Seabirds in Wind, Waves and Rain

After going to bed very late yesterday, Juliane and I got up at eight today, when Brian who had a bit more sleep was out birdwatching at Grenen already. He enjoyed many migrating waders, mainly Sandpipers, there. After breakfast, Juliane and I also went for a long walk, and she got to know many places too. It was a grey, very windy day with many rain showers. We watched a flock of resting Eiders (Ederfugl) at the Seal Bunker, and they ended up being Juliane’s highlight of the day. She had not seen Eiders before, so they even were a lifer for her. There also were many gulls and terns around, as well as some Common Scoters (Sortand).

Seal Bunker with resting birds.

After we got back, wet from the rain, we sat in the kitchen together and worked on different stuff. Juliane made a very impressive Eider drawing. Then Brian went on a trip to the harbour, but he didn’t see anything there, and was only hungry, exhausted and wet in the end. Juliane and I visited the exhibition downstairs at some point, and also tried the fresh sirup which I made from the water mint I picked the other day.

Fresh water mint sirup!

Then we went out to Grenen again. The waves were very strong around the tip, and the birds were battling the winds. On our way back, we had a very close encounter with a light morph Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove) at Drachmanns Grav. A bit later I the same bird again from the lighthouse garden, this time together with a younger one. A juvenile Black Redstart (Husrødstjert) sought shelter in the garden. This was Brian and Juliane’s first full day in Skagen, and I think they enjoyed it a lot. There’ll be great stuff coming up!

Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove), 4th calendar year.

People: Julian Helbig, Brian Browne, Juliane Rößler, Mette Breede