First CES Ringing in Summer Season!

Today we got up super early to start into the day Brian and I have long been waiting for: our first Ringing at Skagen Fuglestation! We all hopped on our bikes and cycled for a short while towards the site near northbeach (Nordstrand). When we arrived, the most beautiful sunrise was glowing through the fog and made the landscape look like a painting. We jumped into our waders and started opening nets, which made me have a very close aquaintance with the muddy marshwater. Back at the ringing table Simon joined us and we waited for the first net check, enjoying the view on Cormorant lake. I saw my first ever Red-necked Grebe (Gråstrubet lappedykker) which even had a chick, while Brian spotted a Green Sandpiper (Svaleklire) as a new lifer for him. Later that day, he also identified a Caspian Gull (Kaspisk måge) on the lake and saw his first Marsh harrier (Rørhøg)!

Sunrise at Skarvsøen

However, soon the first ringing could start. There were not too many birds per check, so we could take our time to practice handling, measurements and moult patterns. Some time later Kristine, Martin and their kids gave us a visit. It was very cute to see the little ones fascinated by the birds and to observe their unstoppable will for going on adventures. Many Common Whitethroats (Tornsanger), Reed Warblers (Rørsanger) and Blackcaps (Munk) later, we were all sweaty and exhausted but richer in knowledge and experience. It was a lot of fun and we are already looking forward to the next ringing day at Kabeltromeln on Sunday! After packing up, Julian and Brian jumped into the sea, while I headed home to eat and get some computerwork done. On their way home, Julian and Brian spotted the Cinereous Vulture (Munkegrib) over Grenen again, this time surrounded by Common Buzzards (Musvåge), Common Kestrels (Tårnfalk) and Red Kites (Rød glente), which are a new lifer for Brian as well! Reunited at the station we rested for a bit, until we had to leave for some more orchid counting in the afternoon.

Extracting the first bird!

Many 1st year Juvenile Blackcaps (Munk) around

When we arrived at the field with Knud and John, a flock of cows was grazing the field we planned to work on. While we waited for them to move on, we observed a very pretty Stonechat (Sortstrubet bynkefugl). Thankfully the cows let us pass and we started counting endless Heath spotted orchids (Plettet Gøgeurt) all over the meadow. In the end, there were over 13.000 of them! On our way back to the car, Brian saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Stor flagspætte) as another lifer. A bit tired but satisfied we arrived back home, where Erik and Henrik were expecting us. Henrik is going to be our guest until tomorrow and we had a very nice chat with him. I cooked some dinner and Simon joined us afterwards for a short evening meeting. Looking at the calm sea on this bright sunny evening, Brian couldn’t help himself but to go seawatching. He spotted several Fulmars (Mallemuk), a Razorbill (Alk) and Velvet Scoters (Fløjlsand).

Very calm sea at Grenen

Very late in the evening, we headed out to Storsig. We aimed to catch some nightjars and maybe some quails if they turned up. It was very foggy again, which set a beautiful scene over the Heathland. Just a few minutes after we opened our nets and turned on the speaker, we saw a Nightjar flying over us! For Brian it was a lifer, and for me it was an awesome experience, since European Nightjars are one of the species I was looking most forward to before coming to Skagen. Unfortunately, we haven’t caught one in the net, but it’s still good to know they are around. We also heard a few quails singing, so Julian tried to find and catch them. Unfortunately that was without success as well, and in the early morning hours Brian and went back to go to sleep, while Julian stayed a hit longer before he left. On his way back, he saw a Short-eared owl (Mosehornugle) and enjoyed the breathtaking view from the top of the lighthouse, before he finally went to bed as well. What a long and exciting day that was!

Det Grå Fyr on a foggy night

Link to today’s observations in DOFbasen from observers in the area

People: Juliane Rößler, Julian Helbig, Brian Browne, Simon S. Christiansen, Kristine & Martin Rasmussen, Knud Pedersen, John Brask, Erik Christophersen, Henrik T. Rask