Spotting birds with spots

When the alarm rang this morning, Sarah, Louis-Marie and I were up and going. It was once again time to open nets at Kabeltromlen in hopes of birds in the net. Wind had picked up since yesterday but we were still able to open most nets. Unfortunately, they caught more leaves than birds today and we also had one zero round. However, that gave us time to study the varying moult of Redpolls (Gråsisken), discuss identification of their subspecies (cabaret and flammea) and generally admire the birds that we did catch. It still, the day was not without highlights! We caught the first surely identified Bullfinch of pyrrhula subspecies, so of the northern breeding population. We had already heard some in the field in the days prior so finally catching this beautiful female was especially nice.

A nice female Bullfinch of the subspecies pyrrhula (Stor Dompap). Foto: Simon S. Christiansen.

In the same round, we had a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the net – the first for this autumn season. It was a first-year male with a suspended moult in the wing. The first year birds of this species also moult primaries in summer/autumn, but this individual had left the three outermost unmoulted.

 A beautiful 1k male Great Spotted Woodpecker (Stor Flagspætte). Foto: Simon S. Christiansen.

In the meantime, Cora and Mio were at World’s End 3 for our migration count. Our helping hand Knud also joined in the first two hours. Sadly, the sea was rather quiet today, so it was a good training in staying amazed by common species. Still, some good stuff was around like two Mediterranean Gulls (Sorthovedet Måge) and a Great Grey Shrike (Stor Tornskade) that migrated out onto the sea. What a curious sight!

At this point of the year, sunrise is so late that we only get back to the station after midday. So there, we ate lunch and entered data. Sarah then spend the evening working while I sorted my bird photos and worked in the laptop. Luis-Marie got the famous introduction talk by Simon were everything you need to know about the station is explained, so now he knows what will await him the next weeks. As dedicated birdwatchers, Mio and Cora went outside in the uncomfortable weather but did not see much. A decent flock of Crested Tits (Topmejse) was the highlight.

With everyone back at the station, we decided to finish the day with a SKAF family outing and went on top of the lighthouse. We enjoyed the view and asked ourselves how amazing this place where we live actually is.

Group picture on top of the lighthouse. Foto: Jule Tappe

Now, it has become very dark outside. Everyone is resting except for Cora who is preparing dinner. I’m sure, it will taste great.

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

People: Mio Brix, Cora Köberle, Jule Tappe, Sarah Partridge, Laura Tamminen, Louis-Marie Gourmelon, Simon S. Christiansen, Knud Pedersen