Early in the morning, as in the last few days, we are greeted by a brilliant sunrise over the Kattegat. There is a light fog over the areas and warm clothes are still a must, even though it already feels like spring during the day. Hanelie and Robbe open the nets for ringing at 5:15am, Alice and Manuel joined the little crowd at Nordstrand for migration counting from 6am and look up at the (somewhat too) clear blue sky.

The bird migration is steady these days, but not spectacular. This allows us to make many beautiful observations, as we can also take our time for individual birds. About 20 Arctic Skuas Almindelig kjove gave great views, as some of them migrate eastwards quite close to the beach. It is also a good occasion to take the time to get more familiar with the different calls of the still numerous Chaffinches Bogfinke and Brambling Kvækerfinke, as well as Linnet Tornirisk and Siskin Grønsisken.

A few Long-tailed Ducks Havlit (and other duck species) can be found amongst the hundreds of migrating Common Scoter Sortand, also keep a sharp eye on flying Red-throated Divers Rødstrubet lom as single Black-throated Divers Sortstrubet lom can be seen daily. The first Tree Pipits Skovpiber (a handful of birds migrating) mingle with the troops of Meadow Pipits Engpiber. Swallows can now be seen every day, today Barn Swallow Landsvale, but still very few. However, it is exciting to see the changes in the birdlife already within a few days. This will continue to gather pace over the coming days.

By the way, the Black-winged Kite Blå Glente is still in the area and thus nice to watch from close range for the third day in a row. This fantastic bird still attracts many observers not only from the region.

Ringing was also done today at Kabeltromlen, of course. In addition to the usual Robins Rødhals, Wren Gærdesmutte, etc., again some Willow Warbler Løvsanger were in the nets. What is particularly interesting now is that you can make a direct comparison between the Willow Warbler and the Common Chiffchaff Gransanger in hand. This is of course a totally different thing than reading about it in books or seeing it in pictures! A few Ring Ouzels Ringdrossel flew over the ringing station and gave nice viewss. Apart from that, the sun has also lured some European Vipers Hugorm out of hiding, exciting!

Data entry and checking the ringing data always takes a lot of time, but that is the only disadvantage of of high numbers in ringings and observations ;-)

We spent most of the afternoon relaxing, birdwatching and doing other things. So, Robbe went to Grenen Camping for some botanical observations. There he managed to discover what is supposed a first record for this region: the tiny and beautiful Crassula tillaea.

By the time writing, the delicious smell of roasted vegetables wafts through the flat and the sun shines through the windows from the other side of the lighthouse now.

Today, I was lucky to take a morning off. Meanwhile everyone except Manuel went to Kabeltrommeln to have another exciting ringing day. They caught almost as many birds as yesterday but no surprises yet. Two bramblings “Kvækerfinke “and a chiffchaff “gransanger” from Norway were the coolest birds.

Manuel went to the tip of Grenen to observe the migratory birds who were present in small amounts, but a white stork “Hvid stork “was a nice extra. He also saw his first tree pipit “Skovpiber “ here. Together with some barn swallows “Landsvale”, he could feel the first real spring vibes. Later at the station, we also saw the first yellow wagtails “Gul vipstjert“ and spoonbills “Skestorke” who were discovered by a kid while attending the open freezer day. This event is an exciting day for some, a disgusting afternoon for others. We showed our visitors the dead birds we collected for several projects and dissected a common scoter “sortand”. A local viper smelled the freshly cut duck and came along to say hello. The duck was out of the viper’s hunting range but he tried to catch a sand lizard instead.

Unfortunately this was only my first moment outside today. I had to do some work on the laptop for the university and for an exciting project about spontaneous vegetation in cities I am starting in Belgium. After the noon, Thomas came to give us the laserbinocular back. Fortunately, we don't have to collect the data manually in the future. In the afternoon, I worked on the raptor project with Esben and Simon, while the others were cleaning. Unfortunately, we had to say a goodbye to our guests who were really lovely again. Luckily, it's rather a "see you soon" because they will come back in one month. In the evening, we had an early meeting, because we booked a table in the restaurant Blink where Mathilde made a delicious meal for us!

We finished the evening with a nice walk before we got ready for a good night rest.

Robbe

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area

Ringmæking Kabeltrommeln:

Vindrossel: 1

Sangdrossel: 4

Solsort: 3

Musvit: 2

Rødhals: 21

Jernspurv: 4

Gæerdesmutte: 7

Kvækerfinke: 2

Munk: 1 

Fuglekonge: 2

Gransanger: 10

Total: 57

Ringmæking Jennes Sø by Michael Ancher:

Lille Gråsisken: 13

Grønirisk: 1

Kvækerfinke: 5 

Bogfinke: 5

Blåmejse: 1

Gransanger: 7

Solsort: 1

Rødhals: 10

Gærdesmutte: 1

Total: 44

People: Simon S. Christiansen, Michael Ancher, Hanelie Sidhu, Alice Scalzo, Lisa Vergin, Robbe Cool,  Dorte and Anders Østerby, Manuel Tacke, Thomas Kjær

Dagen fulgte mønstret fra første del af påsken: Vi vågnede atter op til en ny type vejr: Jævn-frisk og kold nordøstenvind. Dorte og jeg bor i lejligheden på Det Grå Fyr og vi forsøger at opleve så meget af fuglestationens arbejde som muligt. Til morgen besøgte vi Esben og Hanelie, der havde åbnet nettene ved Kabeltromlen til solopgang. Den kolde vind gjorde at fangsten var begrænset, men vi oplevede da mærkning af en Gærdesmutte Wren og genfangst af en Gransanger Chiffchaff, der var blevet mærket på stedet for nyligt. Hanelie brugte tid på at skære grene af træer, der var kommet for tæt på nettene. Manuel var på plads fra morgenstunden ved Nordstrand – her var det også en stille morgen, dog med fine oplevelser i form af Storkjove Great Skua og Sortstrubet lom Black-throated Diver. Alice og Robbe blev tilbage på stationen og arbejdede med deres studieprojekter – og senere på dagen brugte alle de frivillige tid på at få opdateret lister og arkiver.

Kl.10 var jeg og Dorte klar til at lede en to timers tur for 5 danske gæster. Fra fyret gik vi langs stranden, hvor vi kunne nyde mange nordvesttrækkende Suler (Gannets) og rastende Edderfugle (Eiders). Vi så også en Fiskeørn, der var trukket ud over Kattegat. Vi fik kigget på forskellige muslingeskaller (clams, mussels and razorshells) og også nogle fine eksemplarer af Skør slangestjerne (Brittle starfish sp) og Sømus (Sea potato). På tilbagevejen via Sandormsporet og Reservatet brugte vi tid på at kende de forskellige rovfugle i luften: Trækkende Spurvehøge (Sparrowhawks); Musvåge (Common buzzard), Rød glente (Red kite) og fouragerende Rørhøg (Marsh harrier), Blå kærhøg (Hen harrier) og Tårnfalk (Kestrel) – fra rørskoven kunne vi høre Rørdrum (Bittern) pauke. Vi mødte også Robbe og Alice, der var på tur med Michael fra Naturbutikken.

Dorte og jeg nød en god frokost på Blink, spisestedet ved Det Grå Fyr – og det kan varmt anbefales. Vi fik en ægte lokal og dagsaktuel ret: Smagen af Skagen med stegt kulmule (Hake) på en bund af kål. Midt på eftermiddagen tog vi i felten med Robbe for at tjekke noget grej til et mærkningsprojekt på rovfugle – Esben fik et lift, så han kunne proviantere til aftensmad. Hjemme igen samledes vi til aftenmødet – forinden kunne jeg dog lige råbe: Ung Gråmåge Glaucous Gull, der fløj forbi køkkenvinduet til de flestes fornøjelse –dem, der nåede at se den.
Efter aftenmødet, hvor alle fortæller om dagens hændelser og oplevelser, gav jeg et oplæg om, hvilke hvaler og delfiner, der kan ses omkring Grenen, og hvordan de kan kendes fra hinanden – på et ønske fra fuglestationens frivillige efter den store oplevelse med spækhuggere i tirsdags. Og så var de unge klar til at få aftensmad.

Observations of the day in DOFbasen from observers in the area

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

Ringmæking Kabeltrommeln:

Solsort: 1

Rødhals: 2

Gærdesmutte: 1

Dompap: 1

Gransanger: 1

Total: 6

Ringmæking (Jennes Sø):

Spurvehøg - 1

Gærdesmutte - 2

Rødhals - 1

Fuglekonge - 2

Blåmejse - 1

Bogfinke - 2

Gulspurv - 3

Total = 12

Folk: Simon S. Christiansen, Hanelie Sidhu, Alice Scalzo, Robbe Cool, Manuel Tacke, Dorte Holmgaard, Anders Østerby og Michael fra Naturbutikken.

After a loooong day yesterday, the forecast for today was really not so good: rain from morning on and total fog. Alice and Manuel's brief attempt at morning observation was followed by disillusionment: no visibility, no birds migrating. Therefore a proper zero count for today, nothing can be done. After yesterday, that was acceptable.

As the early morning remained dry (until 8 or so), we used the time for a short ringing session. Due to the weather, that hadn't been a good idea the last few days, so today we tried again. On the beach and around the lighthouse, thrushes were hanging in the bushes everywhere, including some ring ouzels Ringdrossel. We didn't catch any of these large thrushes (nor any thrushes), but the expected species on site: a total of 25 birds from 7 species (see below). As the rain started, we took down the nets and seeked (warm and cosy) shelter at the lighthouse.

By the way, for those who haven't noticed: Easter is near. And warm and fine hands were needed for the preparations. Because the highlight of the day was: painting Easter eggs with children. Real works of art, right? Well, certainly in parts...

Many eggs were blown out and painted. Various birds (and what birds are supposed to be) can now be found on the shells. A few are now hanging in the garden of the lighthouse, so despite the still cold temperatures, Easter is in the air. Even the Easter bunny stopped by and we tried to find the eggs. Maybe a little late, because headlamps were a must-have... But egg hunting at 22h somehow also has something special!

The afternoon and evening were dedicated to paperwork, which also needs to be done, right? 

Observations of the day in DOFbasen from observers in the area

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

Ringmæking Kabeltrommeln:

Gærdesmutte (Wren) - 3
Rødhals (Robin) - 4
Munk (Blackcap) - 1
Jernspurv (Dunnock) - 5
Rørspuv (Reed Bunting) - 3
Gransanger (Chiffchaff) - 5
Fuglekonge (Goldcrest) - 4

People: Simon S. Christiansen, Hanelie Sidhu, Alice Scalzo, Lisa Vergin, Robbe Cool, Manuel Tacke, Dorte and Anders Østerby

What started as a quiet day turned out into the craziest day, we had so far with the observations we could only dream of some months ago. When I look around and see the other volunteers while writing the blog, I see happy satisfied faces.

It started this morning with the announcement of a bluethroat that gained Hanelie’s interest. While I was still waking up, she made her first excursion of the day and succeeded. When she came back, Kjell, Simon, Hanelie and I started to prepare the raptor catching for today. The goal was to place two nets on two locations in Skagen, one with a stuffed eagle owl, and the other with a goshawk. While preparing the first net near Nordstrand, we got a zello about 6 ‘something’. I tried to find a group of 6 birds migrating over the dunes, but when Hanelie got the translation of Simon during a phone call, she told us they saw Orcas “Spækhugger”! We didn’t hesitate and started to run to the car as fast as possible. We were perfectly on time and found them in the scope. Everyone got really excited when they started to jump around. First one, later several at the same time. No less than 11 orcas (at least 2 males) gave us today la crème de la crème. Kjell was so nice to pick up Marion and she got to see them too! As an extra bonus, we found her first great grey shrike “Stor tornskade” a bit later.

Alice and Manuel as well as our guests Dorte and Anders stayed at Nordstrand to finish the morning observations and the laser shootings. They enjoyed the sight of 3 bitterns “Rørdrum”, a great egret “Sølvhejre” and 12 red kites “Rød glente”.

When we recovered from this exciting moment, we went back to the station to pick up some extra food and books to read while we would wait for the raptors. I took post on a hill near the eagle owl while Hanelie took the goshawk for her account.

Because I didn’t have to do anything but wait, I decided to count the raptor migration. I got a visit from Marion and Alice because Marion came to say goodbye. We gave her a wooden goldcrest and a card with a firecrest to thank her for her wonderful company. She has now gone to Aalborg to complete her master thesis. We hope she will find more time to work and that she will come back soon. Alice stayed with me and helped me with the countings. In total, we saw more than 360 birds including 5 ospreys “Fiskeørn”, 3 peregrine falcons “vandrefalk” and 2 black kites “Sort glente”.

Hanelie was not so lucky with seeing the raptor migration but she almost caught hooded crows “Gråkrage” that were attacking the goshawk. Manuel was exploring the harbor in the meantime to find some cool gulls but didn’t get further than herring gulls “Sølvmåge”. Simon, Lisa and Lars did the daily check for the raptor project today. In the afternoon, the guests had a bike trap and found some ring ouzels “ringdrossel” and stonechats “Sortstrubet bynkefugl”.

In the evening we all came together in the lab to learn how to GPS-tag raptors. Kjell showed us on a dead scoter how to attach the tags without hurting the birds.

After a long evening meeting, Manuel could finish the delicious dinner we enjoyed together.

Gærdesmutte (Wren) - 1
Rødhals (Robin) - 29
Bogfinke (Chaffinch) - 1
Jernspurv (Dunnock) - 2
Sangdrossel (Song thrush) - 5
Gransanger (Chiffchaff) - 5
Fuglekonge (Goldcrest) - 4
Grønsisken (Siskin) - 1

Total : 48

People: Simon S. Christiansen, Michael Ancher, Hanelie Sidhu, Alice Scalzo, Marion L'Huillier-Hunsinger, Lisa Vergin, Robbe Cool, Kjell Janssens, Dorte and Anders Østerby, Manuel Tacke