Snow in Skagen

The day started with the four of us waking up to a winter wonderland where snow had settled on all the surfaces a little making the Skagen scene very wintery. The vegetation had already shed most of the snow but the floor had a cm or so worth of settled snow and ice.

The route past Elle Krattet on the way to Nordstrand

Due to the NE winds, we decided last night that we would go to Nordstrand and complete migration watch from there. With the whole team heading out, cycling was difficult with frequent snow showers and the bikes struggling to get through the snow/ice. One by one we lost a member, Mara went first deciding to walk, Emma made it to the radar station before walking and Ragnar and I getting to the observatory location. With us two knowing the site and the other two not, we clearly cleared a little snow whilst we walked so the others could follow the route to the Sea buckthorn we were sitting behind.

Our migration viewpoint from today.

Migration started well, with Common Scoter (Sortand), Red-throated divers (Rødstrubet Lom), auks (Lomvie og Alk) and Velvet Scoter (Fløjlsand) moving. A Great-crested Grebe (Toppet lappedykker) and Red-necked Grebe (Gråstrubet lappedykker) were both very nice to see plus the odd flock of Whooper Swans (Sangsvane) and even a couple Canada Geese (Canadagås) that both flew over South. Excitement came in the form of a distant, but identifiable Bewick Swan (Pibesvane) who looked pretty lost and never came close to land but continued West. The numbers slowed as the morning went on, and in the second hour talk of cycling into Skagen to get hot drinks became very appetising as the temperature continued to drop. Bird numbers in the second hour continued to drop, with a flyby Caspain Gull (Kaspisk Måge), but the standout highlight was a Little Auk (Søkonge) which everyone saw, and small flocks of the first hour species too.

When at a French café

The third hour became increasingly cold, and a lot like the waterfowl, we got cold feet and had to move. When three of us got cold feet and slowly cold hands that was enough to make us all want to go. Snow began falling again, this time quite heavy. This caused the migration of observers towards the city. Cycling through the snowy streets and paths, we made it to the centre. After a few breaks to regroup, the ‘flock’ continued in search of hot drinks and food. The team ended up seeing Bullfinch (Dompap), Blackbirds (Solsort) and Goldcrest (Fuglekonge) in the bushes and decided upon a French inspired café. We ended up getting hot drinks and a pastry, a well-earned snack. Discussing plans for the afternoon quickly turned into a trip to get bread and head to the harbour to feed gulls and find any Alcids that wanted to rest in the shelter of the harbour whilst the wind was northernly.

Gull feeding crew....

The face of a Caspian Gull (Kaspisk Måge) coming at you for food.

And a sightly more content Caspian Gull (Kaspisk Måge)

 The gulls were a lot more responsive than the last gull feeding attempts and resulted in a flock of about 75 Herring Gulls (Sølvmåge), a single Black-headed gull (Hættemåge), a few Common Gulls (Stormmåge) and a single Caspian Gull (Kaspisk Måge). Plus Ragnar's Barking Spider.

A snowy atmospheric harbour.

A Black Guillemot (Tejst) the only storm blown Alcid.

A quick check of another section of harbour resulted in a Black Guillemot (Tejst). Snow showers came back and the team started to getting hungry so a cycle back to the observatory lead to lots of ice snow in the face but some very lovely scenery which we hope will stay.

And that sums up a snowy day at Skagen Fuglestation.

Highlights from the observatory:

• Little Auk (Søkonge)
• Bewick’s Swan (Pibesvane)
• Two Caspian Gulls (Kaspisk Måge)

Ringing totals

Too snowy so far…

Overall total: 0

Today’s observations on Dofbasen from observers in the area

People: Thomas Weston, Emma Fabre, Mara Glane, Ragnar Smith.