Spot the spotted

 Unfortunately, this will be my last blog. I will be leaving on Monday, but words cannot describe the joy I felt being here. I did not expect to learn so much and hopefully I will be able to return soon. BUT! The day had a few exciting moments.

I spent the morning with Sarah ringing. The weather was a bit windy, but we could keep most of the nets open. Despite not getting anything too extraordinary in the nets in Kabeltromlen we spotted a small flock of 4 bearded reedlings (Skægmejse) flying past. Those were a lifer for me! Their name is a bit misleading because they are actually not related to tits (Mejse) at all! An hour or two later I was focused on some birds being ringed when suddenly Simon literally shouted with all his power: “NØDDEKRIGE!!”

I flinched so badly haha. But indeed, a nutcracker flew quite close by, followed by a second one! Everyone grabbed their cameras and binoculars; I always love such moments. It is so precious seeing everyone get so excited and restless to see a special bird. In total we saw 4 nutcrackers! Those birds are vital for reforestation! They cache various seeds for upcoming harsher days. They are able to relocate about 80% of their hidden seeds, but the remaining 20% will sprout into new trees! One of the Nutcrackers we saw flew past us from such a short distance, I could almost see all of its white spots.

 

Northern nutcracker flying over the people at KAB. Photo by Erik Christophersen (Heres a link to his Flickr profile, where he posts a lot of beautiful photos.)

We were later joined by Luis! Photo by Simon S. Christiansen

Over at Jenne sø there was a very special capture. Michael Ancher caught an Arctic redpoll (Hvidsisken)! It is the first one for all of Denmark this Autumn. He also had a Jay (Skovskade) recapture from last year.. From the data we know its at least 3 years old!

Fluffed up little Arctic redpoll (Hvidsisken). Photo by Michael Ancher.

The observation team consisted of Jule, Mio and Luis, or the “German Trio” as I call it. They reported seeing 2 great skuas (Storkjove) and an Arctic skua (Almindelig Kjove). A flock of 40 Golden plovers (Hjelje) flew by aswell! The razorbills (Alk) have also gotten very active with about 920 migrating birds counted today. I’d say that’s quite a successful count!

After our daily noon routine there was a Zello about a lesser spotted eagle (Lille Skrigeørn) flying close to the lighthouse. All the volunteers ran out to see it and got a great view! I joined a bit later but still managed to see it. These eagles are rare visitors in Denmark and do not breed here.

Great look of the magnificent 1 cy. Lesser Spotted Eagle (Lille Skrigeørn). Photo by Egon Østergaard

Today the others will be going nightcatching at Skarvsøen, fingers crossed they get something exciting!

I will end my last blog with a poem my grandma wrote about Skagen a week after I arrived here. It was originally written in Estonian, but it has been translated!

 

At the tip of the Jutland Peninsula,

where the waters of two seas meet,

the migration of raptors and seabirds,

and there is so much more to see.

At great speed they plunge into the water,

flocks of gannets diving for food.

Turning and flipping beach stones,

the turnstone with its wedge-shaped bill.

A wheatear with its black and white tail

Peers from a rock, searching for bugs.

On beach stones or in shallow water,

A rock pipit, a small passerine, is seen.

Among the dunes, a redstart,

Eagerly stuffing itself with insects before migration.

The far-reaching voice of the bluethroat, a tundra bird,

Lets it be known that it too is there.

 Large black eyes and a tiny beak,

      plumage like an extraordinary masterpiece,

Often heard, rarely seen,

The mysterious and exciting nightjar.

A tiny wren with an upright tail,

Yet possessing a loud and ringing voice.

Between crevices in bark and debris,

Its dining table is rich and plentiful.

Birds have their own life and language,

By protecting them, we protect ourselves.

-My Grandmother

Loone A.

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

People: Mio Brix, Luis Q. Langfeld, Laura Tamminen, Sarah Partridge, Jule Tappe, Michael Ancher, Simon S. Christiansen, Lars Bo Jacobsen, Erik Christophersen, Søren Skov, Sophie Booker, Páll Vang Kjærbo, Birgitte and Bjørn Dahl Porsgaard, Paul Partridge, Linda Mertz