Good old easterlies

After some calm migration days, we finally got a good spell of easterly winds again, which made for a decent migration count at Nordstrand. Julian and I were out today and had decided to go to the White Lighthouse (Blyantel) again to get better views of the passerine movements. The morning started well with many Meadow Pipits (Engpiber) and Chaffinches (Bogfinke) and they kept us busy until the end of the count. The stars of the migration count however was the 165 Ring Ouzels (Ringdrossel) migrating in flocks of up to 40 birds. Amazing!

We also had the first larger arrival of Common and Arctic Terns (Fjord- and Havterne) and got very good views of a breeding plumage White-billed Diver (Hvidnæbbet Lom) passing close to the shore. The ringers also saw the bird from Grenen, although rather distant. It was a Lifer for Julian and Alvin, but Simon unfortunately missed it, leaving the ringing site a bit earlier to do some birding at Elle Krattet. They also had a productive morning ringing 17 birds from a nice diversity. Enjoyable was a male Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnappper) and a few Blackcaps (Munk) as well as Chiffchaffs (Gransanger) and two Willow Warblers (Løvsanger). Our new guest Søren was also out with them and took some pictures of the migrating birds.

Blackcaps (Munk)

Chiffchaffs (Gransanger)

After the end of the standardized ringing and counting, the ringers went back and had a nap, while I and Julian started what will probably be our last beach walk this spring. We walked back over the beach from Nordstrand to the lighthouse. It was not many dead birds, but we managed to collect a Gannet (Sule) and when we reached the tip, we got very good views of two Little Terns (Dværgterne) resting on a mudflat, hunting, and passing small fishes to each other. We made a 20 minute break to watch them, and I also got some good pictures.

Little Terns (Dværgterne) passing a fish

Little Tern (Dværgterne) hunting

When we came back, we had lunch and some of the cake I made yesterday before Dylan and Alix needed to leave to finish the beach walk from Gammle Skagen to Nordstrand. They did not find many birds and collected none, which shows that the beachwalk season is about to be over.

Me and Julian used the time to also take a nap and finsih the data entry, befor we had more cake.

In the evening Dylan cooked a dahl and later I went for an evening walk.

People: Alvin Johansson, János Schadl, Alix Bortolussi, Julian Helbig, Dylan Daunt, Simon S. Christiansen, Søren, Knud Pedersen