saw a Red-backed Shrike (Rødrygget Tornskade) and a resting Hobby (Lærkefalk).

  

Ringmærkning: Kabeltromlen

Kernebider 1

Gærdesanger 4

Løvsanger 5 

Blåhals 3

Gulbug 1

Rødstjert 1 

Munk 2 

Rørsanger 1

Bogfinke 3 

Havesanger 7 

Gransanger 1 

 

Total: 29

 

Highlights: 

Nightjar (Natravn) 2

Bluethroat (Blåhals) ssp.svecica 3

Caspian Tern (Rovterne) 1

Golden Oriole (Pirol) 1

Black-Winged Kite (Blå Glente) 1 

Great Northern Diver (Islom) 5

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

 today’s raptor summary from the Skagen area

People: Lucas Corneliussen, Cora Köberle, Tue Baaner, Rasmus Mattiesen-Juhl, Andrew Jacobs, Simon S. Christiansen, Søren & Karen-Marie Leth Nissen