We have decided that, because there isn't a lot to discuss in the blogs, we don't do a blog every day but every few days, so that we don't have to write 3 sentences just to make a blog. 

The last few days have been way better with the weather then before. With almost no rain and less wind, I opened the nets a few times. This resulted in 3 days over 20 birds, especially young birds. It is still very slow compared to the first weeks I got here and definetely a little later in end summer-begin autumn, but it is pretty good for the time of year. One of the birds that should be mentioned was a marsh tit, which has been caught only once before. 

Willow tit

For my own shrike project, I found today the 4th nest. 1 nest I have ringed last weekend, 2 other nests still had eggs and this nest was still empty, they have started a little bit later then I'd expected and hoped. Besides the shrikes, a nice side catch was a nest of a corn bunting. It is not yet a common breeding bird here, but today I figured there are at least 3 pairs with a nest, so still enough to discover.

corn bunting

2 days ago we had a working day, which ment that we cleaned the whole shed and did some gardening. Because of the lack of battery power, I had some trouble with especially mowing the lanes, so there is still a part that needs to be mowed, but I am planning to do that tomorrow, when the military area is closed for 2 days again. 

Power team!

I have also been out a few times for night catching, which got me another partridge, and last night I had 8 birds, one stonechat, 2 skylarks, 2 common whitethroats, 2 meadow pipits and a linnet. Pretty good, as my record for one night was standing on 5.

About the observations we can be short, but lets give it a positive twist. Théotim has enough time and oppertunities to get to know the species really well, because when he (finally) sees some birds migrating, he can take his time to take a good look at them.

Yesterday, Théotim (a French guy) joined us as a volunteer for the next 9 weeks. He will be focusing on counting waders during the migration period. To celebrate his arrival, he baked a chocolate cake that was "edible" according to Michael.

In the evening, we had a great time trying to catch two red-backed shrikes (a male and a female). Michael had spotted the nest, and even though we had to wait until today to catch the parents, we ringed 4 of the 5 babies. See the photos below.

Today, Michael and Maxim ringed 2 ringed plovers and the female red-backed shrike. Another nest of red-backed shrikes was discovered with 2 eggs inside. After a few observations, David had to leave the station to go back to work, but he'll come back soon!

Tonight, we welcome 2 guests at the station!

The last few days have been pretty changable, just like today. We have some rain regularely, but then suddenly the sun is shining again. As I am typing this, it is sunny while it is raining. And this shower hasn't even been mentioned at the forecast...

This morning I went out for nightcatching again. With 4 new birds, the score isn't that bad, and some variation as well. I had one yellowhammer, skylark, a young tree pipit and a linnet. I normally ring them in the field, but this time, just when I wanted to ring the linnet, an unexpected shower came by, and I was luckely close to the station, so I ran back and savely ringed it there.

I also went out this afternoon to see if I could find the shrike pair that I have been seeing a few weeks back, but then suddenly not anymore. Luckely, soon after my arrival I saw the male. Unfortunately, this bird has the habit to just disappear into nothing, so I didn't see it for to long. As I was looking for the shrike as it had just disappeared, I saw a white tailed eagle flying over the beach, always impressive to see this awesome bird!

We are still waiting for the weather to make a change. Michael and I are hoping for at least a few more days to have the chance to do some ringing before the spring ringing season officially ends this saterday. With the strong winds no nets were open today and it looks like most days/mornings this week ringing will be obstructed by winds and potential rain.

In the night Michael went out again and had some success catching birds. Most notable was the catch of a Meadow pipit, which was a first for Michael to have in the hands!

Early in the morning while making some coffee there was a surprise visit from David, who had done some morning observations. David had hoped for some action with the strong northwestern winds but unfortunately that turned out not to be the case.

After dinner Michael went out to the beach to try and read the rings of some shorebirds. He spotted some gulls with colour rings of which he managed to read the rings of two lesser black-backed gulls, both turned out to be with German rings. And while at the beach Michael checked on the fenced off breading area and managed to ring four collared plover chicks!

People at the station: David, Michael and Maxim

This night I went out for night catching again. It was a very good night, because I caught 5 birds in total, 3 new skylarks, the wheatear from 2 days ago and a yellowhammer from last year. At the beginning of the morning I also almost managed to catch the bluethroat that has been there for the last month, but not this night yet. But one of these days I will hopefully manage to catch it, as it is singing really early close to the path.

When I came back, the wind was still too strong to open the nets, but after a few hours of sleep, I decided to open the nets because the wind decreased a lot. Right after opening the last net in the station garden, I immediately had a 1k crested tit in the net. I am absolutely fascinated by this beautiful bird, only my second time ringing it.

I also opened in the lighthouse garden, where I caught a 1k coal tit, also not a bad species for here, and for me as well! besides that I had 3 1k great tits, 1 1k blackbird, 1 2k greenfinch, a control of a songthrush, willow warbler and common whitethroat. Not a lot of birds, but for these days not too bad. Unfortunately, coming days don't look good again for opening the nets as it is windy again.

Last night Michael went out again to find some birds. This time he caught a Water rail! The third one to ever be ringed here in Blåvand.

Michael's catch of the night: a Water rail

The net stayed closed for yet another day due to the strong winds, which gave me time to work on my project and Michael to catch up on some sleep. During the day Kim and Bent stopped by to check out the breeding area of the Little terns. High tides were predicted and so they raised the fence for the time being so it could withstand the water and wind. When they came back to the station, we sat down with some coffee and cake. I understand from Kim that each year the number of Little terns that come to the fenced off breeding area keeps increasing. This year is no exception!

Bent, Kim and Michael looking out over the breading area 

It took quite a while for the tide to recede so I waited until later in the evening to put the fence back in order.

People at the station: Bent, Kim, Michael and Maxim

Last night I went out pretty late, or early, depends on your perspective of course. I went to sleep early and woke up around 23:45, to go out and catch some birds with the thermal vieuwer, a torch and a carp net, hoping to catch more than 1 bird, and maybe something like a wader. I have done this before, but ony for 1 hour. I didn't chose this night randomly, I checked the weather and it turned out to be a horrible day for opening the nets today with a lot of rain and to much wind. 

I was looking for birds and in the first hour, I missed a song thrush and a skylark, but then I saw a bigger white dot moving around. At first I thought it was a rabbit or young hare, but it was moving weird for that. It turned out to be a grey partridge! I walked towards it and it came walking to me as well. As I was shaking, the bird stopped, looked around and was just standing there. I walked a little bit closer and landed the net on the ground. Missed! I was screaming inside and was hoping if I would return later, it would be around again. But 2 minutes later, I saw it walking around again 100 meters from the spot I missed it. I walked towards it again with the light, and it started walking towards me again, I just stood still, and waited for it to stand in front of me again. The same situation occured as the first time, the only difference was, I didn't make a mistake this time! I dropped the net and got it. Amazing catch! 

While I saw the partridge, i saw another bird in the same area as well. I checked, and it was still there. It turned out to be a wheatear, which I caught and ringed as I had the partridge in a bag for a minute. It was a 2k male, always a nice bird to catch. At the end of the night I also had a new skylark. As I was ringing it I heard a waterrail calling, which was unreachable, and a bluethroat singing, but when I tried catching it, it flew off to quick, it was probably to light already. 

The rest of the day was boring, as it was raining almost all day and too windy, also when it stopped raining. So, I prepared for another night out with taking some rest...

With much calmer weather conditions the nets opened this morning during standard time. Just before the 5 hours were over rain started to pour down and so the nets were closed. In total 9 bird were ringed and 5 recaptured. With practically no more migrating birds in the nets Michael and I are very happy that the newly hatched birds in the area are starting to fly out of the nests and into the nets. The past two weeks or so have been filled with rounds of empty nets, but today in most rounds atleast one bird turned up in the nets.  Of the ringed birds 5 were juveniles: 2 Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Green finch and Lesser whitethroat.

Two juvenile Blackbirds that were ringed together.

The first juvenile Lesser whitethroat of the season if I am not mistaken.

The rest of the day the weather was quite precarious which did not give us much chance to go outside to enjoy ourselves. It seems uncertain what the upcoming days have in store for us. For now there are strong winds predicted and there is possibility for rain in the morning.

People at the station: Michael and Maxim