Goldcrest, Chiffchaffs and Dolphins

Hello, I’m back again for another Autumn season at Skagen. It is really nice to be back, and I am looking forward to the coming couple of months and the migration that entails.

Figure 1: A Reed Bunting [Rørspurv] from this morning. Photo by Thomas Weston

Today started with Mara and me setting off from the observatory just after 6am to open the nets and start ringing at Kabeltromlen before 7am. It was a calm, clear night last night with a slight breeze from the North/North West. Song thrushes [Sangdrossel] were migrating overhead throughout the darkness and the sound of birds filled the bushes around Kabeltromlen. It was looking like it could be quite a busy day. The morning was sunny and calm, and it led to some nice visible migration overhead, as well as migration in the nets too. The rounds were steady, with 10-15 birds being extracted for the first few hours, and there were no quiet rounds at all up until 1pm when we finished. The highlights, to begin, included small flocks of Goldcrest [Fuglekonge] moving through the bushes, mixed finch flocks overhead and Water rails [Vandrikse] seemingly everywhere calling. We had a Peregrine falcon [Vandrefalk] fly along the dunes, small flocks of Greylag Geese [Grågås] and 2 Lapwing [Vibe] of note too. A late Reed warbler [Rørsanger] was an unexpected treat. It was great to be in the company of other birders and Simon SC who joined the team for most of the morning. The ringing was consistent, and we ended on just over 50 birds, the highest catch of the autumn season so far (this will be beaten soon so keep an eye on the blog for more sessions). The last bird ringed was in fact a first of the year and was a Woodpigeon [Ringdue]. This species usually avoids the nets and when caught they generally fly out just as easily. Either way, it was nice to see in the hand and flew off towards the lighthouse after release.  

Figure 2:  Great Grey Shrike [Stor Tornskade] in the bushes from Worlds End 3. Photograph taken by Ragnar Smith.

Meanwhile, Ragnar and Rasmus went to migration counts. The first hour was apparently quite busy with a few passage seabirds, passerine migration, a Great Grey Shrike [Stor Tornskade] in the bushes and 2 Bottlenose Dolpins [øresvin] passed the observers. However, the counts became quieter as the morning went on and the overall highlights included a possible Great-northern Diver [islom], up to 8 Shorelarks [Bjerglærke] on the beach, the first 2 Jack Snipe [Enkeltbekkasin] of the autumn, and a wander further west saw the 2 Crested Larks [Toplærke] that have apparently been around for almost three months now.  

After lunch, Rasmus and Ragnar went towards Jennes Sø, before heading further west in search of birds. They found some Stonechats [Sortsrubet Bynkefugl], lots more Goldcrest [Fuglekonge] and quite a few Chiffchaff [Gransanger] too. Meanwhile, I went for a walk along the beach and saw a flock of Gannets [Sule] feeding offshore and one of the first returning Rock Pipits [Skæpiper] to the area. Mara went to Elle Krattet but did not find many birds apart from Goldcrests [Fuglekonge]. How many are there in the area today?

Even meeting was called at 4pm today and the team completed laptop work thereafter. Mara and I entered ringing data, Rasmus cooked us dinner and Ragnar completed some DofBasen Quality Assurance and sorted some colour ring records from the area. The team will be out nightcatching later so keep an eye on the blog tomorrow for all the birds caught.

In other news, the Brown Booby [Brun Sule] seen at Skagen has recently been seen in Falsterbo and afterwards a quick trip into the Baltic before it recently came to Sjælland. You can see a close up picture taken by Sakari Kaupinnen yesterday in Dofbsen. If it continues its way West, maybe we will see it again at Skagen this autumn. Who knows?

Highlights from the observatory:

• A Woodpigeon [Ringdue] ringed at Kabeltromlen – the first of the year caught and ringed
• First 2 Jack Snipe [Enkeltbekkasin] passing through.
• The 2 Crested Lark [Toplærke] remain.
• Highest count of 8 Shorelark [Bjerglærke] for the autumn.

Ringing totals

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Total: 46

Today’s observations on Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Thomas Weston, Ragnar Smith, Mara Glan, Rasmus Matthiesen, Simon Sigaard Christiansen, John Stenum, Iben Jørgensen, Egon Østergaard, Jens Eriksen & Reginald Victor.