Wrestling Wrens

There was another beautiful orange sunrise this morning at the start of the bird ringing session and it was the busiest morning of the Autumn so far with 103 birds in total! It was a big morning of Wren (Gærdesmutte) migration with 31 caught in the nets and many more calling from the bushes. Their call is actually one of the loudest for a bird of its size. It can reach 90 decibels which is as loud as lawnmower!

Wren (Gærdesmutte)

It was also super exciting to see two Ring Ouzels (Ringdrossel) which decided to hang out around the bird ringing station for a few hours. We tried to herd them into one of the mist nets but unfortunately they outsmarted us this time and, after snacking on some berries, they eventually headed off. The observers at Worlds End III also spotted a Ring Ouzel so I wonder if it was one of the same individuals we saw. Ring Ouzel are long-distance migrants which breed in northern and upland parts of Europe and then travel all the way to southern Europe and North Africa for the Winter.

Ring Ouzel (Ringdrossel) in a bush. Photo by Gabriel Axelsson

I was also very happy to see my first Redwing (Vindrossel) of the Autumn migrating over us at Kabeltromlen. It won’t be long before they return in their thousands alongside the Fieldfare too! I can’t wait!
The observers (Miles, Florian & Sarah) also spotted lots of Redwings this morning from World End III, but the highlight for them was when the Orca (Spækhugger) made a surprise appearance. Although the Orca were quite far away, it was still incredible to see them surfacing and swimming around for almost an hour!

After our morning of ringing and observations, Sarah, Miles and I enjoyed our daily swim in the sea. The water was so clear and blue today, and we found two Starfish (Søstjerne) which was a nice surprise. Sarah, Gabriel and I stayed at home to catchup on some data entry and work whilst Miles, Florian, Simon and our guest Ole went back out for some birdwatching. They were really pleased to see five extremely beautiful five Black Redstarts in the industrial area.

Setting up the mist nets to catch Storm Petrels (Stormsvaler)

Tonight, we will head out night catching in the hope of maybe finding one the Leach’s Storm Petrels (Stor stormsvale) which we have seen from Worlds End III in the last few days. But first Ole and Birgitte have cooked us a delicious dinner to warm us up and fill us with energy ready for the night ahead!

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):

Bogfinke 5, Gærdesmutte 31, Sortmejse 10, Rødhals 11, Musvit 5, Jernspurv 1, Rødstjert 1, Munk 10, Rørspurv 2, Blåmejse 4, Fuglekonge 16 , Gransanger 6, Træløber 1

Ringing (Jennes Sø)

Gærdesmutte 2, Rødhals 2, Solsort 1, Gransanger 1, Fuglekonge 5, Blåmejse 1, Musvit 2, Bogfinke 1, Gråsisken, Lille (ssp. cabaret) 21

Total new birds: 118

Highlights from Worlds End III:
Ring Ouzel (Ringdrossel) 1
Redwing (Vindrossel) 17
Black Guillemot (Tejst) 1
Orca (Spækhugger) 5+

Link to today’s observations in DOFbasen from the Skagen area

People: Gabriel Axelsson, Florian Hatt, Miles Scheuering, Amira Nuseibeh, Sarah Partridge, Simon Christiansen, Michael Ancher, Ole Kristjansen, Lisa Vergin, Ole and Birgitte Jørgensen.