July winds are coming up

Even though the wind picked up, we were out early this morning. The attempt on nightcatching was unsuccesful but we were looking foward to ring some diurnal birds at Kabeltromlen.

Due to the wind we had to close a bit early, but it was still a good morning, since we had a lot of fun with making silly jokes, giving Juliane (who had to took the train back to Germany today - was nice meeting you, have a good trip) and Brian (who unfortunately leavs tomorrow) the chance to ring some last birds here. Sofie, who stays here over the weekend to get an impression of the stations work, also got her first impression of ringing. 

Best birds were not in the net though, but in the air. It started with a Cuckoo (Gøg) flying away from our net lanes in the early morning. During ringing we heard calls of a Spotted Redshank (Sortklire). Even though we did not get views on it, Brian enjoyed this new species to him. While closing nets due to the uppicking wind, we heard the Green Woodpecker (Grønspætte) again, that is around for several days now.

The uppicking wind is the right word to lead over to the migration counts. Jule was out at World's End 3 and got the joyful company of Knud. Their highlight were 10 Mediterranean Gulls (Sorthovedet Måge) on the beach. 9 of them were first and one was a second year bird. That's a quite good number and since it increased the past days, I'm curious if it will get even higher. An adult dark morph Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove) was pretty and together with Fulmars (Mallemuk) and Kittiwakes (Ride) the image of "westerly-wind-birds" was completed.

After having delicious dinner and finishing the data work, Jule and I went out to Grenen to have a look at the roosting terns. There were more than 700 - mostly Common (Fjordterne) and Sandwich Terns (Splitterne), but also 28 Arctic Terns (Havterne). We read some rings of the roosting birds including two of the young Mediterranean Gulls (Sorthovedet Måge). The highlight was not far away: a fourth calendar year Yellow-legged Gull (Middelhavssølmåge)! Since it is moulting the same feathers as the bird Knud saw two days ago, it must be the same bird. Since it was a new species to Brian, he came out aswell, so we three celebrated this Life/Denmark/Grenen-tick. On my way back a young Goshwak (Duehøg) flew over my head. It was really fun to see so many birds around and since I was busy with ringing the past days, this was my first time really being out on the beach this stay. 

 Young Mediterranean Gull (Sorthovedet Måge) in good company. (Simon Kiesé)

Highlights from the observations:

Mediterranean Gull (Sorthovedet Måge) – 10

Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove) - 2

Green Woodpecker (Grønspætte) - 1

Spotted Redshank (Sortklire) - 1

Yellow-legged Gull (Middelhavssølmåge) - 1

Ringing (KAB):

Chiffchaff (Gransanger) - 4

Marsh Warbler (Kærsanger) - 1

Common Whitethroat (Tornsanger) - 3

Common Redstart (Rødstjert) - 1

Wren (Gærdesmutte) - 1

Great Tit (Musvit) - 1

Total: 11 

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

People: Brian Browne, Simon S. Christiansen, Simon Kiesé, Søren Roed, Juliane Rößler, Jule Tappe, Páll Vang Kjærbo, Sofie Bugge Kobberø.