Raclette

Once again, we saw the sunrise, a sore sight for the eyes after a long time of overcast skies, but with the clear sky came the cold. I went out to Worlds End 3 to do the seabird migration count, joined by Knud Pedersen, while Emma went to Kabeltromlen to do inland migration count along with the ringers. The sea didn’t have much migration outside razorbills (Alk) which showed in okay numbers alongside some kittiwakes (Ride). Migrating eiders (Ederfugl) offered the possibility of a king eider (Kongeederfugl) but it didn’t materialize today and overhead migration of a few finches and thrushes didn’t turn into arrivals of more Pine Grosbeaks (Krognæb). But the movement of alcids and kittiwakes kept us busy, with two Little Gulls (Dværgmåge) roosting out in Skagerrak was a nice addition for the day totals. A short walk in the immediate area behind worlds end 3 offered a nice and somewhat late song thrush (Sangdrossel), two stonechats (Sortstrubet Bynkefugl) and the highlight of today was a quite late barn swallow (Landsvale) and two migration attempting hen harriers (Blå Kærhøg). They went out over the sea but turned around and went back inland, not today hen harriers, not today. Ringing was equally quiet but the season’s first Fieldfare (Sjagger) being caught and an additional blackbird (Solsort) for the GPS-tracking project.

Say hello the "Raclette"

A short trip west of the sandworm track didn’t bring any additional birds, but Knud had 9 1k Caspian Gulls (Kaspisk Måge) along with a 2k Caspian Gull. Otherwise, the day was spent on admin-work, though Thomas opened the nets in the old lighthouse garden and caught a robin and house sparrow and recaught a blackbird that was caught last year in Skagen.

Robin

Tomorrow the wind turn to N-NE and clear skies which passerines love, cross fingers for Pine Grosbeaks, four pine grosbeaks is a tease with 100s waiting for making their trip across Skagerrak in southern Norway.

Clear skies means cold nights

Highlights from the obs:

Hen Harrier (Blå Kærhøg) 2 migr. Attempt

Barn Swallow (Landsvale) 1, very late

Caspian Gull 10, very high count

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):

Jernspurv – Dunnock: 2

Solsort – Blackbird: 1

Sjagger – Fieldfare: 1

Vindrossel – Redwing: 1

Fuglekonge – Goldcrest: 2

Total: 7

Ringing (Old Lighthouse Garden):

Rødhals – Robin: 1

Gråspurv – House Sparrow: 1

Total: 2

Link to today's observations from observers in the area

People at the station: Thomas Weston, Emma Fabre, Ragnar Smith, Mara Glane, Simon Sigaard Christiansen, Lars & Lone