Turning Neck

Today we got up especially early and cycled to Skarvsøn. It was the last time CES was on the agenda. On the way, a Nightjar (Natravn) flew over us in the darkness. Then the nets were already open.

Hayley and I ringing at Skarvsøn (picture: Simon the first)

In the first round, a large wader suddenly flew into the net directly in front of Hayley. Oha, that's a Ruff (Brushane). What an unexpected and good start, this is the first ringed one from the Bird Observatory!

Ruff (Brushane) - portrait (pictures (if not other mentioned): Simon the second)

Ruff (Brushane) - one picture can't be enough of such a bird!

After this encouraging start, things continued well and we were able to ring many Reed Warblers (Rørsanger) and Chiffchaffs (Gransanger) and also had a few, albeit few, recaptures. The sun came out and the ringing was really fun. Then suddenly a Wryneck (Vendehals) was hanging in the net. This was the first ringed one for this year. The species is a lot of fun. It has a cool shape, a cool pattern and lives up to its name - it twists its neck to scare off the "attacker". With the lines on its back, it then pretends to be a snake. We didn't fall for it, however, and realised that he wasn't a snake and gave him the fitting ring. Lisa and Gustav also came for this great bird.

Wryneck (Vendehals)

look at this eye - the color tells you that it is a young bird

Gustav had previously been to World's End with Knud to do the migration count. It is noticeable that there are more migrants and three Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove) of the dark morph could be observed during the count. I’m looking forward to join the count again, but at the moment every ringing day is so much fun, that it is hard to do something else.

Back home, Rebecca left for the cormorant count, while Hayley and I had our fourth breakfast, including cake. After that I had a really long sleep. That was good, very good. After the delicious dinner we sat down at the laptops, had fun conversations and entered all the data we had collected for the day. Now that I've finished writing the blog, we're opening the nightjar net. Keep your fingers crossed for us! On that note...

 ...10:58pm:

We ringed a Nightjar (Natravn), yeah (a story for tomorrows blog post). That's why we finished entering the ringdata now. So here we go:

Ringing (Skavsøn CES):

Wryneck (Vendehals) - 1

Ruff (Brushane) - 1

Reed Warbler (Rørsanger) - 20

Willow Warbler (Løvsanger) - 2

Icterine Warbler (Gulbug) - 1

Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger) - 2

Marsh Warbler (Kærsanger) - 1

Blue Tit (Blåmejse) - 2

Blackcap (Munk) - 1

Chiffchaff (Gransanger) - 10

Total: 41

 People: Hayley Land, Gustav Nyberg, Simon Kiesé, Rebecca Cheape, Simon S. Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Knud Pedersen, Kim and Bodil.

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