Thrushes everywhere

With Molly and Lisa departing this morning and Simon away for the weekend, the Observatory suddenly felt like a very quiet place today! Sarah and I were out at dawn for observations, and spent some time working the bushes on our way out to World’s End to count with Rolf. Thrush numbers seemed to have increased again overnight, with Redwing (Vindrossel) bursting from every bush and by far the commonest species, but there was also a noticeable increase in numbers of Fieldfare (Sjagger) and Blackbird (Solsort) compared to the past week. In the dunes we flushed 3 Water Pipits (Bjergpiber) from the water’s edge, and on the beach was a flock of 17 Snow Buntings (Snæspurv).

A panoramic sunrise view from World's End with Rolf

After lunch we worked on data and diaries in Birders Club, giving us the chance to welcome a steady stream of visitors to the Lighthouse including an ornithologist from the USA. In the evening we hosted Jesper J. Madsen, who leads the national ringing programme in Denmark. He was on a birding tour of this part of the country and was hoping to catch up with the Pacific Diver (Stillehavslom) here this afternoon, but hadn’t had any luck and so was planning to try again tomorrow morning. It was great to talk with him over dinner and find out more about exactly how the ringing data collected here and elsewhere is used as part of national monitoring programmes.

People: James Butcher, Sarah Bedford, Rolf Christensen and Jesper J. Madsen