Diving Birds and Driving Volunteers

Jule was the first one who got up this morning to open the nets at Kabeltrommeln. Simon and Alexander joined her later for the first round. Due to the ongoing westerly wind, there weren't many passerines active, so they didn't catch many birds today. But on the last round they were all happy about a Tree Pipit (Skovpiber) in the net. These birds are always great to see close up.

My morning took me out to World's End 3 to do the migration count. I started with scanning the terns (Terne) and gulls (Måge). There were 7 Mediterranean Gulls (Sorthovedet Måge) on the beach, so still a good number after our and Skagen's all-time highcount of 14 (!) birds yesterday. While scanning the sea, I heard the flight calls of a Temminck's Stint (Temmincksryle), and then it flew quite close over the dune.

Temminck's stint (Temmincksryle) over World's End 3

Knud and Erik joined me at the end of the second hour, and a few minutes later, I spotted 2 Slavonian Grebes (Nordisk Lappedykker) swimming quite close to the shoreline. One 1K and one adult bird, which was moulting into winter plumage but still had some feathers of its breeding plumage. But that was not the only highlight of the count: while scanning the Kattegat to look for some resting birds, for example the known Long-tailed Duck (Havlit), which I also found later on, Knud spotted a 2K Great Northern Diver (Islom) close to the shoreline, another nice diving bird today! Jule, Simon and Alexander were also able to see both the Slavonian Grebes (Nordisk Lappedykker) and the Great Northern Diver (Islom) from Kabeltrommeln.

After we all headed back (with the good birds from today in our back), we had a quick breakfast and welcomed Alfred, who will stay here at the station until the 5th of August. Then Mette and Páll picked us up and drove us to a place south of Tuen to ring Barn Owl (Slørugle) chicks. We really enjoyed the ride to this place with some music in the car! And of course, we enjoyed ringing the owls!

Taking Barn Owls (Slørugle) out of their breeding box

3 Young Barn Owls (Slørugle) waiting for their rings

After we drove back, most of us had a nap, and after that we did our daily tasks, including grocery shopping, and had a nice strawberry cake again! Thanks to Mette for bringing this delicious cake two days in a row!

1K Black Redstart (Husrødstjert) in the lighthouse garden. Picture by Alfred

And with that, another day at Skagen Fuglestation comes to an end. Let's see what the next days will bring!

Ringing (KAB):

will be added tomorrow

Ringing Tuenvej:

Barn Owls (Slørugle)-3

Highlights from the observation:

Great Northern Diver (Islom)- 1 

Slavonian Grebes (Nordisk Lappedykker)-2

Temminck's stint (Temmincksryle)-1

Mediterranean Gulls (Sorthovedet Måge)-7

Cuckoo (Gøg)-1

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

People: Jule Tappe, Mio Brix, Simon Kiesé, Alexander Nyholm, Alfred Godsk Geckler, Mette Breede,Páll Vang Kjærbo, Lisa Vergin, Simon S. Christiansen, Knud Pedersen, Erik Christophersen.