Gulls party

This morning I went to the obs with Ragnar. I was getting settled when Ragnar said, “large diver over us !”, he put it in the scope and it was a Yellow-billed Diver (Hvidnæbbet Lom), a nice start! We oberved the migration of the usual species : auks (Alk/Lomvie), Kittiwakes (Ride), Common and Velvet Scoters (Sortand og Fløjlsand) and Gannets (Sule).
During the whole morning, a large flock of Snow Buntings (Snespurv) flew around us, making me want to try to catch them during the next days.

Female Rough-legged Buzzard (Fjeldvåge)

In the first hours, a Great Skua (Storkjove) came close, chasing some gulls then went to the Northwest. We saw a Woodcocke (Skovsneppe) coming from the sea and disappearing into the dunes and some late Barn Swallows (Landsvale) flew toward the tip, circled around, and then continued south. A beautiful female Rough-legged Buzzard (Fjeldvåge) flew close to us and we also saw some Water Pipits (Bjergpiber), calling around us. During the last hour the number of Fulmars (Mallemuk) increased, but we didn’t do extra time because of the wind and the blowing sand.

Thomas and Stella woke up for the ringing and cycling through the rain. They flushed a Woodcocke (Skovsneppe) on the path. They opened 11 nets because of the wind. They didn’t catch many birds, only 4, including one recapture. So they close the nets early and returned to the lighthouse.

Feeding the gulls

Caspian Gull (Kaspisk Måge), 1k

In the afternoon, we said goodbye to Stella. Then, Simon took us to the harbour, to feed some gulls. We counted a total of 7 Caspian Gulls (Kaspisk Måge). Near to the rocks we spotted 15 Purple Sandpipers (Sortgrå Ryle) with some Sanderlings (Sandløber), 2 Rock Pipits (Skærpiber) and some Eiders (Ederfugl). But the highlitght was watching Ragnar try to retrieve his cap, after it fell into the water among the gulls, because of the wind.

Purple Sandpipers (Sortgrå Ryle)

Ragnar

Then we came back to the station. Ragnar and I took a nap, leaving Thomas alone in the apartment. Then we did some cleaning. Our new guests arrived Lorna and Lars.

Highlights from observations:
Great Skua (Storkjove)
Yellow-billed Diver (Hvidnæbbet Lom)
Rough-legged Buzzard (Fjeldvåge)

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Blackbird/Solsort 1
Bullfinch/Dompap 1
Siskin/Grønsiskin 1

Total: 3

Link to today's observations from observers in the area

People at the station: Thomas Weston, Emma Fabre, Ragnar Smith, Stella Bråmer, Simon Sigaard Christiansen.