I arrived back in Skagen on Sunday the 26th, after being here first in 2019, and what an amazing start to the season we had here at the station the last few days.

Monday morning we went to do the Fulmar survey, looking for dead birds, we didn't find any Fulmars but we came back with 1 Puffin and 1 Common gull after a really nice morning walk.

After we arrived back to the station, Hanelie told us someone saw Parrot crossbill (Stor Korsnæb) so we went there all together with Rie and right when we arrived we could see them quite easily resting on the top of the trees, what a cool bird!

Later that day everyone was talking about the Aurora and how it should be visible tonight, so even after the long day that we all had we decided to go out to try and see it. we left the house at around 22:00 at that time we could already see the aurora from the kitchen window, so we rushed to Kabbeltrummel Krattet to try and have a better view. by the time we arrived there the light were already kinda fainted and starting to disappear. we met there Jørgen Kabel, and looked at what left of the Aurora, then went back to sleep after a very long day

Photo: Jørgen Kabel

This morning (The 28th) we went early for sea observations together with Knud, the morning was quite slow, we really wanted to see some Shags (Topskarv) but they didn't want to show up. Later we went to try and see the Fircecrest thats hanging around Ellekrattet but with no succes.

We saw a few Goldcrest but not the Firecrest. (Fuglekonge)

Link to 26-28.2 observations-https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=mellemdato&dato_first=26-02-2023&dato_second=28-02-2023&omraade=stor&stor=588&obstype=observationer&species=alle&sortering=dato

People: Yehonatan ben aroia, Eric Scheuering, Hanelie Sidhu, Jørgen Kabel, Knud Pedersen, Rie

Dear Blog-Reader,

Here we are again! The weather of the last days has not been the best, so there did not happen that many exciting things, but we were around and busy still, which I won´t deprive you of:

On Thursday morning, I went out to Verdens Ende 3 for Morning Observations.

Snow Buntings "Snespurv" at Verdens Ende 3

It was a grey day and the sight wasn´t very good. The hightlights of the first hour were very few Kittiwakes “Ride” migrating South-east. In the second hour, Eric joined me. This hour, we could observe a nice Velvet Scoter “Fløjlsand”. The numbers were very low that day but in the second hour even lower! So we decided to go home then.

At noon, Lisa, Simon, and his mom Karin came for a short while. Together, we had some coffee and cake, that Karin brought. Thanks!

Simon gave us some new tasks and helped me to update my ringing license. It was just a short visit for this time, as Simon and Lisa went to Germany the same day. In the afternoon, Eric and I went to town. We checked for the Waxwings “Silkehale” but did not see them in their apple tree near LIDL. We also checked the harbour, where we just saw very little Gulls “Måge”. While I did some office work and started preparing dinner, Eric went for a short evening walk, without seeing much. Where were just the birds?

The next day, the weather looked pretty much the same, just that it started raining a bit later the day. After getting up and checking the weather, we decided not to go observing that day. My bed looked much more comfortable than the university reports I had to write, so was it wrong to choose that alternative? Eric went for a morning walk at the tractor trac and so some Stonechats “Sortstrubet Bynkefugl”, Fieldfares “Sjagger” and Reed Buntings “Rørspurv”. The last Stonechat “Sortstrubet Bynkefugl”, I had seen was in autumn, that was to long ago, so I also needed to go. A very pretty male did me the pleasure to land on top of a bush for a bit and also Fieldfares “Sjagger” and Reed Buntings “Rørspurv” were still there for me. I also checked Kabeltrommle, which looked a bit sad and empty without nets. But maybe we will put up some soon. Afterwards, I fixed the oven at the station and then it was really time for my reports. Eric sorted the recapture letters of 2022, a pre-work for the year report.

This morning was windy but sunny. I went out for observations again. At least, there were birds again, the over 300 Auks “Lomvie/Alk” I counted in the first hour were not bad. But the wind was even colder then the last days. When I went back, I met Jørgen and Igor, sitting in the sun, in front of the bunker. This place was more sheltered and after sitting and talking with Jørgen for some time, and warming my hands in Igors warm fur, I was warm again. Maybe also because our conversation ended with warm butterfly days.

In the meantime, Eric had been in town, grocery shopping and checking the harbor. He had some Starlings “Stær” in town. We did the big Skagen cleaning today. As we spent the rest of the day inside, I needed a walk in the evening. The sunset looked very nice, but the wind was still icy.

Sunset behind the lighthouse

We had already seen three resting Red-breasted Merganser “Topped Skallesluger” out of the window and when I went out, I saw some more flying south-east, as well as some Rock Pipits “Skærpiber” and a little flock of Oystercatcher “Strandskade”. Eric had started preparing dinner, a new recipe, which I think was very good.

Tomorrow, we are looking forward to welcoming the third volunteer, Yehonatan.

Observations from 23.02. to 25.02.2023 from Observers in the area

See you, 

Hanelie

People: Simon Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Karin Christiansen, Jørgen Kabel and Igor, Eric Scheuering, Hanelie Sidhu 

Hi everyone,

Although the wind wasn´t blowing that loud against the lighthouse anymore, it was still windy, as we went for morning observations at Verdens Ende 3. Especially in the first hour, big flocks of Auks “Lomvie/Alk” were migrating. Also big flocks of Jackdaws “Allike” were attempting to migrate. And the flocks of migrating Eiders “Ederfugl” are becoming bigger. The highlight of the morning obs was a Ringed Plover “Stor Præstekrave”, that Eric spotted.

Herring gulls having their mornig bath

After lunch, Eric was resting a whiIe and I did a long telescope and binocular cleaning session and then went to cormorant lake. There was nothing at the lake except a few bathing Herring “Sølvmåge” and Great Black-Backed Gulls “Svartbag”, Black-Headed Gull “Hættemåge” as well as Mallards “Gråand”. Nevertheless, I stayed for a while, as I had taken two pairs of waders with me, which needed to be checked for holes. Right away, I got wet feet right with the first pair, that I tried. The second one was okay, but I decided to go back after that.

At Nordstrand, there was a nice flock of Snowbuntings “Snespurv”. It is supposed to get colder the next days, maybe that means more Waxwings “Silkehale”?

See you and take care!

Hanelie

Dagens observationer kan ses her

People: Eric Scheuering, Hanelie Sidhu

After several days of strong winds and rain, first from Storm Otto, and then continuing after that until yesterday, Hanelie and I decided today would be a good day to survey for Fulmar (Mallemuk) that had died and washed up on the beach. Jørgen was kind enough to be our personal taxi service and drive us to the start point of our survey at Gammel Skagen and Højen strand. On our way there, we made a quick stop at Lidl to see if the Bohemian Waxwings (Silkehale) were still around. They were and we were rewarded again with great views of the small flock of eights birds.

The sun was shining brightly today, and when we started our survey, we immediately noticed the beach was covered in white foam blown in from the sea and we wondered if this would make our search for mostly white birds more difficult. Almost immediately though we found the first dead Mallemuk and were to eventually find a total of six, four that were still in good enough condition to be collected so that they can be sent to Aarhus University for analysis of their stomach contents to determine the amount of plastic they’re ingesting.

Hanelie looking a little unsure about how we're going to find mostly white birds amongst all this sea foam!

The wind was still quite strong today, now out of the north, but we still made good progress and finished feeling successful, if it’s possible to feel success while engaging in a somewhat grim task. We found many other species that had died as well, including Kittiwake (Ride), Gannet (Sule), Greater Black-backed Gull (Svartbag), Herring Gull (Sølvmåge), Common Gull (Stormmåge), and a likely Common Eider (Ederfugl). We were accompanied throughout the day by several flocks of Snow Bunting (Snespurv), as well as a few Sanderling (Sandløber) and Rock Pipit (Skærpiber). We noticed that one Sandløber and one Skærpiber were also ringed with a metal band.

We were happy to return to the warmth of Det Grå Fyr for a late lunch and to process our results and add our finds to the collection in the freezer. Just before dusk I decided I hadn’t had quite enough time outside and took a short walk around Ellekrattet and was glad to hear Skylark (Sanglærke) and Red Crossbill (Lille Korsnæb). And now after a delicious and warming meal from Hanelie, I hope to sleep well to be ready to greet the day tomorrow morning and maybe some new birds that are now beginning to arrive every day.

Signs of spring are beginning to arrive, including at Ellekrattet

Link to observations from today from observers in the area

People: Hanelie Sidhu, Eric Scheuering, Jørgen Kabel

Hi everyone,

this morning, we woke up very early as the wind was very loud and made a door in the yard clatter quite loud, so that I went up at five un the morning to see what was going on and if everything was okay. It was, and the early morning greeted me with rain and heavy wind so I was not unhappy to go back to my warm bed. But soon it was time to get up anyway and the rain was still blown against the windows by the wind, so that we were wondering whether to go out or not or later. I went in the end. I set in the shelter of the dune, but the visibility was not optimal so I counted not many birds, but I had quite some species. The most numerous one was still the Red-throated Diver “Rødstrubet Lom” but I was quite delighted by two early Bar-tailed Godwits “Lille Kobbersneppe”, at the tip, first there was just one, then another one came, and also the Oystercatchers got more, one in the first hour, which got company by four more in the second.

There were a few Great-crested Grebes “Toppet Lappedykker” migrating, and I was happy about a male Goldeneye “Hvinand” migraring south-east. Also a small flock of Whooper Swans “Sangsvane” was migrating, so it was actually a quite nice morning. But towards the end of the observations, I got a bit excited because Erik Christophersen had seen a small flock of Waxwings “Silkehale” in town, and that was a species that I wanted to see of quite long and was also hoping so much to see, when I was here in the beginning of January with Martina, but did not. As I was sometimes checking Dofbasn back at home and I didn´t see entries for them sine that time, I was nearly giving up hope a bit, maybe it should still not be this winter, that I would see them. But it was! After observations, I went back to the station and met Eric and together we went to town. As you might know, that can be quite a challenge with strong wind from west. But we were rewarded.

They were sitting feeding in an apple tree and calling. It turned out, that it was right in front of Eriks work so we also met him. I was very happy about this long-desired species and so was Eric, as it was long ago, that he had seen them the last time. We stayed there for quite a long time, I did not really want to go but I believe we will also see them in the next days in their apple tree. So finally we went to the harbor. Erik had also told me, that a Glaucous “Gråmage” and Iceland Gull “Hvidvinget Måge” had been seen there yesterday and we wanted to see them. I know, yesterday I ended the Blog with “don´t let yourself blow away!” but actually the wind really nearly blew me from the bike. Also Eric was fighting a lot against the wind and was finally the voice of reason and decided to check the harbor in less wind. So close to the gulls, I still wanted to try to find on or both of the Gulls and went further. I was also rewarded and saw the Glaucous Gull “Gråmage”. Then I went also back, we had kind of agreed to share the shopping, so Eric went to the supermarket when he went back and then also I. Still be bought some things twice, now we have a lot of bead and apples in store! On the way back, Eric saw a Fox “Ræv” in the middle of town.

Back at the station, I was entering the data and Eric made us delicious Shakshuka for dinner. The wind is still howling around the lighthouse but tomorrow, there should be less and we will go on the Fulmar survey.

Take care!

Hanelie

Dagens observationer kan ses her

People: Erik Christophersen, Eric Scheuering, Hanelie Sidhu

Dear Blogreader,

Yesterday morning I arrived in Skagen again, thanks to the help of Jørgen, Simon and especially Simons mom because of some difficulties because of the storm. At the train station, I was welcomed by Jørgen and Igor, who picked me up and at the Bird Observatory by Eric. After I ordered my stuff a bit, Eric and I went to World´s end 3 in the early afternoon. There were still quite some Red-throated divers “Rødstrubet Lom” and Auks “Alkefugle” migrating during this afternoon. At the tip, we saw a suspicious dead bird through our telescopes. I went to get it and yes!, it was a very fresh dead fulmar. By the way, if you find dead fulmars at the beach, please contact us and bring them to the bird observatory or tell us the place where you found them and we can come and get them, as long as it is around Skagen. They are collected for a project to examine the amount of microplastic in their stomaches.

When we came back to the Bird Observatory, it was time for data entry and in the evening, Eric made us a delicious dinner. Afterwards, I archived some recapture letters: The first of Skagen Fuglestations ringed Yellowhammers “Gulspurv” was recaptured at another country! Often we get recaptures of our own ringed Yellowhammers “Gulspurv” as they are resident birds or short-distance migrants. So also our Yellowhammer didn´t migrate that far, but apparently it found another nice place to winter because after it was caught and ringed here in the lighthouse garden in winter 2019/20 as 1K bird it was caught this winter on the opposite side of the sea in Sweden.

This morning, we went again Observing at Worlds End 3. There are many pictures of sunrises in Skagen in this Blog, as you know, dear Blogreader, but still they are special here, so we will also share the sunrie on todays way to Verdens Ende 3 with you.

There were again many Red-throated divers “Rødstrubet Lom” migrating and also some Bean Geese “Tajgasædgås” were migrating. Jørgen and Igor also came by on their walk to say hello. After three hours, we decided to go back and warm our Ice-feet. This afternoon I did some work outside around the lighthouse and then did a survey on the contents of the freezer. Later, Eric went to Ellekrattet. In the meantime, I motivated myself with some chips I found in the kitchen to work on a report for university. We ate leftovers of yesterday for dinner. Tomorrow it will be windy again, but we will be out!

Stand firm and don´t let yourself blow away ;)

See you, Hanelie

Observations of 18.02. and 19.02.2023 from Observers in the area

People: Jørgen Kabel and Igor, Eric Scheuering, Hanelie Sidhu

With little activity around the raptor traps, and Simon busy with administrative work, I have shifted my focus the past couple of days to seabirds.

On Tuesday, 14 February, I surveyed for dead seabirds on the beach between Solnedgangskiosken, Højen and Det Grå Fyr, an approximately 10 km route. The primary target of these surveys is Fulmar (Mallemuk) and the birds that are found will be sent to Aarhus University as part of a research project to examine the contents of the stomachs of these birds to determine how much plastic they have ingested.

I began my survey at Solnedgangskiosken and the initial section of beach is primarily composed of large piles of loose gravel with some sand and this made for somewhat slow going for me. The uneven terrain also made searching a little difficult, and while I was seeing a lot of debris, I had not found any dead birds yet and wondered if I needed to modify my search image. Eventually I found a dead Gannet (Sule) and some gulls (måger), but no fulmars yet.

The beach at Højen

As the beach flattened out and became mostly sand, I found the first dead Mallemuk near Skagen Vest Fyr on Nordstrand and immediately noticed the distinctive, sharp smell of seabird. While my focus was on the beach and the ground, I was also taking time to survey the birds flying over the sea. The species I noted included Red-throated Diver/Loon (Rødstrubet Lom), Common Eider (Ederfugl), Common Scoter (Sortand), Red-breasted Merganser (Toppet Skallesluger), Great Cormorant (Skarv), and gulls (måger). I also saw Eurasian Oystercatcher (Strandskade), Sanderling (Sandløber), Rock Pipit (Skærpiber), and Snow Bunting (Snespurv).

In total, I found four dead Mallemuk during the survey, three of which were intact enough to collect. I also collected one Guillemot (Lomvie).

A dead  Fulmar (Mallemuk). A sad sight, yes, but look at that beautiful bill.

Yesterday I returned to Nordstrand to complete a survey of seabirds, this time focused on living birds! I saw many of the same species as yesterday as well as Razorbill (Alk) and Great Crested Grebe (Toppet Lappedykker). I also saw several Harbor Porpoise (Marsvin) swimming and foraging not far from the shore. After two hours of surveying and standing in one place in the chilly wind, I was cold enough to decide to return to Det Grå Fyr. On my return walk I noted a few species I hadn’t seen yet since arriving here, including Northern Lapwing (Vibe), Crested Tit (Topmejse), and Long-tailed Tit (Halemejse).

Do I look cold??

I am enjoying the muted winter landscapes right now and am looking forward to exploring new spots in the area, learning new things, and seeing more new species.

Reservatet landscape

Link to our observations for the first part of this week

People: Simon S. Christiansen, Eric Scheuering

Raptors and new arrivals!

Welcome to the 2023 field season! My name is Eric and I am an American currently living in Germany. I will be volunteering at Skagen until mid-March.

I arrived in Aalborg on 6 February and then drove north to Skagen with Simon on 7 February. Our primary focus this first week has been on the raptor project. We are hoping to capture raptors and attach GPS transmitters to study their migration patterns when they are crossing the Sea. The focal species is Common Buzzard (Musvåge) but it is possible we might catch other species as well. A young Golden Eagle (Kongeørn) has been seen in the area recently, so we can dream!

Our efforts started in the area of the raptor trap that was built in 2022. We placed two roadkill deer carcasses in the trap hoping to attract some birds. That day we also saw one Musvåge at Hulsig Hede so also put some dead birds out in the area to help lure it in.

Working with pyramid traps

On Wednesday, we saw a Musvåge near the bird carcasses and most of them had been eaten (it’s possible a mammal like a fox had also been feeding on them). We also installed a video camera at the raptor trap so we could monitor any activity happening there. Hans and Bodil Rytter arrived that evening from Sydfyn and came to Skagen to help with the raptor trapping efforts as Hans has a lot of experience doing this around Fyn.

On 9 February we set up two pyramid traps in the dunes near the raptor trap where we had earlier set out bait and also two traps in the Grenen area where we had seen a Musvåge earlier. We were able to monitor activity at both traps remotely with the use of cameras and alarms. Lars Bo Jacobsen arrived during the day from Djursland to help with our work as well.

While we were waiting, we went to Skagen Havn to look for dead gulls (måger) to use for raptor bait and continued to search for raptors in the area. Late in the day we learned that a local birdwatcher had observed many further south on the peninsula, including Musvåge and Rød Glente (Red Kite), so we decided we would move some pyramid traps further south. That evening we went out to some fields around Skagen to try and catch Eurasian Woodcocks (Skovsneppe). We did see a few birds but were not lucky enough to catch them.

The team as they look through the thermal binoculars

On Friday (10 February) we set up four pyramid traps and again monitored them remotely throughout the day. We observed many Musvåge in the area, as well as a few Ravn (Common Raven) that were interested in the bait we had put out. We took advantage of our time in the area and searched for flocks of swans (svaner) and geese (gæs) and did counts at several places. Of interest were sightings of Tundra Swan (Pibesvane), large flocks of Greater White-fronted Goose (Blisgås), Tundra Bean-Goose and Taiga Bean-Goose (Tundrasædgås and Skovsædgås), Barnacle Goose (Bramgås), and Common Crane (Trane). That evening Simon made us “Brændende Kærlighed” for dinner which was a real treat!

Ready for buzzard ringing

Saturday we continued to monitor the activity around the raptor traps, and while there were several Musvåge hanging around very close to the traps, they were not yet coming to them. In our surveys of the waterfowl flocks in the area we found most of the same species from the previous day as well as Egyptian Goose (Nilgås) and Pink-footed Goose (Kortnæbbet Gås). Simon also found a couple of Shore Larks (Bjerglærke) in a flock of Eurasian Skylark (Sanglærke) and Corn Buntings (Bomlærker). We attempted to catch some birds at night again with a thermal binocular, both on the beach and in the fields nearby, but luck was still not with us. We saw a young Grey Seal though (Gråsæl).

Grey Seal on the beach by night

On Sunday we said goodbye to Hans and Bodil. Hans gave Simon a lesson on how to attach the harness with the GPS unit. We did also see a Musvåge very near the large raptor trap with the deer carcasses so we are hopeful that in the days to come we will begin to catch some of these birds.

During the week, I also enjoyed birding the Grenen area and from Nordstrand to Det Grå Fyr, seeing species new and old to me, and looking for raptors the whole time as well, of course! Simon also participated in a planning meeting for this year’s bird festival during the week and there is a lot of other administrative work that he is busy with to get things going for the year.

Lars Bo will say goodbye to us today and then we will look forward to Hanelie’s return to the station on Friday.

On the 10^th Michael Ancher was ringing in town which gave us a few winter birds.

Ringing (Nordstjernevej)

Rødhals 1

Blåmejse 2

Musvit 6

Grønirisk 3

Gulspurv 1

Total: 13

Link to our Observations the past week

People: Simon S. Christiansen, Eric Scheuering, Hans Rytter, Bodil Rytter, Lars Bo Jacobsen, Michael Ancher

Hi everyone!

Happy new year from Det Grå Fyr!

On Monday evening, Martina and I arrived here for a short one-week-stay at Skagen. It began with nightcatching, without success but we saw a Short-eared Owl “Mosehornugle” at the secret lake. The next morning, we went ringing at Jennes Sø. The success was quite low, we caught two birds: A Wren “Gærdesmutte” and a nice Redpoll “Gråsisken”, which I could watch feeding in a tree afterwards.

In the afternoon, Martina went to the beach near the harbor and had nice observations of three Razorbills “Alk” which were very close. I went to town, looking for Waxwings “Silkehale” but there were none.

Winter in Skagen can be quite windy and rainy. This week really is. Nevertheless, I went to World End 3 for one hour on Wednesday, Martina joined for a while. As the weather and the visibility was so bad, we didn´t see much. Nevertheless: Auks “Alkefugle”, Velvet Scoters “Fløjsand”, Sanderlings “Sandløber” and Snow Buntings “Snespurv” are species I don´t see at home in southern Germany.

Otherwise, we used the rainy day to sort out doublets in the picture archive of 2022 and untangled a wader net.

In the afternoon the rain stopped for a little while before sunset. Martina went to the harbor and even managed to catch a Yellowhammer “Gulspurv” in the lighthouse garden. I was at cormorant lake and had a nice observation of some Bearded Reedlings “Skægermejse” which were calling in the reeds and coming very close to me.

The first Fulmar “Mallemuk” Beach-Survey for 2023 was today. Therefore, we could say Happy New Year to Jørgen and Igor in the morning, as Jørgen drove us to Solnedgangspladsen in Gammel Skagen where we started. No dead Fulmars “Mallemuk” today. But we found some other dead birds on the beach, as well as a nearly intact dead Cancer pagurus "Tastekrappe".

There was one pair of wings Martina and I were especially scratching our heads over.

Here it is:

And you? Do you know the solution of the riddle?

In the afternoon, Martina went to count Gulls “Måge” at Grenen and I took care about Fulmar survey protocol etc. and warmed me up with some tee.

Tomorrow, there will be a storm but maybe it will bring some birds to Skagen.

Oh yes, and Simon solved the riddle of the pair of wings for us: It is from a Woodcock “Skovsneppe”.

Take care and get well over the winter!

Hanelie

Dagens observationer kan ses her

People: Martina Hillbrand, Simon S. Christiansen, Jørgen Kabel, Hanelie Sidhu