Day Two of the Fuglefestival

After a very windy start to the Fuglefestival yesterday, Isis, Séan and I were hopeful for a good day at the ringing today. The weather was a lot calmer with hardly any wind at all. So lots of birds we thought!

Unfortunately, it turned out to be very very quiet with birds! But luckily there was no time to get bored as it was also very very busy with people. We have never seen so many bikes at our ‘parking spot’!

There was plenty of time to chat with all the different visitors, look for birds and eat cake (Tak Jørgen!). We also heard the Thrush Nightingale (Nattegal) again as we opened the nets. What a beautiful song. One of the other highlights was this lovely Garden Warbler (Havesanger), one of two we caught this morning.

Garden Warbler - Havesanger

We were also very happy when we caught a Willow Warbler (Løvsanger) for Oluf Lou to ring. We have nicknamed this species Oluf Løvsanger after him. We think he was quite pleased about this!

Oluf and an Oluf Løvsanger

Knud was out leading a tour this morning from Nordstrand as part of the Fuglesfestival and visited us at the ringing as did the Eagle Club. Luckily, we managed to catch one bird whilst they were all with us so we had something to show. Simon Sr explained the ringing process and then demonstrated how the birds are caught using one of the nets.

Simon Jr, Magnus and Johanna had a change of scenery this morning as they went to Sandormsvinget for the morning’s observations. One of the highlights was a female Citrine Wagtail (Citronvipstjært) which was originally roosting, then attempted to migrate. They also counted an impressive ten Fulmars (Mallemuk) and a Great Northern Diver (Islom). An adult female Montagu’s Harrier (Hedehøg) and the Steppe Eagle (Steppeørn) were the raptor highlights. They also saw a Golden Oriole (Pirol) which we also managed to spot from Kabeltromlen although it was very high and far away.

Simon and Magnus then set off on an epic adventure to Zealand to try and see the Rufous-chested Swallow (Rødbrystet Svale) which was first reported yesterday. If accepted this will be the first record of the species in the whole of the Western Palearctic. We really hope they find it!

Meanwhile, Séan, Isis and I went to watch Lisa’s presentation on her PhD work on Taiga Bean Geese (Sædgås). Even though we couldn’t understand much, as none of us speak Danish, it was interesting to look at the graphs and we enjoyed seeing the photos too.

We also managed to hear (but sadly not see!) a Bee-eater (Biæder) fly over the lighthouse. Now we are finishing our day by entering data and looking forward to our dinner which Søren has very kindly offered to cook for us.

 Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet):

Total: 16

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: Séan Walsh, Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Johanna Veentjer, Simon S. Christiansen, Lisa Vergin, Søren, Jørgen Hulbæk, Knud Pedersen, Oluf Lou, and our guests Marianne and Kurt.