Burning the candle at both ends

Once again we were up early to hit Grenen. I don’t know what was different today, but it certainly felt like the autumn migration. We had 33 birds and 2 retraps, the biggest number we’ve had in a day for weeks of not months. These included a sedge warbler, a pied flycatcher, sparrowhawk and juvenile great spotted woodpecker, our second of the autumn.

Once we returned to the Obs, I was very quickly collared by Flemming for a guided tour for an English couple. As it was very last minute, I did not have the nets open for long, and as such there were no birds, but they enjoyed the tour nonetheless. I was later called down again (from an afternoon nap) to discuss a possible birding tour over the weekend, but this was not followed through on because of the prospect of unsuitable weather. The ladies made themselves available to the guests, before heading to Skiveren to visit friends and, Stensnæs to go birdwatching, where they saw ospreys and crested tits.

After lunch I headed into Skagen for dinner ingredients and after dinner, Michele and I sorted out nets recordings and other equipment for a late night excursion to Grenen in search of waders. Sadly the weather turned once we were out there, and the promising stagnant pool where Michele had seen waders the precious day had turned into a full lagoon. We gave it an hour of trying to lure sanderling into the nets but gave up around 1.30.

Ringed birds                       Retraps
Willow warbler -7
Chiffchaff – 1
Reed warbler – 5
Marsh warbler – 2
Lesser whitethroat – 3
Sedge warbler – 1
Whitethroat – 8
Reed bunting – 2
Blackcap – 1                         2
Sparrowhawk – 1
Great spotted woodpecker -1

Pied flycatcher 

Sparrowhawk