Who can see the most species in one day from one spot?

To find out we moved to World's End 1 early in the morning to do our daily count and also the Tower Battle with a nice group of 10 Birders. The goal was to see as many species as possible from our spot without moving somewhere else. The morning started early with a singing White-spotted Bluethroat (Sydlig Blåhals) which made the fitting soundtrack to the calm weather and the nice sunrise. It did not take long until the first Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg) passed by and headed out to sea towards Sweden. During the morning we saw 4 young birds (2nd cy) and one adult male. Otherwise two Montague's Harriers (Hædehøg) flew out and even with fewer birds over sea than yesterday the species list added up bird by bird. Nice arrivals like Sedge Warbler (Sivsanger) were very welcomed by us. At noon the Battle of the Towers was finished with a great total of 105 species - just 4 under the highscore, which was set up in Skagen.

The ringers also participated in the Battle of the Towers and gave their very best to get new songbird species for us. The best catch of the day was definitely the third Wood Warbler (Skovsanger) of the year! It is such a beautiful species and I've still not seen one in hand (you will read in a second why I was not at KAB at that point). Hopefully that will change soon.

When the message came, that there is a Sandhill Crane nearby in Jerup, we got really excited. Luckily Jan offered to take Hanelie and me with him (tak!!), so we quickly left and started our small twitch. When we arrived the Sandhill Crane (Prærietrane) was foraging in mid distance on a field together with Common Cranes (Trane). What a beautiful bird!!! Since it was a new species for Hanelie and me and we had great company with Jan, the mood was awesome. Some Corn Buntings (Bomlærke - why do danish people call this Bunting a Lark?) were nice to see and we heared our first Cuckoo (Gøg) of the year. 

Luckily for my sleep bilance, I decided to take a nap in the afternoon. This is a risk, because you can miss some birds but thanks to Zello we are always alert if there are really good birds around. Since some clouds came and slowed down the migration, there were not many birds to miss. So we could go over to deal with the administrative tasks, we did not have any time for yesterday. 

Tomorrow Hanelie will leave. It was really nice to have her as a hard working volunteer, keen birder and friend. To fill this hole, Séan will join our team for the rest of the season. I met him in my first week of stay here last summer (in end of july) and it was a fun time, so I'm really looking forward to meet him again.

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet):

Total: 42

Not just us, but also Michael ringed today. Those are his numbers:

Ringing (Nordstjernevej):

Total: 3

Ringing (Jennes Sø):

Total: 11

Todays observations from observers in the area.

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasen the same day

People: Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Lisa Vergin, Michael Anker, Troels Eske Ortvad, Mads Bunch, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Hendrik and our guests Dorte and Anders Østerby

*All pictures by Simon Keisé (SK)*

Simon (SK), Hayley og jeg besluttede os for at smutte til nordstrand på dagens obs.. Vi ankom kl. 05.10 og var klar til dagens tælling kl. 05.15. Hvad vi ikke vidste på daværende tidspunkt var, at det skulle vise sig at blive en lidt længere dag på kontoret end bare de obligatoriske fire timer.

Allerede ret tidligt fik vi fire arter af lom i notesbogen, sammen med fine tal af steppehøg. Dagen tegnede til at blive god.

Hvidnæbbet lom set tæt (200 meter) på i sommerdragt.

To af steppehøgene der var med til at tangere den gamle dagsredkord på 13. Øverst en gammel han. Nederst en ung (2k) hun.

Op ad formiddagen blev det sidste af madpakkerne spist, selvom der fortsat var store mængder af fugle. Engpiberne kom væltende i en lind strøm, med en enkelt time på over 5000 passerende individer. Et enkelt individ gjorde sig bemærket ved at være helt hvid! Måske en albino. Vi ved det ikke. Den blev kun set i få sekunder. Desuden blev store flokke af småspove (tidligere “lille regnspove”) bemærket. Da vi havde noteret os 600 individer, spurgte vi eksperten i Skagen-rekorder, Erik Christophersen, der kunne fortælle at vi kun manglede omtrent 50 fugle, inden rekorden var i hus. Desuden var forårsrekorden for tårnfalke 225, hvilket vi tangerede. Den blev dog slået ved den mobile radar for enden af sandormesvinget med i alt 242 individer.

Voksen han af tårnfalk.

Småspoverne var dog hvad der gav os blod på tanden til at blive lidt længere, for at få rekorden i hus.

En af de i alt 1261 småspover der var med til at sætte rekorden.

Snart nåede vi rekorden, men blev alligevel på obsposten for at udbygge den. Undervejs smuttede Hayley tilbage til Det Grå Fyr, men vi to andre blev. Jan Eske - en af de mange birdere i Skagen pt. - sød at komme med proviant til os to hårdt prøvede observatører, der derfor blev i stand til blive længere. Tusind tak for det, Jan!
Ud på eftermiddagen kom der overraskende nok to rovterne, hvilket blev en ny art for mig! Mit nok største hul. Herligt!

De to rovterner.

Dagens total endte efter 11 timer kl. 16.15 på svimlende 1269 småspover - næsten en fordobling af den gamle rekord!

Damerne på stationen tog med Knud på Flagbakken og fik set en smule rovfugletræk.

Tilbage på Stationen blev der ikke tid til så meget, inden jeg endte under dynen og sov over aftensmaden og helt indtil næste morgen. Ti timers søvn var tiltrængt efter sådan en dag.

I ringmærkningen ved Kabeltromlen var det en smule stille dag. I alt 28 fugle blev ringmærket.

/Magnus. (MHL)

Ringing at Kabeltromlen:
Rødhals 2
Rødstjert 2
Gærdesanger 4
Munk 5
Skovsanger 1
Gransanger 1
Løvsanger 7
Musvit 2
Bogfinke 2
Rørspurv 1
Nordlig gråsisken 1
Subtotal: 28

Ringing at Jennes Sø:
Lille gråsisken 2
Nordlig gråsisken 1
Grønsisken 1
Løvsanger 3
Munk 1
Gærdesanger 1
Rødstjert 1
Subtotal: 10

Ringing at Nordstjernevej:
Ringdue 1
Gærdesanger 1
Grønirisk 1
Subtotal: 3

Total:
42

Todays observations from observers in the area

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day

People: Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kisé, Lisa Vergin, Michael Anker, Troels Eske Ortvad, Mads Bunch, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorte and Anders Østerby

Hej allesammen,

as the season is getting busier, the field productivity of the volunteers is rising. That is why I am writing yesterdays blog this early morning in the outdoor office at Kabeltromle. Yesterday was a long day. Isis and I went ringing which now means getting up from bed at 03.30 am in the morning. However, it was rather windy so we could just open 14 of our 21 nets and they did not catch much. Three new birds and one recapture, but one of them was a Treepipit (Skovpiber) which is worth 20 birds, as Simon jr. explained us later at the station. There was one Waxwing (Silkehæle) flying over Kabeltromle and soon after, we observed some Barn Swallows (Landsvale) so it felt like having winter and summer at the same time.

Skovpiber (Tree Pipit)

Ringmækning Kabeltromle

Skovpiber: 1

Gærdesanger: 1

Løvsanger: 1

Total: 3

We closed early. Hayley in the meantime went shopping and Magnus and Simon were at Nordstrand for the morning observations.

The observers had three second calendar year and one adult female Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg) and a few Hen Harriers (Blå Kærhøg), some Hobbys (Lærkefalk) and one Rough-legged Buzzard (Fjeldvåge). But on the sea, it was vey quiet. 16 Whimbrels (Småspove) were a nice observation of a species, that we don´t get that often in the morning obs and some Black Guillemots (Tejst) and Velvet Scoters (Fløjsand) are always nice birds to observe.

Back at the station, Simon jr. made luxury six star lunch for us: not our usual sunny-side up or down eggs, depending on preference on bread but scrambled eggs with onions! After some data entry, naps and phone calls, Knud proposed go to Flagbakken together in the afternoon. What a brilliant idea, Simon, Hayley and I packed our scopes while Magnus and Isis preferred to enjoy the calm of the station this afternoon.

At Flagbakken, already many birders smiled at us when we were arriving, among them Jørgen Hulbæk. But even better: Ther were exceptional many Hobbys (Lærkefalk) which were hunting Swallows before continuing migrating north!

Hobby (Lærkefalk)

I can´t decide if the highlight of the day was the number of Hobbys or one adult male Montagues Harrier which stayed around for a while before continuing northeast. Some nice Ospreys (Fiskeørn) also showed up and a gorgeous lizard which let me come very close and it was really a perfect afternoon, thanks Knud for taking us with you!

While we were at Flagbakken, Lisa, Troels and Mads were observing from the radar. Before they arrived, Alex Sand Frich was observing close to their observation spot and putting numbers together and comparing, Knud calculated a minimum of 128 Hobbys (Lærkefalk) for the day. It was a new record day for Skagen and the whole of Denmark!

In the evening, Hayley and I checked some sheets of the ringing while the potter trap was not catching any Wheatears (Stenpikker) and after dinner, Simon jr. and I went out hoping to see some northern lights – without success, so we rather decided to go back in and get some sleep.

This is my last blog at Skagen for this season, I will leave on Sunday, which is kind of sad, as it feels like spring is just beginning and all the Hobbys (Lærkefalk) make you look forward to the Red-footed Falcons (Aftenfalk) which will come soon! Also, more african migrants are arriving in the nets now. But these, I will also get to ring as I will continue this spring season at Gedser Fuglestation.

Thanks to the team for experiencing a part of the world of birds with me, and especially the world of Cranes, planes and ships, having a lunchbreak with some fried eggs. I wish you the best birds for the rest of the spring season (but some of them should also come to Gedser though…).

And of course, thanks to Simon, Lisa and all the local and “spring-local” birders for your advice, lifts food and company!

Take care and I hopefully see you soon again!

Hanelie

Todays observations from observers in the area

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day

People: Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kisé, Lisa Vergin, Troels Eske Ortvad, Mads Bunch, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorte and Anders Østerby

Happy 1st of May! Today was the first day of our Constant Effort Site (CES) at Cormorant Lake (Skarvsøen) monitoring breeding birds! Although we were very excited to begin the CES program, it also meant being awake by 03.00 (long before sunrise) so that Hayley and I could be at Cormorant Lake (Skarvsøen) in time to open the nets. Hanelie and Simon (Snr) joined us a bit later, and the day began with a stunning sunrise. 

Sunrise at Cormorant Lake (Skarvsøen).

We could also see the famous “Skagen Light” very clearly this morning, the Skagen Painters did such a wonderful job of capturing this beautiful phenomenon!

The Skagen Light.

Our CES site is a little smaller and more remote than Kabeltromlen, so we had to improvise a little with our equipment. Nonetheless, we all had a great time using the resources around us to stay comfortable while ringing:

Simon (Snr) checking a bird while sitting on the ground.

Hayley ringing and writing in the warm sun and soft grass.

Hanelie checking a bird on the grass.

This morning was slow, but we could hear a Sedge Warbler (Sivsanger) singing clearly. We also caught several Reed Buntings (Rørspurv), and the usual suspects: Common Chiffchaff (Gransanger), Willow Warbler (Løvsanger), and Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger). We had a lot of fun running around the site and through the water (and luckily nobody fell…). Johanna visited us for a while while we were ringing. Simon (Snr) had also set up a small sticky trap to catch flies, but one of his flies was stolen by a greedy Willow Warbler (Løvsanger)!

Willow Warbler (Løvsanger) eating a fly.

While all of this was happening at Cormorant Lake (Skarvsøen), Simon (Jr), Mira, Johanna, and Magnus were not far away. This morning they counted at Nordstrand, but migration was incredibly slow. They still enjoyed their time, and stayed out as long as we did, some of them chose to spend the time taking a nap in the dunes. Their highlights from the count were an adult Glaucous Gull (Gråmåge) very close, and a new record of Eurasian Hobbies (Lærkefalk) for Skagen! We ran into each other as we were preparing to leave the CES site, and they helped us carry our ringing equipment back to the station, vielen dank! 

Back at the station, Simon (Snr) and I entered the CES data (and caught up on some other sheets). Meanwhile, Johanna, Mira, Simon (Jr), Magnus, and Hanelie went out to enjoy Råbjerg Mile. 

After this, Johanna and Mira had to prepare to migrate once again after their brief stay. It was lovely seeing them again, and we all wish them lots of luck and fortune on their upcoming journeys! Vi ses! 

In the evening, Hanelie prepared a lovely dinner and Hayley stayed up late in a 3 hour long meeting with the BTO, we’ll see if she makes it out into the field tomorrow morning… 

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet)

Coal Tit (Sortmejse) 1

Common Chiffchaff (Gransanger) 4

Song Thrush (Sangdrossel) 1

Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger) 3

Eurasian Blackcap (Munk) 5

Willow Warbler (Løvsanger) 12

Reed Bunting (Rørspurv) 4

Total: 30

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area.

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasen the same day.

People:  Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Johanna Veentjer, Simon Kiesé, Mira Kieckbusch, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorte and Anders Østerby

Hej allesammen,

we as the part of the team who was going observing today already prepared everything for a long long count yesterday evening, as we were expecting a good morning today. It turned out to be a bit slower than expected, but still we got some really nice highlights, the main highlight today was definitely the Black Tern (sortterne)! To my mind it is an amazing species and the record today was the first record for Skagen this year. So all of us were glad to see it.

Despite the Black Tern (sortterne) we also got Little Gulls again (dværgmåge) as well as a White Billed Diver (Hvidnæbbet lom) in breeding plumage (and a nice variety of Raptors, including Pallid Harrier (steppehøg) and Steppe Eagle (steppeørn).

The other part of our team went ringing at Kabeltrommeln, where they were also accompanied by Dorte and Anders Østerby, they stay at the station in the guest apartment for this week. You can look up the ringing totals in the end of the blog entrance.

Ringing at Kabeltrommelen. Photo: Anders Østerby.

Besides us watching, counting and ringing birds on this sunny dazy, we also noticed that nature just starts getting more and more dynamic these days, after the long winter in Skagen. While counting at Nordstrand in the morning, we had an observation of White-beaked dolphins and in the field we also saw a lot of insects, adders (hugorn) and a giant individuum of a Sand lizard (markfirben).

In the afternoon, some of us were out for a trip to Råbjerg Mose, where Magnus not only found a gylden jagtrovbille (Dinothenarus pubescens) but we also saw five Whinchats (bynkefugl), heard a Green Woodpecker (grønspætte) and enjoyed the atmosphere in the amazing area. Afterwards we also had a stop at Råbjerg Mile, before we went back to the station where we were welcomed again with a delicious dinner.

Can you spot Hanelie in this picture?

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet):

Sangdrossel 1
Løvsanger 6
Gærdesanger 10
Rødhals 2
Jernspurv 1
Munk 16
Bogfinke 5
Rørspurv 1
Gransanger 2

Todays observations from observers in the area.

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day.

People:  Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Johanna Veentjer, Simon Kiesé, Mira Kieckbusch, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorthe and Anders Østerby

Hej everyone,

When we (Johanna and Mira) left on the 20^th of March, we promised to come back soon, so here we are again, only for five days, but we enjoy every second of this little vacation from university before we leave on the first of May.

This morning, Johanna, Simon, Magnus and me went out for morning observation to Worlds End 3. The migration was slower than yesterday, but there were still some birds around. The highlight was a Short-eared Owl (Mosehornugle) over the beach, three Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove) and four Fulmars (Mallemuk). When the sun came out after the first hour there was also a group of Snow Buntings (Snespurv) around the dune we sat on. It’s not that typically to see them around here now, normally they would be further north at this time. Around the time we left after four hours of counting, the Steppe Eagle (Steppeørn) was reported over Nordstrand, so we watched out for it from Worlds End and were able to see it. For Johanna and me that was the first time seeing a Steppe Eagle, which was really cool, even though it was quiet far away.

Johanna and Magnus counting at Worlds End 3

Isis, Hayley and Hanelie went out to Kabletromle for ringing in the morning. They caught not as many birds as yesterday, but with a total of 69 birds there were still some birds around. The highlight was a recapture from a Chiffchaff (Gransanger) ringed in Spain.

Chiffchaff ringed in spain

Ringing (Kabeltrommlekrattet)

Todays observations from observers in the area.

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day.

People: Johanna Veentjer, Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Mira Kieckbusch, Simon S. Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Jørgen Hulbæk, Jan Eske, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorte and Anders Østerby

Dagen startede som så mange gange før, før solopgang. Vejrudsigten meldte regn fra morgenstunden og et par timer frem. Dog lod vi os ikke kue af en smule vand, og skuden gik derfor i retning mod Nordstrand. Vi ankom omkring solopgang, og vi indfandt os hurtigt på vores pladser. Inden længe fandt SK en formodet citronvipstjert. Desværre blev den kun hørt en enkelt gang, og ikke optaget. Snart ville hvidnæbbet lom og islom også være med, hvilket også resulterede i en dagstotal på henholdsvis to og én. Også steppehøgene ville være med, sammen med dværgterner, dværgmåge og almindelig kjove. Sidstnævnte med 31 i alt for dagen. En lokalt rastende gråmåge kiggede forbi omkring kl. 10.35. Dagens helt store overraskelser, var dog den første pomeransfugl i Skagen i år, samt en adult han af amerikansk sortand i flugt - blot ti minutter senere.

På billedet  bliver der eftersøgt amerikansk sortand.

Eftermiddagen blev brugt på at få samlet kræfter og kigge på fugle fra den høje klit vest for Det Grå Fyr.

Ved Kabeltromlen havde ringmærkerne også travlt. I alt 108 fugle blev ringmærket, herunder blandt andet 87 løvsangere.

Ringing:

Red start - rødstjert 3

Song Thrush - Sangdrossel 2

Gærdesanger - 2

Black cap - munk 9

Chif chaf - gransanger 5

Willowabler - løvsanger 87

Total: 108

Todays observations from observers in the area.

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day.

People:  Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Johanna Veentjer, Simon Kiesé, Mira Kieckbusch, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Knud Pedersen and our guests Dorte and Anders Østerby

This morning, Simon jr. went to the Radar, while Magnus was observing at North Beach and Hayley, Isis and I went to Kabeltromle for ringing.  The ringing was slow though, we had hoped for some more birds after yesterday had been quite good. The first round brought three Song Thrushes (Sangdrossel) and we had two more new Lesser Whitethroats (Gærdesanger) today.

Song Thrush (Sangdrossel)

Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger)

Simon sr. had a tour today and joined us at Kabeltromle for a bit to the third round.

Ringmækening Kabeltromle

Sangdrossel: 3

Gærdesmutte: 5

Rødhals: 2

Løvsanger: 3

Gærdesanger: 2

Munk: 2

Fuglekonge: 2

Gransanger: 1

Total: 20

Ringmækening Jennes Sø:

Gransanger: 1

Gærdesmutte: 1

Ringmækening Nordstrandvej:

Munk: 1

Gransanger: 1

Musvit: 1

Total: 3

Magnus had a busy morning counting at Nordstrand with Jørgen Hulbæk and Jan. The numbers and variety species was very good today so Magnus decided to stay for six hours. They had about 9500 Common Scoters (Sortand), as well as about 1000 Red-throated Divers (Rødstrubet Lom), one Glaucous Gull (Gråmåge), one Little Gull (Dværgmåge) and one Shag (Topskarv) and two Waxwings (Silkehale). But the highlight was definitely a Surfscoter (Brilleand). This bird made Simon jr. and Mads leave the radar and run along the beach all the way to Nordstrand. They arrived quite exhausted but were rewarded with seeing the bird very well.

Brilleand (Surf Scoter)

Mads and Simon jr. stayed 10 hours in total at the radar and had 155 raptors of 15 species: two great Pallid Harriers, that unfortunately, no one else in the team got to see.

We got to see and hear the ethical ringing section by Simon sr. in which we discussed how to behave in different difficult situations that can appear in the ringing.

When we came out of the conference room, it smelled delicious in the kitchen. Helle had made a cake for us! But the cake needed to wait a bit because when Simon jr. returned from the radar, we soon left to the animal rescue centre, where a Tawny Owl (Natugle) that flew against a window had been nursed back to health and was soon ready to be set into wild again. The beautiful adult female was ringed by Isis and the whole station including Knud, Lisa and our guest Helle came to see it.

Tawny Owl (Natugle)

Back at the station, Helles cake was waiting for us. It was delicious, mange tak!

Also, Simon sr. and I had made a deal some days ago: I would clean his car and he would cook for us one time. Simon fulfilled his part today and cooked us a traditional Danish new Years Dinner. Glühwein from Jan and Jørgen yesterday, today new Years dinner, it is a feast at the bird observatory every day! Anyway tak for mad, Simon, it was very good and enough fish so I can have the rest tomorrow for breakfast! So I guess, it will soon be time to fulfil my part and clean the batmobile.

Let´s hope tomorrow observations will be as good as today and the ringing will get a bit busier!

See you in the field!

Hanelie

Todays observations from observers in the area

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasn the same day

People: Michael Ancher, Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Simon S. Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Jørgen Hulbæk, Jan Eske, Knud Pedersen our guests Helle Rasmussen and Johan Deichmann.

The rain delayed the start of ringing this morning but it turned out to be well worth the wait for Isis, Hanalie and Magnus. They caught many many more birds than the last few days! Their highlight was the first Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper) ringed this season, a beautiful adult male.

There were also many more Willow Warblers (Løvsanger) caught and ringed.

These beautiful birds can now be heard singing all around Grenen.

A Waxwing (Silkehale) was also spotted migrating over Kabeltromlen and a Redstart (Rødstjert) was seen flying nearby. It seems there are finally some new spring arrivals. Hopefully they will soon be in our nets too!

The sea was very quiet so it was another slow migration count for Simon Jr and I at World’s End 1. However, we saw two Shags (Topskarv) one of which roosted for a short while on the bunker and we were able to get some very nice views of it. We also saw a Slavonian Grebe (Nordisk Lappedykker) flying into Kattegat and two Wheatears (Stenpikker) over the beach.

After a brief stop at the ringing, Simon Jr and I returned to the station and ticked off a few jobs including data entry, kitchen cleaning and swapping the poles in the old lighthouse garden so they can be used at Skarvsøen instead. We then had a very nice cup of coffee with Mette in the lighthouse shop whilst having an interesting discussion about the ageing of raptors. Then, hearing over Zello that a Steppe Eagle (Steppeørn) had been spotted, Simon and I ran up the lighthouse to try and see it from the top. Not only did we see the Steppe Eagle (Steppeørn), we also saw a White-tailed Eagle (Havørn), Common Buzzards (Musvåge) and Red Kites (Rød Glente). It really is a great place for raptor watching!

We got back down again just as Hanalie, Isis and Magnus arrived back from the ringing and we all had a very nice lunch together. There was no time to rest afterwards however. Just as we finished eating a Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg) was reported over Zello so we ran all the way back up the lighthouse again. That time really hurt the legs! Unfortunately we didn’t manage to see the Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg). We hope to see one soon, it is a species that keeps eluding us!

From the top of the lighthouse we saw Simon Sr arriving so back down again we went to load up his car with the equipment needed to finish setting up the CES nets at Skarvsøen. It was very hot work for Hanalie, Isis and I putting up the last three nets; it really felt like spring had finally arrived. Unfortunately we realised the last net was broken so Magnus kindly cycled over with a new one.

Meanwhile, the two Simons were out and about putting out some recorders in the area. These will be out for three weeks and hopefully will record the calls of some interesting bird species.

We all finally arrived back at the lighthouse to a nice evening surprise; Jørgen and Jan joined us at the apartment and brought with them some delicious traditional bread to celebrate Store bededag tomorrow, all washed down with a glass of glühwein. Tak for such a nice treat. What a great way to end such a busy day!

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet):

Total: 48

People: Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Hanelie Sidhu, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Jan Eske, our guests Helle Rasmussen and Johan Deichmann.