Goodbye volunteers and hello ringing season!

The day started an hour earlier than usual. Until now, the observations had been the only data we collected. But today we started another season. It was time for ringing!

Because it was Johannas and Miras last day at the station, they went ringing with Simon Kiesé and SSC, while I counted the migration from Worlds End 1. There wasn’t really that much going on at the nets, and only three different species and 11 birds ended up being caught in total. But much of the time was also spent on correcting the nets and cutting bushes.

Out at Worlds End 1, there wasn’t much going on either. Throughout the whole period, I struggled with fog, which only allowed me to see the horizon once in a while. Despite the fog, i managed to get okay counts of ducks, especially pibeand (Eurasian Wigeon); 625, and krikand (European Teal); 159. Also the glaucous gull turned up to save the day from a total fog-nightmare.

We returned to the lighthouse at about 11.30 to have some lunch, before Mira and Johanna had to pack up their things before returning to Kiel at 15.20. SCC came to pick up the girls, but also Simon Kiesé and I joined the trip to the city, to buy some groceries and snacks, which we definitely needed. We had a bit of an struggle with the pollen during the goodbye, but with the promise of their return in our mind, it all worked out, and we went shopping while SCC was so kind to wait for us in the car. Now we were three volunteers.

After returning to the lighthouse, Knud held a session about identifying, ageing and sexing raptors. Half way through the session Simon Kiesés' friend, Hannes Schäfer, arrived at the lighthouse, and then there were four volunteers. The session was followed up by an evening-meeting, before Simon Kiesé and Hannes Schäfer had the dinner ready, and the day came to an end.

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet)

Gærdesmutte: 2
Rødhals: 3
Solsort: 6

Total: 11

Today’s observations in Dofbasen from observers in the area.

Sum of the raptors in the area based on observations typed into Dofbasen the same day.

People: Simon S. Christiansen, Hannes Schäfer, Isis Khalil, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Knud Pederson, Mira Kieckbusch, Johanna Veentjer.