Seal pup, migrating seabirds and a biting Gull

Due to strong wind we didn´t open nets today. Instead of catching Passerines all of us went out to observe the migration of seabirds together with Knud. Besides the Gannets (Sule) fishing in the sunrise, we saw great numbers of red-throated Divers (Rødstrubet Lom) migrating to the West. It was a good observation morning. On the way back to the Lighthouse we saw additionally to the Eiders (Ederfugle) another animal also resting on the beach of Grenen. We saw a Harbor Seal together with two Seal pups at close range. It was a very nice moment and soon I wasn´t the only person taking pictures of the pups. I´m every time again surprised, that you can observe so many animals at close range here at Grenen. Besides much new knowledge and memories, I´ll take a lot of picture back home.

Pic. 1: Seal pup

During the day local birders found a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Lille Flagspætte) at Ellekrattet. It would be great, if it will fly into our nets the next days. Although it was too windy to catch birds in the morning, the day didn´t ended without a ringed bird. After dinner and evening meeting Molly, Lisa and I went out for night catching. It didn´t take us long to catch a bird. It was a Lesser black-backed Gull (Sildemåge). It was quite easy to catch the Gull but during the ringing measurements the big bill of the Gull tried to bite everyone around him.

Pic. 2: ringing the Gull

Birds we ringed: 1 Lesser black-backed Gull (Sildemåge)

People: Simon S. Christiansen, Knud Pedersen, Molly Brown, Lisa Vergin and Daniel Bloche