Bluethroat and Swallowtails

Up again early in the morning after a night of ringing which resulted in a recapture of a juvenile Nightjar (Natravn), but no European Storm Petrel (Lille Stormsvale). Trying to catch European Storm Petrels in Skagen has begun to share a stark resemblance to the Greek myth of Sisyphus, who as a punishment from the gods of Olympus, was forced to roll a large boulder up to the top of a hill, only to have the boulder roll down to the bottom, repeating for eternity. But we will try again at some point, weather permitting.

Not hindered by lack of sleep the ringers went to the Kabeltromlen while me and Robbie went to Worlds End 3 to do the standardized counting. In my hubris I didn’t bring a coat thinking I wouldn’t need and was punished for it with a relatively cold morning and a not all too exciting morning obs, though with some good highlights such as Little Gull (Dværgmåge) 1k, Caspian Gull (Kaspisk Måge) 1k and the “local” Crested Lark (Toplærke) that has been visiting the tip for almost a month now, though we have yet to find where it spends it day when not doing its almost daily trip to Grenen.

Worlds End 3

Kabeltromlen had a day where quality over quantity was the slogan with a very nice 1st winter male Bluethroat (Blåhals), probably white-spotted (Sydlig), as the first red-spotted (Nordlig) are usually found around 5-10th september as they migrate from the mountains in Northern Scandinavia. A funny episode was a Common Kingfisher (Isfugl) that flew with full force into one of the nets, but due to the speed it was going at, it bounced out of the net and kept flying!

1st winter male Bluethroat (Blåhals)

1st winter Common Redstart (Rødstjert)

When we came back to station it was time to do the weekly cleaning session, but with six people at the station it was a short affair, got to keep it nice and tidy. After that everyone except me, went into the city to meet up with Lisa to get some ice cream and do some shopping. I went to Stokmilen just south of Skagen to see the two Swallowtails (Svalehale) that have been hanging out on top the dune for almost a week now and look for Silver-spotted Skipper (Kommabredpande), both two very rare butterfly species that I have wanted to see for a long time. And to put it shortly, the photos speak for themselves.

Swallowtail (Svalehale)

Silver-spotted Skipper (Kommabredpande)

After that we cooked some dinner and went for a short evening obs at Sandormsvinget and that was the end of the day as everyone were spent and another day was waiting.

Evening Obs from Alex's Dune

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Gærdesmutte (Eurasian Wren): 1

Bluethroat (Bluethroat): 1

Rødstjert (Common Redstart): 1

Rørsanger (Eurasian Reed Warbler): 5

Gærdesanger (Lesser Whitethroat): 2

Tornsanger (Common Whitethroat): 4

Munk (Blackcap): 1

Gransanger (Eurasian Chiffchaff): 1

Musvit (Great Tit): 1

Total: 17

People at the station: Ragnar Smith, Lucas Corneliussen, Asia Kane, Rosa Hicks, Robbie Lawler, Joe Zeno

Link to today's observations from observers in the area