Græshoppesanger, Prærietrane, Tornsanger, Belgian Rørspurv, and bird race!

Hi folks! 

Hope you are having as good of a Sunday as we are!

Today, we had a bird race going on with other bird observatories: Ottenby Fågelstation (Sweden), Blåvand bird station (Denmark), Falsterbo bird station (Sweden), Christiansø Natural Scientific Feltstation (Denmark), Country black bird station (Sweden), and Utsira bird station (Norway).
We counted every species that every one of our team members saw, and that from midnight last night to 23:59 tonight.

Jonas and Rasmus went observing while Laima, Mikkel, Jeppe, and I went ringing. As we are in the middle of the bird festival, Jeppe was also hosting a guided tour and visitors experienced ringing with us, which is always nice. :) Our highlights were a Grasshopper Warbler (Græshoppesanger), a Common Whitethroat (Tornsanger), a Belgian Reed Bunting (Rørspurv), and a Tree Pipit (Skovpiber). 

Grasshopper Warbler (Græshoppesanger), first in two years

Undertail coverts characteristic of the Græshoppesanger

Common Whitethroat (Tornsanger), first of the season

A Wryneck (Vendehals) was seen at Grenen, as well as a Citrine Wagtail (Citronvipstjert). The best highlight of the day though was definitely the Sandhill Crane (Prærietrane) migrating toward Sweden along with 2 Common Cranes (Trane)!!! It was called out south of town, and as some of the team left to see it, us ringing could unfortunately not go. Fortunately, it flew by Skagen and we got to see it from Kabeltromlen as we were closing nets! Such an exciting moment. 

Two Common Cranes (Trane) on the left with the Sandhill Crane (Prærietrane) on the right. Notice the bent neck, the smaller size, and paler colour.
Photo: Erik Christophersen

We split up for the rest of the day; Simon and Lisa went observing together; Rasmus, Jeppe, Jonas, and Mikkel drove around for obs; Laima worked on her project; and I went on a walk towards Nordstrand and Skarvsøen to complete observations. 

We ended the day with a nice barbecue in the yard, sheltered from the wind. 

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):

Sangdrossel  4
Musvit  1
Løvsanger  6
Gransanger  7
Tornsanger  1
Rødstjert  1
Rødhals  2
Gærdesanger  1
Græshoppersanger  1
Gærdesmutte  1
Munk  13
Skovpiber  1

Sum = 39

Klik her for at se dagens observationer af fugle i Skagen

Klik her for at se dagens observationer på dofbasen af Rovfugle i Skagen

Folk: Simon S. Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Jonas Pedersen, Jørgen Kabel og Igor, Erik Christophersen, Jeppe Overgaard, Knud Pedersen, Anders Østerby, Dorte H. Jensen, Rasmus Matthiesen-Juhl, Laima Bagdonaite, Mikkel Friborg Mortensen, and Michaëla Berdougo,