Ornithological Headdive into October

Yesterday evening, we already checked the weather forecast and wondered if today might be the headstart into a exciting October at Skagen Fuglestation.

Actually, the day started slow. Ringing started a bit later due to rain and observation was also hindered at first by misty conditions. Taken on its own, both were more average. Observation yielded some more Black Guillemots (Tejst) and dabbling ducks, only one Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove).

Ringing numbers weren't too high, but this gave everyone involved more time for enjoying the wonderful bird encounters that were about to unfold. At one of the rounds, Jule was lucky to discover two Siberian Nutcrackers (Tyndnæbbet Nøddekrige)! Fortunately, they stayed in the area around Kabeltromlen for a while, so that many other observers could watch them feeding on berries.

Siberian Nutcracker (ssp. macrorhychus) (Tyndnæbbet Nøddekrige) (photos by Jens Eriksen)

During this wonderful encounter, a pipit calling peculiarly flew over. First analysis of sound recordings point towards a putative Olive-backed Pipit (Tajgapiber), another visitor from Siberia.

And to put a cherry on top of this, there was also a Yellow-browed Warbler (Hvidbrynet Løvsanger) seen around the netting area!

Later on the day, the wind peaked up again, so birding got calmer. We instead listened to an inspiring talk of Dorthe and Anders about their recent journey to Ecuador and the Galapagos islands presenting us a dizzingly colourful different environment as well as reunions with well-known friends, e.g. Sanderling (Sandløper) and Common Terns (Fjordterne), at the other end of the world.

The day ended with well-deserved dinner by Laura and amazing cinnamon buns by Pauline, who will sadly leave us tomorrow.