A visitor from Norway and a whale surprise

Today Ragnar and I were up at sunrise conducting our morning observations from Worlds End 3 to scout for seabirds and migrating waders across the calm waters. We were happily surprised to see three Little Terns (Dværgterne) fly in from the southeast, a scarce species in Skagen. Ragnar spotted several marine mammals throughout the morning as well, including six harbor porpoises and a probable fin whale (Finhval). We also recorded four Curlew Sandpipers (Krumnæbbet Ryle), fifty-nine Red Knots (Islandsk Ryle), and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Spurvehøg). After observations were completed, we moved northwest on the beach to observe the nearby gull flock. In the gull flock there was an abundance of Herring Gulls (Sølvmåge), one with yellow legs. Ragnar and I observed this bird for a while as it possessed field marks of a Yellow-legged Gull (Middelhavsmåge) but it ramained as a Herring Gull in the end.

 Adult Reed Warbler (Kærsanger) with ring from Norway

Today was the second day of standardized ringing this autumn season. The ringers: Asia, Rosa, and Simon, had a successful day with a total of 39 birds. A highlight for the ringers was a Reed Warbler with a ring from Norway but they also caught a Crested Tit.

Two Marsh Warbler (Kærsangere). Adult with worn plumage to the left and juvenile with fresh plumage to the right

Later in the day Simon, Asia, Rosa, and I headed out to Skagen Klitplantage to look for baby Eurasian Nightjars (Natravn) to ring them. We spent an hour searching for the young ones in a known nesting location only to discover that they were nowhere to be found anymore. We plan on checking the footage gathered from a webcam to discover what happened to them. There looks to be rain tomorrow so we will see what birds the rain will bring in.

Ringing (Kabeltromlen )

Common Chiffchaff (Gransanger) - 2 

Common Whitethroat (Lesser Whitethroat) - 5

Common Whitethroat (Tornsanger) - 5    

Blackcap (Munk) - 11

Marsh Warbler (Kærsanger) - 2

Crested Tit (Topmejse) - 1

Icterine Warbler (Gulbug) - 4

Lesser Redpoll (Lille Gråsisken) - 3 

Rørsanger (Reed Warbler) - 3

Blue Tit (Blåmejse) - 2     

Eurasian Blackbird (Solsort) - 1                                                                                     

Total: 39

People: Joe Zeno, Ragnar Smith, Simon S. Christiansen, Rosa Hicks, Asia Kane