A busy day of surveying and catching in Skagen AND aurevoir Skagen !

Today, Frederik, Fanny and I went out ringing at the Cable Drum. As migration period is reaching an end, the number of birds caught in the nets is slowing down. Moreover, today was very windy and we decided to close the nets earlier. Only 5 birds were caught.

Later in the morning, Fanny and I went out to the Cormorants’ Colonies, to do a survey of the nests and chicks. There are about 30 active nests in this colony, and today we saw that a large part of the nests had chicks, usually between 2 and 3. We could see the parents regurgitating food to their nestlings, and some of them were already big. We also saw several females incubating but couldn’t know for sure if there were chicks or still eggs.

In the afternoon, Fanny and I decided to try to catch adult Common Ringed Plovers, after ringing the chicks yesterday, while Frederik decided to go and look for a Rock Thrush that had been seen these previous days. We tried to trap the adult plovers, but unfortunately this was not successful. We however, found a nest, which was very well camouflaged among the rocks ! Common Ringed Plover lay their eggs directly on the ground, in open and bare habitat, relying on camouflage to protect their nest, eggs and young chicks.

Can you find the nest ?

We ended up the day by a nice dinner in the Café Blink at the Lighthouse, which was celebrating its reopening today.  The food was really good and we enjoyed this relaxing time after a very busy day.

Fanny :

It is time for me to say goodbye to Skagen, after 3 amazing months who past just like 3  weeks, I am leaving with my mind  full of all great memories and plenty of new birds ! Skagen is truly an amazing place to go birding with such a great spirit around all the birders, who are happy to share their sitting and spend time together, that also make such a special place! I was looking so forward to see the sort-eared owl and Pallid harrier for so long in France and I needed only one month here to have just amazing setting of them. The ringing was so various, with so many species and passionate teacher always happy to give advice, big thanks you to Simon for that and his truth on us  ! Honestly, for anybody who still don’t now where to go, Skagen is the place to be in Spring ! Great observation, amazing bird in the nets and so kind birder everywhere, the volunteers, the locals and the also visitor. Thanks you, all of you that I meet here, visitor for some days, volunteers, or local for many years, you made my stay special in Skagen and I won’t forget it! I post my favourite picture of my time in Skagen, not the best picture but such a special moment for me that I won’t forget, thanks to Frederik who spot the bird from the observatory windows…

Ringing (Kabeltromlekrattet)

Lille gråsisken – 1
Rødhals – 1
Gærdesanger – 1
Bogfinke – 1
Munk - 1

Simon S. Christiansen, Fanny Rey, Frederik R. Johansen and Amandine Doré

Klik her for at se dagens observationer indtastet i Dofbasen af observatører i området

 Klik her for at se opsummeret observationer af rovfugle i Skagen