Not all treasure is silver and gold

This morning, Mara, Miles, and I opened the nets a little early, anticipating an early close due to the rain. It turned out to be fairly busy with birds today, with a good variety of species. We were very pleased to catch four twites (bjergirisk) today, which are so cute and round! We also had a redpoll (Lille gråsisken) and two siskins (Grønsisken), all very cute indeed! It was very nice to compare these similar species and get to look at the twites up close, with their handsome pink rump feathers. I was very excited on one net round to find another flock of halemejse, my very favourites!! These little sugary treats were mostly a northern flock (nordlig), with gorgeous gleaming white head feathers. The flock also included some retraps from earlier in the week, so it was nice to greet them again and nice of them to bring some new friends from the north.

A Norlig and Sydlig Halemejse together

These bjergerisk that we see here are likely coming from Norway and northern Scandinavia, to spend the winter here or carry on to central Europe, where they forage in large flocks, feasting on seeds and enjoying the winter. What tiny treasures to find in the nets today!

Twite Glorious Twite!!!! (Bjergirisk)

After Simon brought his class by Kabeltromlen to see some of the birds, we saw that rain was coming and quickly closed the nets, with quite a few birds in the closing round. We then scrambled into the tent to keep our little munchkins dry while they waited their turns to get rings.

In other bird ringing news, today Michael Ancher retrapped a treecreeper from Finland! Welcome little friend. 

Meanwhile, Florian and Amira went to migration count at World’s End III. They also had to leave a bit early because of the rain, but still they managed to see over 1,000 auks (lomvie/alk), large flocks of jackdaws (Allike), and a small flock of waxwings (silkehale), which they were both very happy about.

Fabric Florian clounting 670 Allike with a clicker

We then reunited at the lighthouse for lunch and data entry, and in the afternoon went out birdwatching in the wintery sun. Mara and Florian saw a kingfisher (Isfugl) at Jennessø. Now Mara cooks us a tasty dinner and then we will cozy up for a hygge movie night together on this bitter cold night.

Ringing Kabeltromlen:

Vindrossel 1
Solsort 2
Grønirisk 4
Rødhals 4
Gærdesmutte 6
Bjergirisk 4
Grønsisken 2
Gråsisken, Lille 1
Jernspurv 1
Dompap, Stor 2
Dompap, Lille 6
Dompap 4
Bogfinke 1
Munk 1
Blåmejse 2
Fuglekonge 8
Gransanger 1
Halemejse, Nordlig 6
Halemejse, Sydlig 1
Halemejse 1

Today's observations from the area can be seen here. 

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