Hooray for retraps!

Once again an early start for the ringing duo. Straight out to Grenen to see what we could see. The conditions were as favourable as they could have been at this time of year but again we didn’t catch many birds. However we did get a few more retraps (this site is good for getting regular recaptures) including one, a blackcap, from Norway! Always a thrill to get a foreign retrap (see pic). So it was worth the early start and the insects! Also caught a reed warbler, which was nice an educational, practicing identifying them in the hand, BEFORE using the diagnostic criteria, using other features I’ve been taught during my time here. Gratifyingly I seem to have got the hang of that, despite not ringing them or marsh warbler before my time here . .

Once again there was an attempt to offer an ‘English’ guided tour, and once again, no takers, not surprising really as the birding season has totally wound down now. We’ll keep trying though, and who knows, June is a cracking time for rarities to turn up in Skagen whether in nets, or just flying over.

In the afternoon Simon left to go to Aalborg, Thomas left to visit his family, and I left to have a nice evening off in Frederikshavn. Which meant poor Michele was all alone that evening. I’m sure he appreciated the peace and quiet though!