A Day of Unusual Species

The day started with a swap in the job roles today with Emma joining Mara at ringing and myself joining Ragnar at Worlds End 3 for observations and migration counts. The day started with some sun, yay, and then it went cloudy and grey again but it was kinda warm and no wind = no sand in the face!

Whooper Swans (Sangsvane), including one 1st year/cygnet completing its first ever migration, and 3 Greylag Geese (Grågås) migrating from their breeding grounds further North and East to wintering areas further South.

Mara and Emma left before dawn to open the nets. The duo had a quiet day with few birds per round and few birds’ overhead. Although there were few birds being caught, there were apparently quite a few thrushes, finches, tits, and Goldcrest (Fuglekonge) present in the bushes. One of the highlights was a Blackbird (Solstort) with an older ring series than the present. Possibly a bird ringed in a previous year or another location – we will find out soon when we input the data this evening. The team closed at the five-hour mark with Mara ending up staying to sew some of the nets as it was nice and calm, and not damp in the air today. A few birds were migrating overhead including some Whooper Swans (Sangsvane) and some juveniles amongst them too. Looking in the flocks, it has been a mixed bag for the swans with some broods of 4 noted and others of just 1. It will be interesting to see how this translates across the flyway and throughout the coming weeks.

One of two Sooty Shearwaters (Sodfarvet Skråpe) from the observations.

Whilst the other two were ringing, Ragnar and I had a very good migration count from World’s End 3. In the first half an hour, I found a Great Northern Diver (Islom) heading out of Kattagat and getting more distant went low NW. Simon at Kabeltromlen could see it which was very nice. Soon after, and following along the same route, I saw a small black bodied bird with very long wings and a distinctive bat-like flight fluttering over the waves also heading NW. I could see it was a petrel species (Stormvale spp.) and the size, behaviour, plumage features, and lack of a large white on the rump pointed it to be a Leach’s Storm Petrel (Stor Stormsvale). The most likely Storm petrel spp (Stormvale spp.) at this time of year. I quickly got Ragnar and the others on to the bird, and we enjoyed about 20-30 seconds of activity as it flew more and more distantly NW. This was the second of the week, second individual seen in Skagen this autumn and the second seen in Denmark this autumn too! So, a very good record, and always nice to pick up one of the smallest seabirds in the area in November. Following the same trajectory again, Ragnar saw a Sooty Shearwater (Sodfarvet Skråpe) close inshore coming out of Kattagat. The bird landed with a Gannet (Sule) just next to the tip before heading off NW and out of view. The same line also hosted Fulmar (Mallemuk), including a very nice ‘Blue’ Fulmar (Mallemuk) and several gulls throughout the morning. Another standout highlight was a flock of 26 Shorelarks (Bjerglærke) which flew over and landed on the beach, a nice count for Skagen and the highest of the autumn so far.

More Whooper Swans (Sangsvane) migrating south just overhead allowing us to see their yellow on the bills.

We decided to do an extra hour due to the last hour being really good for Whooper Swans (Sangsvane) migrating south.

I recognise you! A Grey Seal who matched to a previous Grey Seal female who was seen last year on the beach near the Bunker but now hanging out near the tip.

Ragnar then stayed an extra extra hour. After the fifth hour of migration, I left to check out the Grey Seals. This species is quite uncommon here and I was lucky to see two females and a large bull on the tip. One of the females looked familiar and looking at photos from this year and last year when I was here, it looked identical to the female from last year! They have unique patterns on their neck and chest and this one matched, very cool and nice to see here again at Grenen.

The 'Eastern' Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger) in Skagen.

We ended up all having lunch at random times with Emma coming and then going for a walk. I had food and then went for a walk, bumping into Emma on the beach near the tip and seeing some Snow Buntings (Snevspurv). I went down the Sandormen track where a pair of Stonechat (Sortstrubet bynkefugle) and a Reed Bunting were the additional highlights. Emma continued to Nordstrand not adding too much to the tally. Mara ended up caring for our mealworms and making sure they were all good and healthy. Ragnar came back from migration and got a call from Simon. Simon found an ‘eastern’ Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger) near his house and came and picked up Mara and Ragnar who were at the obs to see it and hope to confirm the identity of this individual in the next couple of days. They picked up some ringing equipment but no luck today.

Jack Snipe (Enkeltbekkasin) to finish the day before dinner and bed!

All back for evening meeting and chill. We decided on a quick nightcatching session before dinner and ended up seeing 7 Woodcock (Skovsneppe), 3 Jack Snipe (Enkeltbekkasin), a Common Snipe (Dobbeltbekkasin), and 20+ Blackbirds (Solsort) overhead. Talking of Blackbirds (Solsort), we have some very interesting news coming your way, but you will just have to keep reading the blog for more details…

Highlights from the observatory:

• A Leach’s Storm Petrel (Stor Stormsvale)
• Two Sooty Shearwaters (Sodfarvet Skråpe)
• A ‘blue’ Fulmar (Mallemuk)
• 24 Shorelarks (Bjerglærke)
• Caspain Gull (Kaspisk Måge)
• ‘Eastern’ Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger)

Ringing totals

Ringing (Kabeltromlen)

Overall total: 12

Today’s observations on Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Thomas Weston, Emma Fabre, Mara Glane, Knud Pedersen, Jorgen Hulbaek, Ragnar Smith, Lone & Lars, Simon Sigaard Christiansen.