The day started as it usually does... very early alarms for us here at the observatory!  Marie, My mum and I headed out to grenen to meet a familiar and beautiful sunrise. We joined Rolf and the big troup of other birders. The morning was pretty active, with many interesting birds passing through! Some particularly exciting ones being a Pirol, Tejste, Ride, Stor Tornskade, Hepsevåge, Fjeldvåge.. and many other wonderful things!! My mum was also very happy to at last meet Samantha fox! Who curled up at our feet for a little snoooze. 

A little later inter the morning, Jokaim who had been out doing some diverse observations along with Dante, came out to Grenen in the hopes of seeing a Pirol and he hasnt seen one yet! He came to us and chatted with us a while.. when Marie happened to look into her Scope.. searching for some Rorspurv.. a bird she really likes! But instead she spotted an unusual looking Sortstrubet Bynkefugl... upon Joakim and Rolf's confirmation it turned out to be a very exciting bird!!!! A beautiful male Sibirisk Bynkefugl. Much excitement ensued..!!! We were able to get some incredible veiws of the bird and it hung around for some time. Dante raced out to meet us and was able to get some gorgeous photographs. (Shown below.)  

After a seriously epic morning.. Marie, Dante and Joakim then headed back to the observatory where they joined Simon for a guided tour with some school children. Meanwhile My mum and i had a swim in the sea and got ready for her to head home to scotland. It was lovely having her here, and she so loved to see Skagens incredible birds and meet the wonderful people. After saying goodbye at the trainstation, back at the observatory Marie and I got on with some tasks and she began cooking an exciting exciting traditional german dinner. The boys meanwhile went out searching and saw the lille fluesnapper which was seen hanging out at the nets at Grenen. They then went out with Simon in his car to look for some birds elsewhere. 

We had an incredible Dinner from Marie.. and went to bed very happy and full from a brilliant day.

People: Joakim Mattieson, Dante Shepherd, Marie Heuberger, Hebe Denny, Becks denny, Simon S Christiansen, Rolf Christiansen

This morning we tried to ring at Grenen, but we had the nets open for only half an hour, because it started to rain then. But we caught a Pied and a Spotted Flycatcher (Broget & Grå fluesnapper). In hope that the rain would stop soon, we all squeezed into the tent. But instead of stopping, the rain got stronger, so we went back home. After a cozy morning and some more sleep at home, we started to ring in the Lighthouse garden and again: Flycatcher! This time we had a beautiful mal Pied Flycatcher.

 Dante was meanwhile doing diverse observations. Hebe and her mother enjoyed their last day, as Hebe’s mother will leave tomorrow. They went to the big sand dune nearby and had a nice day. As a goodbye, she cooked Haggis for us, a Scottish specialty. We were all kind of skeptical, but in the end it was delicious!

Ringing:

no ringing today

Folk: Joakim Mattieson, Dante Shepherd, Marie Heuberger, Hebe & Becks Denny, Simon S Christiansen

It was a beautiful day with calm winds and sunshine. The birds did not disappoint with a Skagen record of 6 Nordlig Nattergal as well as 3 Lille Fluesnapper and 10+ Skovsanger among the many grounded migrants. Joakim had a guided tour about the life project of the area which went really well. He even found a Black Kite during it which the participants enjoyed. The family and Lisa and Daniel left around midday. We hope you enjoyed your stay! In the afternoon Joakim went to twitch one of the Lille Fluesnapper which had been seen in the town park. He got it! 234 for his ever growing year list. In the evening a report on Zello came through of a Mellemkjove migrating to the north-east from near the harbour. We all rushed out and after 5 or so minutes it came past the lighthouse very close. A really nice dark morph adult with spoons.

Picture of the Mellemkjove by Mikkel Høegh Post

Folk: Joakim Mattieson, Dante Shepherd, Marie Caroline, Hebe Denny, Simon S Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Daniel Bloche, Rolf Christiansen, Michel Ancher, Jorgen Kabel, Ingo Ludwichowski, Doufa, Morten, Nora and Eva Rian.

Ringmærknings Jennes Sø:

Rødstjert - 3

Gærdesanger - 3

Tornsanger - 5

Havesanger - 6

Løvsanger - 6

Grå fluesnapper - 1

Broget fluesnapper - 1

Musvit - 1

Bogfinke - 2

Total 28

I dag var nettene åbne kl 04:30 og morgenobsen startede kl 04:45. Dagen startede med en del tåge, som tog noget tid for at forsvinde. Det lykkedes dog til sidst. I ringmærkningen var det løvsangere som dominerede, men også arter som spurvehøg og gulbug lagde vejen forbi nettene. 

På Grenen skete der ikkke det store. Af de bedste arter kan nævnes tejst, gråmåge  og bjerglærke. Tilgengæld var der fint gang i de gule vipstjerter som nok blev morgenens højdepunkt med op imod 800 trækkende. 

Dog skete der noget helt andet et helt andet sted. Pomeransfuglene var nemlig nået op til os heroppe nordpå. Et flok pomeransfugle blev spottet på den kendte 'rasteplads' for netop denne art. Området hedder troldkær og denne dag bllev der set en fin flok på 10 pomeransfugle. Vi ville selvfølgelig gerne se fuglene og drog derfor til troldkær og så de flotteste pomeransfugle på en mark med traner, spover og hjejler. Det var en rigtigt fin oplevelse. 

Og nå ja .. så fangede Micheal Ancher en fin nordlig blåhals ved Jennes Sø. 

Folk: Joakim Mattieson, Dante Shepherd, Marie Caroline, Hebe Denny, Simon S Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Daniel Bloche, Rolf Christiansen, Michel Ancher, Jorgen Kabel, Ingo Ludwichowski, Doufa, Morten, Nora and Eva Rian.

Ringmærknings Jennes Sø and Sardinkrattet.

Spurvehog - 1

Gaerdesmutte - 1

Nordlig blåhals - 1

Rødstjert - 1

Solsort - 1

Rørsanger - 2

Gulbug - 1

Gærdesanger - 4

Tornsanger - 3

Munk - 2

Gransanger - 4

Havesanger - 2

Skovsanger - 2

Løvsanger - 32

Grå fluesnapper - 1

Broget fluesnapper - 2

Musvit - 1

Bogfinke - 1

Lille gråsisken - 2

Total 75

Der kigges på pomeransfugle

Today was a quieter ringing day than yesterday with only 20 new ringed birds but still sunny weather. I was ringing together with Hebe, Marie and Simon and we caught 2 male sparrow hawks which was pretty awesome. I haven’t seen them in hand before. Jørgen and Igor visited us again at the ringing spot. I really like them having around :-) And luckily, Oluf Lou supported us during ringing and sparrow hawk aging.

Daniel, Dante and Joakim were at Grenen observing. It was a very, very good day for Honey Buzzard’s – they saw about 100! They also saw Great Northern Diver, Red Footed Falcon and Parrot Crossbill. Fortunately, we were also able to see many Honey Buzzard’s at the ringing spot (even though not as many as the guys).

About noon Rita came and gave us a new bike for the station – thanks a lot for that Rita! :-)

Later the day Daniel and I enjoyed the sunny weather and ate cake at the Café– they just have the best cake Denmark there!

In the evening Hebe’s mom came for a few-day-visit and joined us for the lovely dinner Hebe cooked.

People: Simon S. Christiansen, Daniel Bloche, Hebe Denny, Becks Denny, Marie Heuberger, Dante Shepherd, Joakim Matthiesen, Jørgen Kabel, Igor, Oluf Lou, Lisa Vergin

Ringing (Sardinkrattet):

Spurvhøg - 2

Solsort - 1

Gærdesanger - 4

Tornsanger - 5

Havesanger - 1

Munk - 1

Gransanger - 1

Løvsanger - 5

Total: 20

Today was a quite good birding day. We went to Grenen early in the morning. The sunrise was stunning. We saw a Caspian Tern (Rovterne), a Little Tern (dværgterne) and a Ortolan Bunting (hortulan). I returned to the observatory around 8 o'clock and then we started ringing and had a guided tour. After the tour Joakim and I continuied with the ringing, but we only catched about 6 birds in total - so not a good day. But while we closed the nets, we heared the first Ictrine Warbler (Gulbug) this year. So another new arrival made it to Skagen! Furthermore, Lisa and Daniel arrived, who were volunters here last year an are visting us for one week.

Ringing (Det Grå Fyr):

Rødhals                                                 1

Rødstjert                                             3

Sangdrossel                                        1

Løvsanger                                           2

Total: 7

Folk: Simon S. Christiansen, Daniel Bloche, Hebe Denny, Marie Heuberger, Dante Shepherd, Joakim Matthiesen, Lisa Vergin

Joakim and I had a nice morning at Grenen with 2 Great Northern Divers being the highlight. Hebe and Marie went to Flagbacken. They didn’t see any raptors but saw some ‘pigeons and tits’. They also sent off the blood samples we have collected from African migrants recently. In the afternoon we cleaned after what was quite a busy (and dirty!) few days before. The weather looks much better for tomorrow, lets see what it brings…

People: Joakim Matthiesen, Dante Shepherd, Hebe Denny and Marie Heuberger

Så kom dagen vi alle frygtede....Festivalens sidste dag. Ej, det er bare for sjov, men faktisk er det lidt trist at den slutter nu. Der har været så mange mennesker, som har lagt vejen forbi og dermed støttet festivalen. Vi har snakket med en masse glade mennesker og ikke mindst fået spredt budskabet om hvor fedt det er, at se på fugle! Det har været nogle rigtigt gode dage i selskab med en masse engagerede og glade erferne som uerfarne fuglekiggere. 

Dagen i dag var også præget af det grå fyrs 2 års fødselsdag. Det betød kaffe og rundstykker til alle, som mødte op på pladsen i løbet af formiddagen. Det var der rigtigt mange som gjorde. Gårdspladsen har været fyldt med liv de sidste dage. Folk har prøvet kikkerter, lavet snobrød, snakket om dagens fugle, fået ny viden i Birders Club, været med på de guidede ringmærknings-rundvisninger mm. Ja i det hele taget har det bare summet af liv ved Det Grå Fyr. Senere oppe af dagen kom Gustav Urth og holdte et rigtigt underholdenene trylle-show med rigtigt mange deltagere. Herefter stod jeg for en kort rundvisningen i laboratoriet, hvor jeg fortalte om hvordan og hvorfor vi ringmærker fugle. Igen i dag var der stor tilslutning til turen.

Det blev ikke til så mange fugle i dag dog, men der kan da fx nævnes en fiskeørn, som lagde vejen forbi lige over fyret under festivalens begivenheder. Deruover blev der set en markpiber og hedehøg på Grenen, samt en mellemkjove fra Nordstrand. 

Festivalen har trods en våd start, igen i år været en stor succes! Vi glæder os allerede til næste år!

Folk: Joakim Matthiesen, Dante Shepherd, Simon S Christiansen, Hebe Denny and Marie Heuberger, samt en MASSE gæster og bekendte af fuglestationen. 

Ringmærkning i Fyrhaven:

Rødstjert - 2

Gærdesanger - 2 

Munk - 1

Total: 5 

Der bliver lavet snobrød på festivalpladsen

Gustav Urth holder trylle-show om natur og fugle

This morning began a little earlier than usual, with Joakim, Marie and I heading out to Jenne Sø to open the nets for CES ringing. We were joined By michael and Simon and though we didnt catch a large number of birds, it was a lovely morning with a beautiful Topmejse in the nets being a highlight for the morning!! We were joined by a ringing tour for some time, who were very happy to watch the process!

Meanwhile, Dante spent the morning at Nordsttrand with many other observers; some of the highlights of his morning being a hevepsevåge, Atlingand and one of the first Gøge!

Back at the observatory, we got ready for an afternoon of bird festivalling. It was a good afternoon, with lots of visiters and two Løvsanger in the garden nets during the ringing tour. In the evening, we set up barbeques outside! We were joined by a good number of others, and also a passing Steppehøg!!!! It was a lovely time outside, with good food and lots of laughs!! 

Another really great day here in Skagen.

Ringing at Jenne Søand Det Gra Fyre:

Tornsanger - 1

Løvsanger - 5

Total 6

People: Joakim, Dante, Hebe, Marie, Simon, Michael Ancher