Today the seawatch was a bit quiet, but some little gulls migrating north were a highlight. After the seawatch Henrik and Bello both walked a bit round to try to find a rare bird. Henrik found a lesser whitethroat, although it is not a really rare bird it was the first for the surroundings of Blåvand. So that made it a nice find. Next to that, in the bushes he found numerous willow warblers and robins.

Today in the nets, we had some robins. Next to that, we first saw a common redstart close to the ringing hut. The next round at the station we found the first one in the nets. Today the numbers were not that high, but the species compensated for that. We had two firsts for this season: common redstart and goldfinch. Besides those two gems, we also had a pair of bullfinches and a male firecrest.

Tonight we were joined by Agata and Maciej, two ringers who have stayed at Gedser previous this year.

Photo of the Redstart – Photo by Leona

Ringing totals (new/recapture):

Dunnock (2/0)

Robin (14/3)

Common redstart (1/0)

Blackbird (2/0)

Chiffchaff (7/5)

Willow warbler (2/0)

Firecrest (1/0)

Brambling (1/0)

Goldfinch (1/0)

Lesser redpoll (4/0)

Bullfinch (1/0)

36 new birds over 11 species

People at the station: Bent, Henrik, John, Svend, Leona, Bello, Agata, Maciej and Menno

Doflink: https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=19-04-2022&omraade=stor&stor=607&obstype=observationer&species=alle&sortering=dato

Today we had 2 visitors from Germany over which joined us on the ringing rounds. It was very sunny today, with nearly no clouds covering the sky. We captured a variety of species, quite a lot of Robins (17) and a new Willow Warbler.

During the day, the first (female) Common Redstart of this season was seen by Bello in the bog. Also he saw 1 Blue Throat and 2 male Ring Ouzels. We hope that in the next few days one of this species will be caught in our nets.

On the seawatch the numbers were not that high, but Bello saw the first Osprey in Blåvand this season.

Female Common Redstart by Bello

Stonechat by Bello

Male Ring Ouzel by Bello

Ringing totals(new/recapture)

Wren (1/0)

Dunnock (3/0)

Robin (14/3)

Common Blackbird (1/0)

Common chiffchaff (5/1)

Willow warbler (1/0)

Goldcrest (0/1)

Coal Tit (0/2)

Blue Tit (1/0)

Starling (1/0)

Tree sparrow (0/1)

Brambling (2/0)

Chaffinch (1/2)

Greenfinch (0/1)

Linnet (1/0)

Lesser redpoll (1/1)

32 new Birds over 16 Species

Dofbasen link: here

People at the station: Bello, David, Menno and Leona

The numbers on the seawatch were not that high. Despite the low numbers, it was not a bad count. The first wimbrels were seen, next to that also 2 red kites, 4 white tailed eagles and the first light morph of artic skua.

The ringing was also quite nice. With 40 birds almost every round had some birds. It was not that busy, so every bird could be studied in great details. For the coming days (and the eastern winds) we are hoping to have the first lesser whitethroat, common redstart and bluethroat in the nets soon.

Ringing totals (new/recapture)

Wren (2/0)

Dunnock (1/0)

Robin (7/1)

Song thrush (1/0)

Common chiffchaff (9/1)

Willow warbler (1/0)

Tree sparrow (0/1)

Brambling (1/0)

Chaffinch (1/2)

Linnet (1/0)

Lesser redpoll (2/0)

28 new birds over 11 species

Doflink: https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=13-04-2022&omraade=stor&stor=607&obstype=observationer&species=alle&sortering=dato

People at the station: Bello, Leona, Henrik, David and Menno

Vi havde håbet på bedre. Vinden var i løbet af natten gået i det sydøstlige hjørne, og især havde vi forhåbninger til at ringmærkningen kunne byde på lidt gode fugle. Men vi måtte se langt efter fugle i nettene. Det blev til 20 ringmærkede fugle i alt, hvoraf intet er udover det sædvanlige. 
De fangede en Gærdesmutte som var ringmærkede i februar 2019. Dermed en lidt ældre gærdesmutte, da de maks bliver omkring 7 år gamle. Den er igang med sit 4 år nu..  

Det var heller ikke meget bedre på morgenobsen. Det daglige ternetræk mod nord stoppede allerede efter omkring 200 terner. Der kom desuden et par hundrede bramgæs mod syd, og 2 almindelige kjover. I de allersidte minutter lykkedes at hive en Sortstrubet lom i fuld sommerdragt ud af de blå skyer, men ellers var det en sløv affære. 

Efter morgenobsen satte jeg mig ud foran stationen i håb om en rovfugl, da vinden jo sagde sydøst. Det blev til en enkelt Rød Glente som til gengæld kom rigtig godt lige henover vores hoveder. 
Rød Glente trækker syd over fuglestationen. Foto: David Manstrup

Ringmærkede fugle dags dato:
Jernspurv 1, Rødhals 4, Solsort 2, Sangdrossel 6, Gransanger 3, Bogfinke 1, Tornirisk 1.  

//David Manstrup

This morning the sun was rising 06:23 and Oliver, Jens, David and myself were ready 06:13, and we had two Arctic Skua shortly after, we had 3 in total. Henrik joined us around 06:30 and found a Great Skua and two 2k Caspian gulls on the beach. Then we heard a call that we thought could have been a serin, although we were not sure of it, but had recorded it and we confirmed it later. Lastly we saw the Great Northern Diver probably it has been in the area for some time now. Some nice species but very low quantity. 
Because of the slow migration Oliver and Jens decided to leave a day earlier than planned. 

Today we were joined by Xenia for ringing. We opened the nets and she arrived shortly after that. We managed to capture 20 new Birds and 30 in total. The highlights of today were a Collared Dove by the lighthouse and a Willow Warbler in the station garden.


Collared Dove by Mikkel Bello

In the evening David, Leona and I went for a sunset walk to the bog. We saw a few Reed Buntings a couple of Stone Chats, Wheatear, two Snipes and we heard a short phrase of the Blue Throat, and by the end of our journey we saw the first House Martin of the year. It was fourageing in the dunes in front of the lighthouse garden. We were not fortunate enough to see the Sunset.

Dofbasen link: here

Ringing totals (new/recapture)

European Collared dove  (1/0)

Wren (0/2)

Dunnock (2/2)

Robin (2/2)

Blackbird (2/2)

Redwing (1/0)

Common chiffchaff (4/0)

Willow warbler (1/0)

Tree sparrow (0/1)

Chaffinch (1/1)

Brambling (3/0)

Linnet (2/0)

Bullfinch (1/0)

The seawatch produced with both two great scaups and two artic skuas. There were also some numbers of terns.

After the seawatch, Jens and Oliver tried the stock dove for the second day and saw it. They also saw the known bluethroat and it give them some nice views.

Bluethroat – Picture by Oliver

The ringing was quite entertaining as well. Although a short shower forced us to close and reopen again. Just like yesterday a good number of chiffchaff, almost all had low fat and low muscle indicating that they just have crossed the north sea. In between the chiffchaffs their were also some with smaller wings. This might be an indication of the arrival of female birds. We also dubbled the count of blackcaps compared to yesterday, it’s a real joy to catch since they are very smart looking bird. Today Jonas also had an excursion guiding 25 persons around. Unfortunately, only 5 birds could be showed during the excursion. After that, we had some visitors from Germany and we also showed them around the ringing here.

Blackcap male – picture by Leona

Ringing list (new/recapture):

Robin (0/1)

Chiffchaff (9/0)

Blackbird (2/0)

Song thrush (2/0)

Redwing (1/0)

Dunnock (1/2)

Blackcap (2/0)

Tree sparrow (0/1)

17 new birds over 9 species

People at the station: Jonas with 25 people on excursion, Bent, David, Jens, Oliver, Bello, Leona and Menno

Igen i dag var vi mange om morgenobsen ved kysten. Menno var travlt optaget af at ringmærke sammen med Bent, som nu er rask igen, men ellers var vi de samme mennesker som i går. Vi havde nogle lidt mere interessante arter i dag, herunder islom, hvidklire og rørhøg. Desuden havde vi fornøjelsen af omkring 200 splitterner, som rastede på en sandbanke. I løbet af observationen fik Mikkel pludselig på årets, for vores vedkommende, første landsvale.  

Efter morgenobs gik vi to en tur i mosen. Mens vi står og lyttede efter en blåhals, kommer der en melding fra Bent på Zello. Det viser sig, at han lige har set en ringdrossel flyve i vores retning. Jens når lige at se et billede af hvordan en sådan ser ud, før han spotter en fugl med kikkerten, som viser sig at være den.  Vi fik efter en gåtur, som endte med at være længere end vores ben brød sig om, set en blå kærhøg hun, som et kort sekund fik pulsen op idet ordet ‘steppehøg’ strejfede vore tanker. Da vi kom tilbage besluttede vi os for at nedskrive Jens artsliste, da han stadig er relativt ny inden for fuglekigning. 

I løbet af eftermiddagen og aftenen er David og Leona ankommet, og der er blevet tilberedt et fyldestgørende måltid bestående af Mikkels courgettedeller, rodfrugter og salat. 

The first ringing day with my C-license was quite a good day. I got new three new species for this season: Linnet, Blackcap and white wagtail. Linnet was a new species for me in hand, and I learned that male and female can be separated on the wing pattern, besides from the difference at the red at the head and chest. And the wagtail was also very nice!

Photo of the white wagtail – Photo by Bello

Doflink: https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=13-04-2022&omraade=stor&stor=607&obstype=observationer&species=alle&sortering=dato

Trektellen: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/2525/20220413

White wagtail (2/0)

49 new birds out of 13 species

People at the station: Jens, Oliver, Bello, Leona, Henrik, David, Thyge Enevoldsen and Menno den Uijl

Today was a very busy seawatch. Besides every one of the station today, Bent was sick so there was no ringing in the morning, we also had a visitor. This made a total of 5 persons on the seawatch. Unfortunately, there were not that many birds that needed to be counted. A highlight were some migrating pochards, although I did not see them because of a short break because of some nature’s urge. By counting together, you really start to know each other, so that was nice.

After the seawatch, a serin in the area was reported but we were not able to twitch it, because it was flying north. Then a bluethroat was reported, that one was a successful twitch for everyone who went. A short-eared owl was reported as well, but not seen by anyone else but the observer who reported it. The second red kite this season flew over. After that Oliver and Jens decided to go to Blåvand. When Oliver and Jens walked to Blåvand, they came across three cranes. They might breed in the area, so we will be alert on that.

Short eared owl - Photo by the observer

After the lunch, I got some nice news. My X-license got promoted to a C-license. To use the opportunity, I directly opened up some nets, and I could directly ring some new birds. It was nice, since we did not ring any birds for five days now. What really stood out, is that we caught a incubating female greenfinch. We also ringed it on the 30^th of March, also showing a broodpatch. Hopefully, the nest survived the windy and cold conditions of last week.

Doflink: https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=12-04-2022&omraade=stor&stor=607&obstype=observationer&species=alle&sortering=dato

Trektellen: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/2525/20220412

Ringing list (new/recapture):

Robin (5/0)

Chiffchaff (1/0)

Blackbird (1/0)

Dunnock (3/0)

Redpoll (0/1)

Greenfinch (1/0)

11 new birds over 5 species

People at the station: Jens, Oliver, Bello, Thyge Enevoldsen and Menno den Uijl

Although the wind would allow the ringing, Bent was sick. So today and tomorrow ringing will not be done. Hopefully Bent will be better by Wednesday, so we can recontinue with the ringing again.

Today’s seawatch did not produce that much. The highlight was that two germans were trying to make some nice pictures of a chair the made. The struggle with the very heavy chair was very funny to watch.

After the seawatch, we made another local round, but that did not bring any new birds as well.

Tonight we will be joined by two new volunteers. Always nice to meet some new people with the same hobby.

People at the station: Oliver, Jens, Bello and Menno

DOF link: https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=11-04-2022&omraade=stor&stor=607&obstype=observationer&species=alle&sortering=dato

Trektellen link: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/2525/20220411

Today was the last day with strong NWestern winds for the coming days. So tomorrow we can recontinue with the ringing again. Over Europe there will be some southern winds, so hopefully the delayed migrants will start to arrive the coming days.

The sea watch was not very productive, we did not see that many birds migrating. There were loads of divers on the sea, so maybe they decide to leave the area when the southerlies are here.

Today Bello joined the seawatch somewhat later than at the start. Yesterday his neck has been in very unnatural positions (see photo), because of the out of the car scoping, so he had to unsour has neck before he joined the seawatch.

Photo of the unnatural position of Bello’s neck – Photo by Menno

People at the station: Henrik, David, Bello and Menno

DOF-link: https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=10-04-2022&omraade=stor&stor=607&obstype=observationer&species=alle&sortering=dato

Trektellen link: https://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/2525/20220410