Bearded Reedling Day

Same as yesterday, it was another day with hardly any wind. Accordingly, Sarah and I didn't have to get very warm clothes, as it was already relatively mild in the morning. The passerine activity was actually quite good in the early hours, with several species attempting to migrate but turning back before reaching the sea. Many species of finches flew around, including Common Crossbills (Lille Korsnæb). With crossbills in particular, it is worth listening carefully and if necessary making audio recordings. Parrot crossbills (Stor Korsnæb) could soon appear over Grenen!


Calm morning at the migration count

Over the sea, several bigger groups of Guillemots (Lomvie) and Razorbills (Alk) flew by again. It was also nice to see a small flock of Purple Sandpipers. Due to the good visibility, we were also able to spot a handful of fulmars in the distance. Suddenly we heard something calling behind us. They were definitely Bearded Reedlings (Skægmejse), and shortly afterwards we discovered a flock of 15 individuals flying around! Miles, who was at the ringing, had never seen any before, so I called him on Zello and told him to keep an eye on the sky in case the flock flew over Kabeltromlen. It took less than a minute for a call to come back saying that they had just found two Bearded Reedlings (Skægmejse) in the nets. Since we observers had never seen any in the hand before, we decided to quickly cycle back to take a look at these beautiful birds. Even though the count was briefly interrupted as a result, it was a very good decision! For me, it was definitely a highlight to get to see this fascinating species up close!


Super cute pair of Bearded Reedlings (Skægmejse)!

After that, I headed back very fast and started later counting the resting Common Scoters (Sortand). Because there were so few waves, many of them were visible today, so I was motivated to count as accurately as possible. This took me quite a long time and ended up not even as accurate as I would have liked, because some of them kept flying around. However, the 1750 individuals still meant a respectable number, which was nice.

Afterwards, I went to do some birding at Skarvsøen. The bushes there have consistently proved to be a good spot for passerines over the last few weeks. In particular, I always found many chiffchaffs here. This gives me hope that I’ll maybe find a rare siberian warbler here this autumn! But it didn't happen today. Instead, I was able to observe again a nice flock of Bearded Reedlings (Skægmejse). The highlight of this small trip was not a passerine, but an adult male Hen Harrier (Blå Kærhøg) at Reservatet! What a beautiful raptor!

Back home, I heard that the ringers had caught three more Bearded Reedlings in the last net round - it really seems to be a good day for them! In the afternoon, refreshed by a swim, they checked some ringing sheets before our guests invited us to dinner with a delicious vegetarian lasagne!

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)
Skægmejse 5
Vindrossel 3
Solsort 2
Grønirisk 11
Musvit 2
Gærdesmutte 15
Rødhals 4
Stor Dompap 2
Lille Dompap 2
Bogfinke 2
Munk 2
Rørspurv 3
Fuglekonge 4
Gransanger 1
Træløber 1
Blåmejse 4
Kvækerfinke 3
Total: 66

Ringing (Jennes Sø)
Stor Flagspætte 1
Blåmejse 2
Musvit 4
Sortmejse 1
Topmejse 1
Nordlig Halemejse  4
Fuglekonge 4
Gærdesmutte 3
Lille Dompap 1
Nordlig Gråsisken 1
Lille Gråsisken 16
Grønsisken 2
Total: 40

Highlights from World's End III
Skægmejse 15

Today’s observations from the area can be found here

People: Mara Glane, Florian Hatt, Sarah Partridge, Amira Nuseibeh, Miles Scheuering, Michael Ancher, Simon S. Christiansen, and our guests Mette and Jesper.