Constant Effort.. Not-So-Constant Birds

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