Hello everyone,

Last night, before dinner, with the thermal camera, a net and flash lights, Simon, Lisa, Diana and Louis went in search of woodcock. Success! The first woodcok (Skovsneppe) of the year was ringed at the station yesterday to the delight of all the volunteers who hope to capture more soon!

Today Diana and I opened the nets, but later than expected due to the uncertain weather. Joined by Simon and his father as well as Lars and Lone, our guests, it was a slow morning, with only the usual species: Bullfinch (Dompap), Blackcap (Munk), Redwing (Vindrossel)... However, between ringing, spotting barn swallow (Landsvale), red-rumped swallows (Rødrygget Svale), hen harrier (Blå Kærhøg), sooty shearwater (Sodfarvet Skråpe) and a breakfast brought by Simon's father, we were quite busy!

In parallel, we are creating content for the video for new volunteers!

Beautiful Goldcrest (Fuglekonge)

A kind Blue tit!

Louis and Aksel, joined Knud and Jørgen for the count at Grenen. A slow morning but they also observed the hen harrier (Blå Kærhøg), sooty shearwater (Sodfarvet Skråpe) closer than Kabeltromle. They also spotted the red-rumped swallow (Rødrygget Svale), always a late record for the species. After observation, Louis joined Knud and Jørgen to read some rings in a gull group.

Red-rumped swallow (Rødrygget Svale), picture by Knud Pedersen

This afternoon, Aksel tried to read a plastic ring of Rock pipit (Skærpiber) probably from Norway. We are looking forward to catching some as well! Louis and Diana took a little rest and work on their computer. With the help of our guest Lone, I entered the data and also discussed the great nature and interesting places for birdwatching in Denmark!

Ringing at Grå Fyr:

Skovsneppe 1

Ringing at Kabeltromlen :

Skægmejse 1

Gærdesmutte 1

Blåmejse 5

Munk 1

Dompap 2

Dompap Lille 1

Vindrossel 5

Solsort 1

Total 17

People at the station: Aksel Y. Munkholm, Louis Kristoffer Poulsen, Diana Sciandra, Prescillia Lemesle, Simon Christiansen and his father, Lisa Vergin, Knud Pedersen, Jørgen Hulbæk, and our guests Lars og Lone

Today’s observations in the area on DOFBasen

Hello!

I write this blog a little bit older, but also a little bit wiser. Yesterday my birthday was really amazing, I also received some gifts! I want to say thank you again to everyone that gave me nice moments yesterday. :) 

Today the day started with Simon’s call, to decide to open the nets a little bit later because of the weather. Me and Aksel went opening the nets at Kabeltromlen, soon joined by Lisa, Jørgen (Simon’s father), Lona and Lars, our guests. Simon’s father brought us a wonderful cake with cinnamon inside: this week has been the week with the higher variety of cakes for the volunteers. The sky was grey but full of the colors of the birds passing: also the Waxwings (Silkehale, picture below) stopped by, probably to say “Hi” to Lisa, that will leave soon to go to Germany.

The highlight of the day at the ringing was a beautiful female of Greenfinch (Grønirisk, picture below)! We caught in total just 21 birds, and 6 recaptures (so 27 in total, like my age).

At the observations Prescillia and Louis were lucky to see 50/60 Snowbunting on the beach, but it was in general a very slow day, with just 50 Razorbills (Alk). They saw also a Long-tailed duck (Havlit) close to the shore and a Great Northern Diver (Islom) very close and a Oystercatcher (Strandskade), so they were happy because of those species.

In the afternoon we decided to change the nets in the Lighthouse garden all together, also with the help of Lone. Later Aksel and Louis went to the shop while me and Prescillia were working indoor. Later me and Louis will go nightcatching with Simon and Lisa.

Today we received an answer about a ring that I read some days ago on a dead Sandwich Tern (Splitterne) found at Grenen. This individual was ringed as an adult the 06/08/2019, in Denmark (Agger Færgehavn, Nordjylland). We received back also the history of another Sandwich Tern (Splitterne) dead that I found with a ring; this individual was ringed when it was a juvenile bird in 2016 in Germany, Helgoland!

Ringmærkning Kabeltromlen:

Træløber, Nordlig: 1

Rødhals: 4

Munk: 4

Blåmejse: 1

Bogfinke: 1

Dompap, Lille: 1

Grønirisk: 1

Vindrossel: 3

Sangdrossel: 1

Solsort: 4

Total = 21

Today’s Observations from the area on DOFBasen

Folk på stationen: Aksel Y. Munkholm, Louis Kristoffer Poulsen, Diana Sciandra, Prescillia Lemesle, Simon Christiansen and his father, Lisa Vergin, Jørgen Hulbæk og vores gæster Lars og Lone. 

Hej allesammen

Diana må virkelig ikke have opført sig særlig pænt det seneste år, for der har ikke været mange timer uden regn og jeg tror det kan tælle i minutter den tid solen har været fremme. Det betyder dog ikke at man ikke skal fejres! Vi har både fået sunget fødselsdagssang og spist kage hele 3 gang i løbet af dagen. Endda 3 forskellige kager (kanelstand, chokoladekage og æbletærte), så virkelig en god dag på den front!

På grund af det dårlige vejr, så startede dagen noget stille ud, da vi ikke kunne ringmærke ved kabeltromlen. Vi fik dog besøg af et hold elever fra natur og kulturformidling fra Hjørring, som skulle komme og høre noget omkring ringmærkning og fuglestationen. Nettene blev derfor åbnede i en halv times tid i fyrhaven imellem to af dagens mange regnbyger, og det lykkedes os at fange 2 blåmejser, så der var lidt at vise frem. Samtidig havde vi også besøg af Line og hendes mor Susanne, som var i praktik på fuglestationen for en dag.

Efter Simon var færdig med at demonstrere ringmærkning og vi havde overstået den første omgang kage kørte vi en lille tur for at finde nogle sjældne fugle omkring Skagen. Her blev det til en mulig sibirisk gransanger, men eller var der ikke mange fugle da det faktisk bare stod ned i stænger.

Stemningsbillede fra en våd omgang fuglekiggeri.

Og en flot regnbue

I løbet af eftermiddagen var Knud og Jørgen en tur ude ved sandormesporet for at kigge på måger. En rimelig succesfuld tur, hvor de fik spottet to kastiske måger og aflæst 6 farveringe. Derudover fik de set den hidtil største flok snespurve i dette efterår på 110 stk.

Eftermiddagen og aftenen er blev brugt på indendørshygge, kagespisning og fødselsdagsfejring, dog med et enkelt afbræk for Louis og Prescillia, som forsøgte sig med at fange skovsnepper. 3 stk blev set, men dog uden held til at fange dem i denne omgang.  

Ringmærkede fugle i Fyrhaven:

2 blåmejser

Observationer fra Grenen i dag

Folk på stationen: Aksel Y. Munkholm, Louis Kristoffer Poulsen, Diana Sciandra, Prescillia Lemesle, Simon Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Alessandro, Knud Pedersen, Jørgen Hulbæk, Susanne, Line og vores gæster Lars og Lone

Hej allesammen!

Prescillia og jeg åbnede net idag, dog noget senere end normalt pga. vind og vand, så første runde var lidt i 10. Især de første runder var stille, men senere kom der lidt flere fugle, blandt andet 19 blåmejser som næsten stod for halvdelen af totalen idag på 40 fugle mærket. De var dog fordelt på mange fine arter, blandt andet Grønsisken, Sjagger, Jernspurv, en flot gammel han Gulspurv, og de søde Dompapper:) Derudover fløj der også Bjergpiber og Stor Korsnæb over os, samt 4 Landsvaler! det er ved at være meget sent for dem.

Dompap

Dianna og Alessandro kom også forbi ringmærkningen og kiggede lidt med før de tog ud for at se Råbjerg Mile med Aksel og hans kæreste.

Aksel gjorde om eftermiddagen et forsøg på at fange Skærpibere ved stranden, dog uden held, efter tog jeg og Aksel ind for at købe ind da jeg manglede en del ting til aftensmad, Dianna og Alessandro var ude og spise, så det var kun Prescillia, Aksel og jeg der var hjemme til chilli sin carne som jeg har lavede, og senere er der æbletærte fra Aksel´s familie;)

Knud og Jørgen var på morgenobs, og havde også nogle fine arter, blandt andet en Sodfarvet Skråpe og en Islom

Ringmærkning kabeltromlen:

Gærdesmutte 3

Rødhals 2

Jernspurv 2

Grønsisken 1

Blåmejse 19

Munk 2

Dompap 2

Rørspurv 1

Bogfinke 2

Musvit 2

Gulspurv 1

Solsort 2

Sjagger 1

Total 40

Observationer fra idag kan ses her

Folk på stationen: Aksel Y. Munkholm, Louis Kristoffer Poulsen, Diana Sciandra, Prescillia Lemesle, Simon Christiansen, Alessandro, Knud Pedersen og Jørgen Hulbæk

Today, Diana and I went to open the nets at Kabeltromel after several days of closure due to rain. It was a real pleasure to go back to the ringing with Simon and Lisa and then join Louis despite the morning punctuated with lightning and showers which still allowed us to see two beautiful rainbows.

Today, as usual, captures of blue tits (Blåmejse), wrens (Gærdesmutte), turdidae (Songtrush -Sangdrossel-, Redwing -Vindrossel- and Blackbird -Solsort-) but especially a lot of recaptures (13 in total) of which an adult songtrush -Sangdrossel- coming from the Netherlands! This species is common in Denmark but also in our nets! In migration, the populations of the North of Scandinavia cross Denmark to join their winter quarters.

Other nice capture of the day: two goldfinches - stillits-, a male and a female in the nets (a thought for Hanelie who appreciated them so much!), always a pleasure to see their reddish heads and their yellowish feathers.

In the morning, Aksel and his family came to the station to learn more about Aksel's daily life as a volunteer, the banding, the captured species... They have the right to an exclusive visit by Aksel! Between two tours and two showers, we also observed the second year Iceland gull from World End I, a first for the volunteers!

Photo courtesy of d'Erik Christophersens (Erik Christophersens fotoblog)

On his side, our guest Jørgen Hulbæk was in Grenen with Knud for the counting of seabirds with from the first minutes a little gull, then regular passages of razorbills and also the arrival of swifts.

At Jennes Sø, Michael Anchers accompanied by Simon, Frede Jakobsen, Poul Jenne and Annelise Jensen, had a nice capture: an Arctic Redpoll in the nets!

This afternoon, Diana joined her boyfriend who came to visit her for his birthday and discover Skagen, with a visit of the harbor and a walk at the tips. Louis also enjoyed an afternoon with his family. On my side, after a small tour in town, we are progressively preparing the transition to winter at the station: cleaning the bikes, tidying up and feeding the birds in the garden for the ringing sessions to come!

People at the station: Knud Pedersen, Diana Sciandra, Prescillia Lemesle, Simon Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Michael Anchers, Frede Jakobsen, Poul Jenne, Annelise Jensen and our guest Jørgen Hulbæk

Today’s observations in the area on DOFBasen

Ringing at Kabeltromle:

Vindrossel 1

Munk 1

Lille Dompap 1

Blåmejse 7

Gærdesmutte 6

Rørspurv 1

Rødhals 4

Stillits 2

Fuglekonge 1

Solsort 5

Sangdrossel: 1

Total: 30

Ringing at Jennes Sø:

Gærdesmutte 4

Gransanger 1

Blåmejse 1

Nordlig Gråsisken 13

Lille Gråsisken 13

Total: 32

Sikke et blæsevejr der har været de sidste på dage og i dag var ikke en undtagelse. Det resulterede i en inde-dag for flere af os frivillige på stationen, som ikke havde modet til at bevæge os ud i det ustadige vejr.

Louis, Jørgen og Knud trodsede dog vind og vejr og stod for morgenobsen fra nordstranden, hvor der var mulighed for at finde en lille smule læ. Det var ikke en specielt travl morgen, men dog med et enkelt højdepunkter. En islom rastede ikke langt fra stranden, hvilket gav god mulighed for at nærstudere den store lom, som normalt blot flyver hurtigt forbi. Derudover fik Louis også fedet snespurvene op. Ikke med det formål at fede dem op, så de bliver klar til jul, men for at tilvænne dem til vores tilstedeværelse, så vi senere kan fange dem i nogle af vores nylavede fælder. Derudover var der en god variation af gæs som kom forbi obsen i dag. Her kan nævnes: Tajgasædgås, grågås, kortnæbet gås og canadagås.

Rastende islom

Hjemme på stationen blev dagen brugt på rengøring af stationen samt praktiske opgaver. Derudover brugte Diana dagen på at male fugle, hvilket hun jo egentlig er ret god til. Sidst på eftermiddagen havde vi fornøjelsen af Prescillias fremlæggelse omkring identifikation af måger. Et virkelig godt overblik over de forskellige måger som kan ses her i Skagen på obsen og hvordan man kan kende forskel imellem både arter og alder.

Hvis der er nogle lokale, som læser med her på bloggen, der har nogle nedfaldsæbler tilovers, så modtager vi dem med glæde, da vi mangler noget fodder til fuglene her til vinter.

Dagens observationer kan ses her

Folk på stationen: Aksel Y. Munkholm, Louis Kristoffer Poulsen, Diana Sciandra, Prescillia Lemesle, Simon Christiansen, Knud Pedersen og Jørgen Hulbæk

Hej allesammen!

Idag var der ingen ringmærkning pga. for meget blæst, så den stod i stedet på havobs efter regnen. Aksel tog ud til nordstrand for at obse med Knud og Jørgen, som lige havde haft en Islom tæt på kysten før Aksel kom, det kunne dog hjælpe på det da der senere kom en Almindelig Kjove fint tæt på kysten, der var også lidt gang i Lomvierne idag som blandede sig med alkene, så der var god mulighed for at sammenligne de to arter, derudover så de en flok på 60 Snespurve som i lang tid gik og spiste de frø som Dianna havde lagt ud til dem.
Jeg, Diana og Prescilla gik også ud for at se efter havtræk lidt længere nede ad stranden ved fyret, lidt Suler og Rider trak, dog lidt langt ude mange af dem med de store skibe som baggrund, selvom man ellers måske skulle tro at vinden pressede dem mod kysten, men ikke idag. Én enkelt Havlit fløj forbi, men ellers var der ikke meget træk, Men der lå dog en Nordisk Lappedykker ret tæt på kysten som dog var lidt svær at se pga. de høje bølger, så heller ingen fotos af den, men den er også altid fed at se:)

Efter frokost gik Aksel ud en tur, mens Jeg og Jørgen hver for sig prøvede på at finde den Brilleand som blev fundet nord for grenen tidligere på dage, lyset var dog meget mørkt og blandet med de høje bølger det ikke de bedste forhold, og der var desværre heller ikke nogen af os der så den, men mon ikke vi vil prøve igen senere:)

Der kigges efter Brilleand:)

Observationer fra idag kan ses her

Folk på stationen: Aksel Y. Munkholm, Louis Kristoffer Poulsen, Diana Sciandra, Prescillia Lemesle, Simon Christiansen, Knud Pedersen og Jørgen Hulbæk

Hello!

I am writing this blog with the belly really happy: Lisa just brought us a wonderful cake (made by Simon’s mum) and we still have the Halloween cake that me and Prescillia did yesterday. This morning me and Aksel woke up, ready to go to Kabeltromlen to open the nets but the radar was clearly against our wills so we stayed home. I worked all the morning at the computer to check some things for the station, while Aksel was working at his computer too. He also took pictures of the bill of the Puffin (Londe) we found dead yesterday night. Looking at the beak and taking measurements is the best way to assess a precise age to this species. In the morning Simon and Prescillia checked some ringing sheets from the past days. When I finished part of the work on the computer I went out to take a walk to Ellekrattet area and it was really nice to stay outside: 18 Whooper Swans (Sangsvane) passed really low, above my head (picture below, took with my mobile phone) and I enjoyed looking at some Waxwings (Silkehale) staying around.

Aksel went to Cormorant Lake and while he was going he saw 5 Great Egret (Sølvhejre). He also saw up to 5 Pallid swifts together with Alek Sand Frich, which took really beautiful pictures and was also really kind because brought Aksel back to the Lighthouse before the rain came.

Our guest Jørgen went to North Beach at the beginning of the morning but the weather was really bad and Knud wasn’t there so he decided to go to Grenen, where he observed some divers roosting. At World End 1 with Alek Sand Frich and Rolf Christenses he saw one of the Red-rumped swallow.

When all of us were back home we decided to go to see the Red-rumped swallows (Rødrygget Svale) and also Jørgen joined. We observed them very close, at the North Beach Parking and Simon was excited because he never saw this species here in autumn! 

In the late afternoon we looked all together, while eating cake, through some pictures we took in the past days of some birds we ringed and we studied again with Simon and Lisa the best things to look at for the most tricky species we use to catch in this period of the year. 

We can't wait to practice what we learnt! 

Dagens observationer kan ses her

Nocturnal recording of the night between 13th October and 14th October

People at the station: Knud Pedersen, Aksel Y. Munkholm, Diana Sciandra, Prescillia Lemesle, Simon Christiansen, Lisa Vergin and our guest Jørgen Hulbæk

Hello everyone,

This morning I went to open the nets with Aksel in Kabeltromle but only a part of it because of the wind. Only 7 birds were caught and 1 recapture including one brambling - Kvækerfinke-, and the traditional species like bullfinch – Dompap - , Goldcrest – Fuglekonge - . But the birds deserted the nets to leave the place to many ... leaves! A nightmare removed from the net despite their beautiful fall colors.

Nets full of ... leaves!

After closing, we went to Buttervej near where we spotted the Pallas’s Leaf Warbler – Fuglekongesanger - to make some observations, nothing special but always nice to see the birds in their environment and not always in hand.

Meanwhile, Diana and our guest went with the traps for snow buntings, which are Diana's dream! Unfortunately, no success but Diana, Jørgen Hulbæk and Knud did nice observations of Ping-footed geese (Kortnæbbet Gås), whooper swams (Sangsvane), red-breasted mergansers (Toppet skallesluger), Canada geese (Canadagås) and a red-throated diver (Rødstrubet lom) very close!

Ping-footed geese (Kortnæbbet Gås)

Simon also had a meeting in the morning to discuss activities for the Bird Festival next year.

At the end of the morning, Diana, Aksel, Simon and I had a meeting to plan the month to come, new volunteers, next guests, upcoming field activities (exciting things and captures are coming, I am excited!) but also to plan the end of the season which is coming soon...

This afternoon, operation shopping with Aksel but also purchase of a new backpack for me, it was time! Diana checked some data with Simon.

Aksel and Diana did a little night walk for night captures but without success. Now, to warm up the heart but also to celebrate Halloween, we prepared a Halloween cake (with chocolate of course!). Like you can see, we are better to eat the cake than to make it!

Ringing at kabeltromle:

Gærdesmutte: 1

Gråsisken, stor: 1

Dompap Lille: 1

Kvækerfinke: 1

Vindrossel: 1

Songdrossel: 1

Solsort: 1

Total: 7

People at the station: Knud Pedersen, Aksel Y. Munkholm, Diana Sciandra, Prescillia Lemesle, Simon Christiansen, and our guest Jørgen Hulbæk

Today’s observations in the area on DOFBasen

Hej alle sammen

Det føles jo næsten som sommer heroppe i Skagen lige for tiden med 15 grader, ingen vind og høj sol, hvilket bestemt også har været højdepunktet i dag. Der har godt nok været stille på fuglefronten både ved kabeltromlen og verdens ende 3. I dag stod Knud og Jørgen for morgenobsen, mens Diana, Prescillia, Oluf og jeg ringmærkede ved kabeltromlen.

Det gode vejr har jo bragt nogle sjove arter til Skagen i de seneste dage, så man kunne jo håbe at der også kunne dukke noget sjovt op i nettene ved kabeltromlen. Allerede ved net åbningen virkede det dog stille og uden synderlig bevægelse i krattene, og det endte også med at være en være en rigtig stille dag, med kun 23 ringmærkede fugle, hvoraf højdepunktet var 3 skægmejser.

_{Et forsøg på et spotte de rødrygget svaler over skarvsøgen.}

Også på morgenobsen var Knud og Jørgen heller ikke travlt beskæftiget. Udover nogle exnkelte flokke af kortnæbede gæs og en ung havterne, så var der ikke meget bevægelse over vandet i dag. Knud og Jørgen begav sig derfor i gang med en af ornitologiens mindre ophidsende discipliner, nemlig at nørde måger. Det lykkedes dem her at finde 2 kaspiske måger imellem de mere end 1500 måger som rastede på stranden.

Derudover gik resten af dagen for stationens frivillige med gåture rundt i området, mens Jørgen var en tur på havnen for at inspicere mågerne.

Dagens observationer kan ses her

Ringmærket ved kabeltromlen:

Vindrossel 2
Musvit 1
Munk 2
Dompap 6
Blåmejse 1
Gærdesmutte 3
Skægmejse 3
Rødhals 2
Fuglekonge 3

Totals: 23

Folk på stationen: Olof Lou, Knud Pedersen, Aksel Y. Munkholm, Diana Sciandra, Prescillia Lemesle og vores gæst Jørgen Hulbæk