Ivory Birds

When my alarm clock rang today, the first thing I did was check the weather radar. As it would rain a while longer, I lay down again for a short while. Later, however, we were all awake and raindrops were still falling outside. A relaxed brunch then prepared us for the day ahead. Amira, Sarah and I went again to the migration count at Nordstrand. Knud had arrived a little earlier and had already counted the first birds. There weren't too many birds migrating, but an adult Little Gull (Dværgmåge), some Auks (Alkefugle) and Kittiwakes (Ride) were of course great to see. Suddenly, a big Diver (Lom) approached from the west. I immediately focused on identifying the colour of its bill. However, I had difficulties even seeing the bill, what was already a very strong indication of a White-billed Diver (Hvidnæbbet Lom). It was so pale that it blended into the background. Only when the bird came close enough, we could see the white-yellow bill and the colouration of the neck to be sure it was one indeed! En fantastisk fugl! We also discussed whether the name Yellow-billed Loon or White-billed Diver makes more sense in terms of bill color. Or how about Ivory-billed Diver? It would certainly sound cool!

In the meantime, Miles, Mara and Simon had brought new pallets to Kabeltromlen. In just a few days we will receive a new cable drum and we want to put it on pallets so that it doesn't get weather-beaten as quickly as the old one!

In the afternoon, we all drove to the harbour together to see if we can find some rare gulls. What about an Ivory Gull (Ismåge) for example? Simon told us about one that showed up several years ago in Denmark together with a Snowy Owl (Sneugle). We would of course take this combination in the harbour of Skagen! But for today no Snowy Owls or Ivory Gulls showed up, but we were still able to observe a Red-throated diver (Rødstrubet Lom), a few Guillemots (Lomvie) and a Rock pipit (Skærpiber) from up close!


Feeding gulls in the harbour

In the evening we were doing various indoor tasks and enjoyed a tasty dinner, that Miles made for us!

No ringing today

Highlights from Nordstrand
Hvidnæbbet Lom 1

Today’s observations from the area can be found here

People: Mara Glane, Florian Hatt, Sarah Partridge, Amira Nuseibeh, Miles Scheuering, Knud Pedersen, Simon S. Christiansen and our guest Lars