Shags

As usual I headed out to Grenen at sunrise with Knud for a migration watch. By far the highlight of a glorious sunny (windless!) day was a flock of 10 Shags. Shags are rare in Denmark and to find such a large flock was really exciting. 

Whilst I was out at the tip Peter and Simon had the garden nets open and caught 20 birds including a Redpoll initially ringed in Sweden. Heidi, Mette and Eva, who had been out early to see the sunrise at Grenen before, observed the ringing and really enjoyed watching the birds being handled. 

In the afternoon Peter and I took our bikes out to do some obervations in the wider Skagen area. I again headed to the harbour and was pleased to find two Glaucous Gulls where there had been one the day before. Peter went to the Cormorant colony to find several Cormorants displaying and showing signs of breeding, the first this spring. Simon had an interview with someone who is making a podcast about the people of Skagen. 

In the evening news came through of two Tawny Owl calling in the town. With only  about 10 prior records in the Skagen area Tawny Owl is a Skagen mega! Simon was quickly on the scene for a local tick. Hebe arrived late in the evening and after a quick run through of the basics we all went to bed.

Ringing (Fyrhaven):

Blackbird, 1 Great Tit 1, Mealy Redpoll 18

People: Dante Shepherd, Peter Denyer, Simon S. Christiansen, Hebe Denny, Heidi Jørgensen, Mette Mourits, Eva Noer Kondrup