Joyful last day

Today was my last day at the station. It began at 2:40 am when me, Sean and Martina woke up to go ringing at Kabeltromlen. We put on our waders and left the station to bike to the site at 3:30 am. We got there around 3:45 am and started opening the nets around the site. We made rounds around the nets every 30 minutes to collect the birds. After bringing them back, Sean and Martina measured, sexed, aged and ringed the birds, while I took notes. We caught and ringed many Tornsanger (common whitethroat), Gærdesanger (lesser whitethroat), Gransanger (common chiffchaff), and also some Solsort (blackbird), Munk (eurasian blackcap), Blåmejse (blue tit), Grønsisken (siskin), Rørspurv (reed bunting) and a single Gulbug (icterine warbler)!

Icterine warbler. Photo by: Sean Walsh

There was also a very interesting recapture made today. We caught a Rørsanger (reed warbler), which came all the way from Norway! 

Reed warbler. Photo by: Martina Hillbrand

Around 9 am, Sean heard the Cistussanger (zitting cisticola) at the site, near the nets. We hoped to catch it and ring it, but were unfortunately unlucky. Many local birders also came to the site to watch out for the cisticola and Mark, Malthe and Lærkebjørn also accompanied us for most of the morning.

All ringing participants. Photo by: Mark Desholm

After the ringing, we came home to eat breakfast, take a nap and input our data. Afterwards, we cleaned the apartment.

Lærkebjørn who had been filming during her last stay at the guest apartment finished compiling her video about bird ringing and showed it to a fair crowd in the birder's club. It was great to get the view from an outsider about our activities here.

Martina then went back out to Kabeltromlen to cut the hedges, I started packing, and Sean cooked dinner. In the evening, we all ate together and said our goodbyes as me and Mark and his children are all departing tomorrow. 

Ringing  (Kabeltromlekrattet)

Solsort (Blackbird) - 2

Munk (Blackcap) - 3

Tornsanger (Common Whitethroat) - 11

Gærdesanger (Lesser Whitethroat) - 5

Rørsanger (Reed Warbler) - 1

Gulbug (Icterine Warbler) - 1

Gransanger (Chiffchaff) - 4

Blåmejse (Blue Tit) - 2

Rørspruv (Reed Bunting) - 1

Total: 31

People: Seán Walsh, Kalina Siwek, Martina Hillbrand, Knud Pedersen, Simon S. Christiansen, Mark & his children.

A link to today's observations from volunteers and local observers.