Sorthovedet Måge

As the day before, the team of the bird observatory divided to cover both ringing and observations. I was out with Knud at Verdens Ende 3 and we observed the morning movement of gannets (sule), common scoters (sortand) and great skuas (storkjove) over Kattegat and Skagerrak. The wind came from the South, which meant that we were sitting protected behind the dune and had an awesome view towards the sea. In comparison with yesterday it was a relieve to sit leeward and get warmed by the morning sun. The birds were not as active as the day before, but around 400 gannets (sule) were fishing close to the beach - a real “gannet-bonanza” how Knud called it. On the tip were also 6 harbour seals (spætted sæl) resting together with gulls (måge) and sanderlings (sandløber).

The best bird of the morning was a young Mediterranean gull (sorthovedet måge), that was resting on the beach, when we first spotted it. Knud was eager to try out his new camera that arrived 2 days earlier and went down to the shore to take some pictures:

Simon, Judith, Yehonatan, Erik and Lis ringed at Kabeltrommelkrattet with the highlight being many chiffchaffs (gransanger) and one meadow pipit (engpiber), while Michael ringed at Jennes Sø and had 13 lesser repolls (lille gråsisken).

In the afternoon, Judith and I went swimming and today the sunny weather made is easier for us to get into the cold water. Many red algae have stranded at the beaches at the light house in the last couple of days.

Later, I fixed some of our bicycles including the new one that Tage kindly donated and showed some tourists around the observatory, while Simon made dinner!

Ringing (Kabeltrommelkrattet + Jennes Sø):                                        

European Crested Tit – Topmejse – 1
Meadow Pipit – Engpiber – 1
Eurasian Blue Tit – Blåmejse – 2                
Eurasian Blackcap – Munk – 1
Great Tit – Musvit – 7
Common Chiffchaff – Gransanger – 19
Willow Warbler – Løvsanger (Song of songs) – 1
Goldcrest – Fuglekonge – 1         
Eurasian Wren – Gærdesmutte – 2
European Robin – Rødhals – 6
Common Reed Bunting – Rørspurv – 2                                   
Common Blackbird – Solsort – 1                
Eurasian Siskin – Grønsisken – 2                
Lesser Redpoll – Lille Gråsisken – 13

Total: 59

People: Simon S. Christiansen, Yehonatan Ben Aroia, Christian Stolz, Judith Kloibhofer, Knud Pedersen, Erik Brodersen & Lis Kragelund, Michael Ancher, Tage (thank you!).