Sea Foam Party

A relentlessly cold, windy day again at the observatory with the gusts up to 32mph and not dropping below 25mph making -2’c feel like -9’c. As a result, the waves along Kattegatkysten, closest to the lighthouse, were high and ferocious with a few Herring Gulls (Sølmåge) and a couple of Common Gulls (Stormmåge) feeding amongst the sea foam.

Picture 1: 3K Cormorant RW(4K4)

The weather and storminess led to us undertaking a second coat of oil in the kitchen before heading out for a walk to find some species and to enjoy the sun again as it was out for most of today. With the wind direction, we thought walking to Nordstrand via Grenen would be best, and then back to the lighthouse via Jennes Sø for a late lunch. Walking through Grenen there were very few passerines seen and heard today. The beach and tip were blown out, so we headed over to see if the Cormorants (Skarv) were roosting on the beach. We found a nice flock of about 24 birds and viewed from a distance. They are always a little nervous here so even our presence was a little too much today. Unfortunate, as one of the 2^nd yr birds had a Danish colour ring on - we will get that one soon! However, we continued westwards. The waves decreased and a few ducks emerged from the swell – 6 Eiders (Ederfugl), ~120 Common Scoters (Sortand), 3 Velvet Scoter (Fløjlsand), and a Red-breasted merganser (Toppet Skallesluger) to be precise. Another flock of Cormorants (Skarv) were seen, and we could easily read the ring of one of them from a good distance away. Cormorant (4K4) was ringed as a chick in 2024 on Hirsholm just offshore from Frederikshavn and this was their first resighting elsewhere, now in its third calendar year.

Picture 2: Nordstrand Dunes

Walking on round to Nordstrand we emerged onto the road and headed towards Jennes Sø. A couple of Great Tits (Musvit) and Blue Tits (Blåmejse) were found in the bushes, and a flyover Yellowhammer (Gulspurv) was nice too. Taking the track to Jennes Sø, the shelter of the small copse made it a little less windy. With it being the coldest winter for about 15yrs in the area, it was not surprising how the small lake was totally frozen. According to the signage, it is a good spot to go ice skating and so maybe this is the year! Moving on round and back to the lighthouse, it was great to see both Rough-legged Buzzard (Fjeldvåge) and Common Buzzard (Musvåge) interacting with one another, as well as a couple of Ravens (Ravn) too.

Picture 3: Near the Lighthouse

A late lunch was had and a quick bit of admin before heading back out and this time in the direction of Skagen. With the sun slowly setting and the Cormorants (Skarv) heading to roost, being on the windiest coastline it was seafoam central with large amounts lifting off the sea and hitting us as we walked along. A small flock of Eiders (Ederfugl) were of note but other than that we headed back for dinner, games and chill.

Highlights:

-       Rough-legged Buzzard (Fjeldvåge)     

Link to Dofbasen here.

Observers: Thomas Weston and Eleanor Harris