A Blyth's Reed Warbler

Divide and conquer was the plan today with the station team splitting into three groups for the morning field tasks. And conquer we did!

Magnus was at World’s End 1 for the count and saw the first immature Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove) of the season. There was also a Corn Bunting (Kornværling) and several Rosefinches (Karmindompap).

Simon Jr, Seán and Oluf were nearby at Kabeltromlen and had a fairly quiet morning. Their ringing highlights were a Tree Pipit (Skovpiber), Bullfinch (Dompap) and Spotted Flycatcher (Grå Fluesnapper).

Isis and I went to Skarvsøen for the third CES session of the season. Simon Sr also joined us with Emma Ellis, a visiting bird ringer from France and we were very happy to see the pair of Ferruginous Ducks (Hvidøjet And) flying over Skarsøen. Between rounds Simon heard a Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Buskrørsanger) singing in the bushes near our nets so got out his recorder. Then the bird stopped singing. We were a little confused about why but then checked the nearby net and realised it had stopped singing because we had caught it!

Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Buskrørsanger)

Simon Sr took lots of measurements to confirm the species whilst Simon Jr ran at lightning speed from Kabeltromlen to see the bird, as did Jørgen from Nordstrand. It is only the third of this species to be caught by the station since 2017!

It was particularly interesting to compare the Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Buskrørsanger) with a Reed Warbler (Rørsanger) which we had also caught. On the right you can see that the Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Buskrørsanger) which has a greyer plumage and a strong supercilium. It also has short wings (a short primary projection) and a long beak.

Reed Warbler (Rørsanger) – Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Buskrørsanger)

Otherwise it was also quiet for us at the CES site. As Isis and I were closing the nets, the clouds were starting to roll in and rumbles of distant thunder could be heard; as we cycled back the rain started and we got absolutely soaked!

After drying off and refuelling, data was entered and with the rain now stopped Magnus headed off on an entomology trip with a friend to look for a rare spider which they were very pleased to eventually find. A bit later in the afternoon a Short-toed Eagle (Slangeørn) was reported south of Skagen so of course Seán, the two Simons, Mette and I all sprinted to Simon Sr’s car to try and see it. We stopped at several places on our way south and searched the sky but unfortunately didn’t see the bird.

Short-toed Eagle (Slangeørn) by Jeppe Therkildsen Madsen.

We didn’t have much time to keep searching as we had to return to the station to ring a Tawny Owl (Natugle) chick from the Jerup Rescue Centre. It was a very fluffy stinky little thing!

Tawny Owl (Natugle)

And then an unexpected visitor was found walking in the lighthouse shop, a Feral Pigeon which Knud has now taken to look after.

We hope it likes its new home!

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet):

Total: 19

CES Ringing (Skarvsøen):

Total: 14

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

Sum of observations of raptors on DOFbasen from today

People: Seán Walsh, Hayley Land, Isis Khalil, Magnus Houen Lauritsen, Simon Kiesé, Simon S. Christiansen, Oluf Lou, Emma Ellis, Jørgen Hulbæk, Jørn and Marianne.