Heavy fog!

With most of the nets open (a few sites were too frosty and cold to open), the bird ringing continued today. However, we only managed to ring a Goldcrest and a Robin (firsts for the season), while yesterday’s Dunnock was recaptured – a healthy bird which added more than a gram in weight. Also yesterday, Bello spotted a Woodcock flying low over the station garden, so today we kept two nets open at the station during the afternoon hoping to ring one or two more birds after the standard ringing hours (hoping for a Woodcock…). We did not have any luck, yet a number of species were recorded during the bright sunny afternoon hours.

A first-winter White-tailed Eagle came in rather low nearby, which was observed and photographed (below) by Bello. We also heard Curlew and Greenfinch. Menno even found a colour-ringed Herring Gull (from Russia) on a short walk on the beach, although it was too far to make out the entire colour-ring code. A Coal Tit and Rock Pipit also appeared, improving the species diversity on this calm day.

The heavy fog limited the visibility between 20-50 m for most of the morning, until around 11am. Such conditions made it quite impossible for Menno and Bello to count, and it appears tomorrow morning will bring similar conditions. Either way we shall be ready and see what the day brings!

On a lighter note, we seem to have a furry friend in the kitchen, probably a mouse. I guess the newly installed kitchen is too great a temptation for the little guy!

First-winter White-tailed Eagle observed over Blåvand today, just as conditions improved following the thick fog during most of the morning. Photo by Bello.

Ringing list (new/ recapture):

1/0 Goldcrest

1/0 Robin

0/1 Dunnock

DOFbasen list:

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=antaldage&dage=10&omraade=hiddenlok&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&sortering=dato

Folk på stationen: Bello, Menno, Leona, Timmy