A Night to Remember: Storm-Petrels, Nightjars and Morning Migration

Today (or in the night), me and the other volunteers woke up around midnight, because a European Storm-Petrel (Lille Stormsvale) has flown into the net. It’s a species that the bird station tries to ring every year, and I have been here for two years without catching any, so I was very happy (and very tired) when I saw the little, black bird. This bird looked super interesting for a scarce second year bird, since its primaries seem to be very worn with no sign of interrupted moult. Since ageing of these tiny birds is sill not completely understood, we need further research to see if it was indeed a second year bird.

Today (or in the night), me and the other volunteers woke up around midnight, because a European Storm-Petrel (Lille Stormsvale) has flown into the net. It’s a species that the bird station tries to ring every year, and I have been here for two years without catching any, so I was very happy (and very tired) when I saw the little, black bird. This bird looked super interesting for a scarce second year bird, since its primaries seem to be very worn with no sign of interrupted moult. Since ageing of these tiny birds is sill not completely understood, we need further research to see if it was indeed a second year bird.

After seeing (and holding!) the Storm-Petrel, I decided to try and sleep some more. But one and a half hours later we were woken up again. This time, because a European Nightjar (Natravn) had fly in the other net. A very special bird, which we were also very happy to see.

1K Nightjar (Natravn) 

Another European Storm Petrel (a 3K+ bird, which is what we usually catch) flew into the net at 3 am. At 4 am, another Nightjar (an adult male with white patch in the wings and tail) flew in the net. I didn’t see any of them, because the sleep kept me in the bed.

Second Storm-Petrel of the night (3K+). Foto: Simon Kiesé

When we woke up in the morning, (except for Mio, who had been up all night) me and Alexander went to Verdens Ende 3 to do migration count, while Simon, Jule and Moritz headed to Kabeltromlen to ring. The highlight in the first two hours on observation was a Ruddy Turnstone (Stenvender), but in the last two hours, we saw over 400 Common Swift (Mursejler) on migration. There were a lot of Barn Swallow (Landsvale) and Western House Martin (Bysvale) as well. The highlight at the ringing was also the many swifts, and the wader migration. They even got a big flock of 27 Oystercatchers (Strandskade).

When we got home, almost everyone went to sleep, but Simon and Simon took to Skagen station to pick up Katia, Simons girlfriend. When me and Alexander woke up, we put the birds we saw today on Dofbasen, while the rest either slept or was eating watermelon.

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):
Tornsanger - 12
Gærdesanger - 5
Gransanger - 2
Havesanger - 1
Munk - 3
Løvsanger - 1
Kærsanger - 1
Gulbug - 1
Total: 26

Ringing (Det Grå Fyr):

European Storm-Petrel (Lille Stormsvale) - 2 

European Nightjar (Natravn) - 2

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

People: Jule Tappe, Mio Brix, Simon Kiesé, Katia Kit, Moritz Morteani, Alfred Godsk Geckler, Páll Van Kjærbo, Sophie Booker, Michelangelo Morganti, Lars Askholm, Alexander Nyholm, Simon S. Christiansen