Low expectations = great results

 

I do not know where to start to be honest. So much happened today, I just want to write all about it in one sentence. The morning did not give us high hopes because the wind was crazy. Me and Jule decided to still open half of the nets, noting that if it got worse, we would close the rest. We were joined by Pauline and our guests.

We came back from the first round in an elated mood. Minus all the wrens (Gærdesmutte) we had to extract haha. There were about 12 bags with a bird inside and among them were 3 yellowhammers (Gulspurv) and a brambling! (Kvækerfinke). They aren’t rare birds, but they are lovely to get in the nets. Their colors are striking and they give me the warm feeling of autumn’s fast approach.

In the middle of one of our rounds, Jule approached me and Pauline, yelling “We have a Cello bird!”. It was a firecrest (Rødtoppet Fuglekonge)! Our excitement was through the roof. Alongside goldcrests (Fuglekonge) they are the smallest birds in Europe! The one we caught weighed just 5,4 grams. This bird was a first for Pauline and the guests!

 

Puffed up male yellowhammer (Gulspurv). Photo by Laura Tamminen

Lovely male brambling (Kvækerfinke). Photo by Jule Tappe

Our special catch of today, a male firecrest (Rødtoppet fuglekonge). Photo by Pauline Nähring

 

Other notable birds we caught today were a song thrush (Sangdrossel) and a male blackbird (Solsort). Around us we had a flock of red crossbills (lille korsnæb), we have really been hoping to catch some, but so far, we’ve had no luck. A hen harrier (Blå Kærhøg) and a goshawk (Duehøg) also flew past.

 

Doesnt it look quite goth? Male blackbird (Solsort). Photo by Laura Tamminen

 

I would also want to mention that a Siberian nutcracker (Sibirisk Nøddekrige) was spotted by Mio during the evening in Jennes So, so keep your eyes open for a potential lifer! They are lesser-known corvids whose plumage might remind you of a starling, except they’re way bigger and have a thicker beak. Their population here is scarce so this is a very special visitor for Skagen.

Mio and Luis had spent their morning on obs, but unfortunately it was quite slow and inactive. A pallid harrier (Steppehøg) was spotted, but sadly they missed it. They noted some Canada and pink-footed geese (Canadagåsen og Kortnæbbet gåsen) flying past.

After we came back, we had our usual breakfast and nap, which some of us really needed. I kept looking at the clock, waiting for it to hit 16:00. We had some very exciting birds waiting at the rescue center. So exciting that a dozen people came to admire and photograph it. One of them was a lovely tawny owl (Natugle) and right after it a magnificent Eurasian eagle-owl (Stor Hornugle). I was caught off guard by the size of the eagle-owl. It weighed 2,2 kg, they are one of the biggest species of owl after all... I am extremely lucky to be able to see an eagle-owl up close, their population is declining in Estonia and they are very rare, also in Denmark.

3+ tawny owl (Natugle), very calm in the hand. Photo by Jule Tappe

Juvenile and very unpleased eagle-owl. Photo by Pauline Nähring

 

We arrived back to the station, but Luis and Jule decided to immediately head off to Jennes So to hopefully spot the nutcracker, no luck this time. Let’s hope the bird will stay here for a while.

 

Jule and Luis on the lookout for a nutcracker (Nøddekrige). Photo by Mio Brix

 

 

 

Link to todays observations in the Dofbasen from observers in the area.

 

 People: Jule Tappe, Pauline Nähring, Mio Brix, Laura Tamminen, Luis Q. Langfeld, Dorthe and Anders Østerby, Simon S. Christiansen, Jeppe Madsen, Sophie Booker, Lisa Vergin, Henrik Christiansen, Hanne and Jens Eriksen, Jørgen Kabel.