Starry, clear night in Skagen – overcast night at Skagen

Hi all together!

This weekend, there was quite a lot happening at Skagen Fuglestation and that´s why I don´t really know where to begin. But let´s start on Friday. When I made a walk and finally landed between Nordstrand and Grenen (not on the bike path, I went a bit cross country but nevertheless I have now an idea of where it is). I really liked Grenen but I did not stay for long because Simon called me to receive a packet at the station. Before that, I had found a new dead Guillemot (Lomvie) and a new dead Razorbill (Alk) at the beach. As I did not plan to collect dead birds and did not have a backpack with me, I just carried them in my arms and as I thought, walking along the street could be faster, everybody on the street could easily identify me as a bit of a crazy birdwatcher. But having these two birds on my arms was actually quite good as I was almost forced to look at their beaks and the difference between them was very obvious. I just wished it would be that easy to distinguish them with the scope but maybe I took a step in the right direction on Friday. In any case, I´ve learned something from it.

Guillemot (Lomvie)

Razorbill (Alk)

Back at the station, I met Henning soon, who gave me the packet. In the evening Esben, Lise, and Christian arrived at the station. They stayed for the weekend and it was very nice to cook and eat together and have company. After dinner, we went Nightcatching. We all had big expectations since we were using very strong torches and thermal binoculars. It was a very clear night and we could see a lot of stars and Esben and Christian came very close to some birds, but in the end, we had no success. Instead, we returned to the station. Back there, we were eating sweets, playing KLASK, talking, and looking at bird books.

Evening activities

Actually, it was quite late when we went to bed. Nevertheless, my inner clock seems to think waking up between 4 and 4.30 o´clock in the morning is just the right time to get up at Skagen Fugelestation. I really don´t know why, as I am usually very good at sleeping. You´re wrong, I tried to convince it, it´s still February… So, I tried to sleep again but at 6.30 I really couldn´t stay in bed anymore. I had breakfast on my own, did a few things at the station, and went out to the garden to feed the birds since the sunrise was really nice. When I went in again, Lise, Christian, and Esben were awake, baking bread. So I went in like a little Hobbit and we were having breakfast, my second breakfast for Saturday. Then we went on a long walk. The highlight was a dead Puffin (Lunde) which we found on the beach near Grenen. Simon aged it for us with a picture as he was at Copenhagen bringing the content of the freezer to the Zoological Museum. It was a 3K+ and it was really cool even if we would have preferred to spot it still living. And here it is:

Puffin (Lunde)

Back at the station, it was time for naps, laptop work, embroidery, and night catching in the evening again. This time it was raining, perfect weather for night catching. But the result was the same as the day before.

Today, it wasn´t that windy and good for opening the two nets in the garden. The weather was only kind to us for one round. But we were lucky, and we had a Great Tit (Musvit) and three Yellowhammers (Gulspurv).

Todays ringed birds:

Great Tit (Musvit): 1 (recap.)

Yellowhammer (Gulspurv): 3 (1 of them a recap.)

Total: 2 new+ 2 recap = 4 ;)

This was really nice and also the first birds I ringed in Skagen since I only ringed Blåvands birds so far. After that, we climbed the lighthouse, and we all were amazed.

At the lighthouse

In the afternoon, it was time to go for Lise, Christian, and Esben. Esben planned to come back soon. I have reason to believe that he will come back earlier as expected, as he forgot something here. Probably, he´ll meet Simon here next time, that will make him very happy. Simon will be back tomorrow, so I will again have company soon.

See you soon and take care,

Hanelie

People at the bird station: Esben E. Hansen, Hanelie Sidhu, Lise and Christian