A Rescue Operation and a Rarity in the Nets!

Like most other days at Skagen Fuglestation, the ringers were up early once again. Having accidently snoozed my alarm, I was running a few minutes behind, but still managed to get out to Kabeltromelen on time to open the nets. Cora and I arrived at Grenen at 03:40 and quickly opened all the nets for our first round at 04:30. While we were opening the “Great Wall of Skagen,” we were delighted to find the Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Buskrørsanger) singing within 20 meters of the nets, which made us think we may have a chance to catch it. Before the first round, Jeppe and Kirsten arrived for another morning of ringing. We always like having other people come with us!

The ringing was quite good today, with roughly 20 birds caught. We expected the ringing to get cut short today due to the coming storm later in the morning, so we were constantly checking the radar to track the progression of the storm. The first few rounds produced lots of Acrocephalus warblers, but no sign of the Blyth’s! However, in the third round, Cora arrived back at the ringing with a warbler she had extracted from the Great Wall which passed the unofficial or scientifc “Banana test,” and we started to get a bit excited. Arriving back at Kabeltromelen, we pulled the bird out of the bag and confirmed it was, in fact, the Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Buskrørsanger). Over the next 30 minutes, we took wing formula measurements and many photos in order to rule out other possibilities, but we were able to confirm it was in fact a Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Buskrørsanger). Once released, we realized the rain would upon us within the next hour and we decided to close the nets before it arrived. The final round produced several more Acrocephalus warblers, but no sign of any other specialties.

Blyth's Reed Warbler (Buskrørsanger) - Andrew Jacobs

On observations; Tue, Rasmus and Andrew had over 1000 Fulmars which dominated their concentration as they migrated northwest. They also had several nice Arctic Skua (Almendelig Kjove), however, the big highlight, which was also a lowlight was that the observers along with others caught a Gray Seal (Gråsael) which was caught in fishing rope. Tue was present for this spectacular rescue and has written a small snippet to tell the story:

For et par dage siden, på vores morgen optælling, så vi en ung Gråsæl på stranden, som havde fået viklet en masse reb omkring halsen. Det var et utroligt sørgeligt syn, og man kunne tydeligt se hvordan rebet havde gnavet sig ind i pelsen. 

Ung gråsæl inviklet i reb, Foto: Knud Pedersen 

Efterfølgende havde vi gået og tænkt over sælen og hvad vi kunne have gjort. 

Da jeg i morges sad på træk optælling, kunne så vi sælen igen. Den lå helt ude på spidsen af grenen sammen med to andre unge gråsæler. Det var ligsom dagen før et meget trist syn, men heldigvis kom Hjalte Benjamin Johansen og Anders E Sørensen hen og spurgte os, om vi ville med ned for at se om vi ikke kunne få det reb af på en eller anden måde, som jeg selvfølgelig sagde ja til. 

Vores strategi var, at vi ville se om vi kunne afskære dens flugtvej til havet, og derefter få den indfanget og skåret rebet af. Dog begyndte den at bevæge sig mod vandet, før vi kom sådan rigtigt tæt på, så jeg satte i løb efter den og fik fat i halen lige inden den nåede vandkanten. Efter en  kort og dramatisk tumult fik vi hurtigt styr på sælen, og kunne begynde at skære rebet over uden nogle større besvær. Det skal nu siges at sådan en gråsæl er ret stærk, og har et meget intimiderende gab, når man kommer helt tæt på...

Sælredning gennem scope fra verdens ende. 

Efter et par minutter fik vi alt rebet af, og sælen kom hurtigt ud i vandet igen, hvor dens to venner lå og ventede på den. Sælen havde sår hele vejen rundt om halsen, og det var tydeligt, at det var dødeligt, hvis rebet var blevet siddende. Dog regner vi nu med at såret kan hele, og vi krydser fingrene for at den klarer det. 

Det var en vild oplevelse, og jeg er glad for at jeg kunne være med til at hjælpe. Kæmpe tak til Hjalte og Anders for et job well done. 

Sælrederende efter et godt stykke arbejde

Once home, the rain started fairly soon thereafter and kept us trapped inside the lighthouse for the remainder of the day. During this time, the Skagen Fuglestation board was meeting and because of a few absences, the volunteers were lucky enough to to receive a few Smørrebrød, a lovely treat! Later, Jeppe and Noja came over and brought colas and chips and we all hung out with Simon and Lisa in the living room and relaxed, something that doesnt happen all that often around here!

And so, another day passes at Skagen Fuglestation. What will tomorrow bring? We will have to wait and see!

 

Highlights:

Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Buskrørsanger) 1

Northern Fulmar (Mallemukker) 1000

Seal Rescue!

 

Ringing: (Kabeltromelen)

Buskrørsanger 1

Gransanger 1

Rørsanger 7

Kærsanger 9

Munk 3

Gærdesmutte 1

Bogfinke 1

Total: 23

People: Lucas Corneliussen, Cora Köberle, Andrew Jacobs, Tue Baaner, Rasmus Mattiesen-Juhl, Jeppe Overgaard + Noja, Simon S. Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Hans Christophersen, Kirsten Bregn