Little Auk Day

This morning, I went to the obs with Ragnar. We cycled through the snow to World’s end III. It was a cold morning but sunny. We saw the usual species like the Kittiwakes (Ride), the Razobrils (Alk), the Guillemots (Lomvie) and the Scoters (Sortand). One Fulmar (Mallemuk) came by very close to the shore.

Dead Little Auk

We spotted a total of 5 Little Auks (Søkonge). Some of them were close to the shore. Two of them landed on the water for a while, giving us a very good observation. We also saw a Puffin (Lunde) and two Black Guillemot (Tejst).

In the middle of the morning, two tourists came to talk to us. So Ragnar began to explain migration to them, we still looked into our scope. Then, on of them stopped Ragnar and said “no we found a bird on the beach, look”. He actually had a bird in his hand, a Little Auk (Søkonge)!!! The bird was very tired. It needed to go to the rescue center. Ragnar put it in his hat and cycled quickly to the light house. Unfortunately, the bird was dead when he arrived. It is a very fragile species, so this was to be expected.

1st Calander year Woodcock (Skovskeppe)

Mara and Thomas opened the nets in the lighthouse garden. They caught 3 Blackbirds (Solsort) and 3 Wrens (Gærdesmutte). They also ringed a Woodcock (Skovsneppe). In between net rounds Thomas scanned the sea with the scope. He saw a Black-throated Diver and a Purple Sandpiper. They also sewed some holes in the nets from Kabeltromlen.

A young Razorbill (Alk)

In the afternoon I went for a walk and I found a nice young Razobril (Alk).

Ringing (Grey lighthouse):
Woodcock/Skovsneppe - 1
Brant/Gærdesmutte – 3
Blackbird/Solsort - 3
Goldcrast /Fuglekonge- 1

Highlights from observations:
Atlantic puffin/Lunde – 1
Little Auk/ Søkonge - 6

Today’s observations on Dofbasen from observers in the area

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