The first night for nightjars

Today we started off the day at Grenen with ringing with many young birds including first year Common Chiffchaffs, Lesser Whitethroats, and Greater Whitethroats. We also heard and saw some of the migrants that had been getting more scarce like Common Cuckoo and Common Rosefinch. Simon heard the continuing Grasshopper Warbler at the sandworm track again today.

After ringing  we went with Jørgen Kabel on a butterfly excursion where we went to a few locations to look for butterflies which we found all of our target species of various blue butterflies. Bird wise at the butterfly locations was also interesting with Common Quail, Red-backed Shrike, Tree Pipits carrying food and a few raptors like European Honey Buzzards and Red Kites out in the warm day.

Phengaris alcon photo Andrew Jacobs

In the evening we prepared to go night catching for Eurasian Nightjars and headed to sandmillan to set up nets where there were several nightjars active in full display around in the area while we set up! We ended up catching 7 birds with 6 new and 1 recapture from 2023 for an excellent night.

Natravn photo Andrew Jacobs

Ringing totals Kabletromle:

Gærdesanger 3

Kærsanger 5

Tornsanger 17

Gulbug 3

Munk 1

Total 39

Ringing totals Sandmilen:

Natravn 6

Highlights:

Common Quail 1 (Vagtel)

Eurasian Nightjars (Natravn)

Grasshopper Warbler 1 (Grasshoppersanger)

Common Rosefinch 1 (Karmindompap)

Common Cuckoo 2 (Gøg)

Observations in Skagen on Dofbasen today.

People: Cora Köberle, Hanelie Sidhu, Andrew Jacobs, Tue Baaner, Paulina Nähring, Simon Sigaard Christiansen and our guests Jeppe and Linda, Jørgen Kabel,