Cloudy skies and pale birds

I started the day going to Nordstrand with Cora and Rasmus for observations where we managed to view birds for around three hours before the rain came. We had a good variety of harriers with a female then male Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg) a couple Western Marsh Harriers (Rørhøg) and some Hen Harriers (Blå Kærhøg). The Glaucous Gull (Gråmåage) that has been staying around the area passed us early in the morning within a large gull flock heading west. It was exciting to see the Great Cormorants (Skarv) waddling along the beach collecting nest materials to bring back with them.
Tue, Lucas and Mio went ringing this morning and managed to get some ringing in before the rain came, where they got a male European Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper).
Later in the day we heard news that the Black-winged Kite (Blå Glente) had returned and ran out to see it where it was wheeling around in the distance. It then came towards us for good views before heading south where we followed the direction it was going then walked around Batteriskoven where we found a nice early Whinchat (Bynkefugl).
After the walk we set up the nets for awhile before heading back to Knud’s excellent presentation on the identification aging and sexing of raptors. I feel much more prepared to know what to look for in the migrating raptors we will see now.
Tonight, the fog is rolling in so we will see what is in store for tomorrow.

Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg)

Black-winged Kite (Blå Glente)

Whinchat (Bynkefugl)

Ringing (Kabeltromlen):
Eurasian Wren (Gærdesmutte) 1
European Robin (Rødhals) 8
Eurasian Bullfinch (Dompap) 2
Song Thrush (Sangdrossel) 1
Redwing (Vindrossel) 1
Common Chiffchaff (Grasanger) 9
European Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper) 1

Highlights from the observations:
Whinchat (Bynkefugl) 1
European Pied Flycatcher (Broget Fluesnapper) 1
Glaucous Gull (Gråmåage) 1
Pallid Harrier (Steppehøg) 2
Black-winged Kite (Blå Glente) 1

People: Cora Köberle, Rasmus Matthiesen-Juhl, Tue Baaner, Lucas Corneliussen, Andrew Jacobs, Knud Pedersen, Mio Brix, Simon Sigaard Christiansen and our guests Nina & Jakob Dahl.