Skagen Mountaineer Club

A morning without wind and clear sky brought a calm experience to Skagen Fuglestation. With great view, the observation team got to see rather low activity on the sea. Even more surprisingly, there were three Sooty Shearwaters (Sodfarvet Skråpe) passing by showing an unusual flappy flight style without stronger wind. There was also some migration of Jackdaws (Allike) and geese.

Ringing yielded an unsteady session with a busy first round with several Eurasian Wrens (Gærdesmutte) and later a flock of Eurasian Blue Tit (Blåmejse), but otherwise calmer rounds. During the ringing, we could watch a Siberian Nutcracker (Tyndnæbbet Nøddekrige) migrating high over towards Grenen.

Busy with ringing and observing birds at Kabeltromlen (photo: Páll Veng Kjærbo)

We also got a notice about the recovery of an Eurasian Blue Tit (Blåmejse) ringed at Skagen Fuglestation on 23/03/2026. It was refound at the Hanko Bird Observatory in Finland 188 days later in September and 741 km away to east/northeast.

Locations of the ringing and the recovery site of the Eurasian Blue Tit (Blåmejse)

In the afternoon, we did a trip to Råbjerg Mile, the largest moving dune in Danmark. It was a very fascinating view from high above and surrounded by a landscape shaped by sand! We were very surprised to find a putative Giant House Spider (Eratigena atrica) on top of the dune. This species is normally associated with human buildings. But it seemed as keen to climb the dune as we were!

Hiking up Råbjerg Mile (photo: Laura Tamminen)

Jule making a sand angel (photo: Sarah Partridge)

A house spider far away from the next house on top of a moving dune (photo: Luis Q. Langfeld)

As we were already in mountain mood, we continued our summit scouting with climbing up to Flagbakken with a wonderful view over Klitplanagen and seeding Broad-leaved Helleborine (Skovhullæbe), a kind of orchid, next to the path. Up there, we saw several Eurasian Jays (Skovskrige), a flock of Red Crossbills (Lille Korsnæbb) and to our delight another Nutcracker (Nøddekrige) flying north!

Watching for the Nutcracker (Nøddekrige) at Flagbakken (photo: Laura Tamminen)

As last station of our hill hopping journey, we finally climbed the highest point of the Skagen area, the dune of Stokmilen. While it started raining, we still enjoyed the view over the city and port of Skagen.

Ringing – Kabeltromlen

Eurasian Wren (Gærdesmutte) – 13

European Robin (Rødhals) – 4

Eurasian Bullfinch (Dompap) – 2

Common Chiffchaff (Gransanger) – 7

Common Reed Bunting (Rørspurv) – 1

Eurasian Blackbird (Solsort) – 1

Eurasian Blackcap (Munk) – 4

Common Chaffinch (Bogfinke) – 1

Great Tit (Musvit) – 1

Eurasian Blue Tit (Blåmejse) – 12

Total: 46

Observation Highlights:

Long-tailed Skua (Lille Kjove) – 1

Sooty Shearwater (Sodfarvet Skråpe) – 3

Siberian Nutcracker (Tyndnæbbet Nøddekrige) – 2

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

People: Jule Tappe, Mio Brix, Laura Tamminen, Luis Q. Langfeld, Sarah Partridge, Simon S. Christiansen, Páll Vang Kjærbo, Sophie Booker, Jesper and Karen Marie Olesen, Manuel Tacke, Jørgen Kabel, Hanne and Jens Eriksen, Jeppe Madsen,