Just a normal Blåvand day

If yesterday was an exciting day, then today is now just another standard Blåvand day. We had our daily Wryneck to ring, this one was actually ringed by the station before on 21st July 2022. Despite Maxim’s best attempts, when it was released it refused to perch photogenically on a branch for me to photograph, but fled far away. I will not try and better Maxim’s eulogy to his new love the wryneck, but what I can say is that the novelty of this bird has not worn off on us. Otherwise northerly winds proved to be the known nemesis of the birder. The ringing was quiet, with just 10 birds ringed and 5 birds captured again (including a Linnet and Lesser Whitethroat from last year), and the seabird observation left little to report.

After an uneventful seawatch, Lisa and I went on a little road trip to Skallingen. This was a great chance to see some waders, which are not so frequently (and closely) seen from our observation point here. After a couple of rather desperate hours of unproductive searching we finally were rewarded with some magnificent views of Spoonbills. I was also happy to see Greenshanks and Pied Avocets, which on another quieter day would get a more generous write-up.  

Two more contrasting birds than wrynecks and spoonbills would be difficult to find. That they have evolved from one common avian ancestor speaks to the marvellous variety of nature. Whether they would recognise each other as birds, we will never know, but in my nerdier birder moments, I do like to imagine a hypothetical bird conversation between the two sharing contrasting life stories.

With Maxim’s blasphemous dismissal on yesterday’s blog as to the excitement of birding, we have devised a road trip for him. Being involved solely in ringing since he arrived, I think he has been afforded too much luxury in seeing all of his birds in his hand. This perhaps makes it quite understandable then that seeing birds from more than 5 metres away is just a little boring. We shall report back tomorrow as to if we have any luck.

In any event, we are very much looking forward to the new Blåvand normal of Wrynecks, Spoonbills and the next exciting bird to be reported on tomorrow’s blog.