stinking, foul gull

Today was windy so the whole group got to go observing at World’s End III. We made sure everyone was fitted with bikes and scopes and everything we need, and after a nice breakfast together we all headed over where we met Knud. Karen Marie and Søen also joined us a little later. It was loud in the wind and it was very cute with everyone shouting birds at each other over the wind. It was a pretty busy day for migration, with many Lomvie (Guillemots) and Alk (Razorbills), Ride (Kittiwakes), Sandløber, and some Mallemuk (Fulmars) who I have not seen for a few days now. A bit of interest about Fulmars—where does this word come from? They shear water too, but have a different name. It comes from old Norse ‘Full’ (stinking, foul) + ‘mar’ (gull), named for the extremely smelly oil they project when threatened. This oil can be highly toxic to predators because it removes the waterproofing from an attacker’s feathers, causing them to eventually die. The Danish "mallemuk" I am not sure about; Simon said a Malle is 'kind of a fish' but I think there is more to the story. Does anyone know? Please tell us! 

It was also nice to see an Arctic skua (Almindelig Kjove) very close to us flying in from Kattegat, and then shortly after a Long-tailed skua (Lille kjove). I was excited to see two Bar-tailed godwits (Lille Kobbersneppe) relaxing on the beach with some gulls. We also saw a sooty shearwater (Sodfarvet skråpe) although it was quite far out. “SOOTY SHEARWATER” was shouted down the row of observers several times to make sure no one would miss it!

After the count, I went to read some gull rings before the flock got flushed, and Janna and Amira went to admire the large quantity of Ederfugl resting in Kattegat. Some of us then went for a very cold swim before lunch, and we were surprised with a delicious cake waiting for us in the apartment. When we found out it was Simon who magnanimously brought the cake we all thanked him profusely and he said without looking up “now you can remove ‘eat cake’ from the To-do list.” But you can never eat enough cake.

After lunch Karen Marie kindly brought us to Skarvsøen to finally collect the poor neglected CES table, which has certainly seen better days, but happily many spiders have found a home to build their nests so the table is not being wasted. There we did a bit of birdwatching, and although we did not see the Citrine Wagtail (citronvipstjert) again (because we forgot to bring Florian the Citrine magnet), we did see a spoonbill (Skestork) flying overhead and a juvenile water rail (Vandrikse) which I always love, and Florian saw a Cuckoo (Gøg) without us. Now we do some office tasks while Florian cooks us a nice-smelling ratatouille. But no dessert because we are already out of cake!

Highlights from World's End III

Sodfarvet skråpe

Lille kjove

Mallemuk

Lille Kobbersneppe

Toppet Skallesluger

Ride

Link to today's observations in DOFbasen.

People: Gabriel Axelsson, Florian Hatt, Janna Ouedraogo, Sarah Partridge, Amira Nuseibeh, Miles Scheuering, Simon Christiansen, Knud Pedersen and our guests Søren and Karen Marie Leth-Nissen