Denmark’s Most Popular Raptor

Juliane and I went out early in the morning to World’s End 3 and started our morning observations at 5 am, Brian and Martin joined us a bit later, and within the second hour, also Knud arrived. It was a very good morning: Chilly winds and cloudy sky, many birds: A lot of terns (Terne) and gulls (Måge) were resting on the beach or foraging around the tip, almost 90 Red-throated Divers (Rødstrubet Lom) on the water, and a Grey Seal (Gråsæl) hanging out in the surf. But the most impressive were definitely the Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove) – ten or more of them, both light and dark colour morphs, were flying very close to or even over the beach, chasing gulls and terns, sometimes even landing on the sand! This was so much fun to watch. Then suddenly, Brian spotted a Manx Shearwater (Almindelig Skråpe), a bird that we’ve been hoping for a lot the past days, since the wind conditions have been very good for it to turn up. Unfortunately it went straight down on the water before anyone else could see it. After some time however, it flew up again for a few seconds, so also Knud and Juliane saw it. In the end, I was the only one of us who didn’t see it, sadly. I really hope to get one within the next days. Later, the birds’ activity decreased, and so Juliane and I decided to leave after our third hour was done, Brian stayed a little longer and got some more seabird species like Velvet Scoters (Fløjlsand) and Black-throated Divers (Sortstrubet Lom). Meanwhile at the station, we both did some drawing. Juliane made a wonderful illustration of the Cinereous Vulture (Munkegrib). And guess who turned up just half an hour later?! Either summoned by the beautiful drawing, or brought up by the sun now shining and warming up the area, or probably by both, the vulture actually came all the way up and past town again! After receiving the messages on Zello, we first saw it from the window. Then we got out the door and watched as the big bird slowly passed the lighthouse. Many people, even non-birders, stood outside with us and enjoyed great views on the by now highly popular rarity. Our guests Martin and Kristine – and also their young children – saw it too, which they were very happy about, since it was something they really hoped for when getting here. After going out all the way up to Grenen, the Cinereous Vulture (Munkegrib) slowly made its way southwest again at around 12:45.

Cinereous Vulture (Munkegrib)

Juliane's fantastic sketchbook page, showing the Cinereous Vulture (Munkegrib), the Grey Seal (Gråsæl) and some Gannets (Sule).

After all the vulture action, I went on a long walk from Grenen to Nordstrand and up to the Pencil, where I had a little pick-nick; from there back inland over Jennes Sø and Storsig. In the beginning, some dark rain clouds moved in and the wind picked up to almost stormy conditions, but after a while it cleared up again. As I was walking along the beach, I kept an eye out for Common Ringed Plover (Stor Præstekrave) nests and chicks. I also visited the location of the one nest we found some days ago, but unfortunately I couldn’t find anything there now.

Clouds moving in at the Sandormtracks.

Vest Fyr ("The Pencil")

In the meantime, Brian did some computer work first and then went for a little walk too, where he enjoyed good looks at different more common birds. After that, he prepared dinner for us, I came back just before eight o’clock.

People: Brian Browne, Julian Helbig, Juliane Rößler, Knud Pedersen, Simon S. Christiansen, Martin & Kristine Rasmussen