Sydlig Nattergal!

Morning observations:

The weather looked good for the observation today. Levi, Thomas and I were hopeful for some birds, but unfortunately the migration was slow today. Luckily the visibility was good, so we could finish the whole morning observation. We did saw some Sandwich terns “Splitterne” and Common terns “Fjordterne” again.

Today’s observations can be seen here.

After the observation I joined the ringing, which was more successful. We even caught a Common nightingale “Sydlig nattergal” and I got the opportunity to ring it! In total I got three new ringing species today!

The ringing:

I just entered the data and saw that we had 18 different species in the nets today, that is great, spring is coming to its peak in Blåvand. We did not just have the first Lesser Whitethroats “Gærdesanger” for the season, but also the first Common Whitethroats “Tornsanger”.

Lesser Whitethroat "Gærdesanger". Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

Common Whitethroat "Tornsanger". Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

And the day brought more surprises. Marit joined us in the ringing after the obs. And out of the last net of Krattet, she took a Common Nightingale “Sydlig Nattergal”!

Common Nightingale “Sydlig Nattergal”. Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

Besides the appearence, you can also look at the lenth of P1 to differenciate Common Nightingale "Sydlig Nattergal" from Thrush Nightingale "Nattergal". I found a wing picture of a Thrush Nightingale I caught in Gedser last year. Common Nightingales have a very long P1 which has at least the same lenght of the primary couverts or a bit longer, while P1 in the Thrush Nightingale is very short, way shorter than the primary coverts.

The bird was announced on Zello and there was one birder close enough to come and see it. After showing the bird when I released it, it headed right to the nets again. I wanted to go and get it out again, but I did not find the Nightingale “Nattergal” in the net, but a .

Wryneck “Vendehals”. Picture: Marit Nillissen

This was also very much appreciated and there was now one more bird to show. We had the nets open for a little longer and in the last round, we had a nice Tree Pipit “Skovpiber” in the net.

Tree Pipit "Skovpiber". Picture: Marit Nillissen

In the afternoon, we all went on a walk together to explore some bunkers. And we found some nests of Stock Doves “Huldue” in some of the bunkers. So far, the parents are still on the eggs, but soon the chicks will hatch, and we might ring them!

We walked back on the beach and there was another surprise for us: We saw some Little Terns “Dværgterne” sitting in the fenced area!

And another good message waited in my e-mail postbox for me: A recapture letter from the Robin “Rædhals” from Norway! The bird was ringed at the 03.09.2024 in Norway at Ørin Feltstatjon. Now it is probably on its way back to its breeding grounds in Norway, after spending the winter a bit further south. The ringing site in Norway is 935,1 kilometers away from Blåvand. Imagine the distance this little bird flew just on its own wings. And this is just a short-distance migrant.

The Robin "Rødhals" from Norway - where it was ringed and recaptured.

What a successful day at Blåvandshuk!

At the station: Thomas Kristensen, Emma Grey, Marit Nillissen, Levi van der Os, Anne Hjortlund Hansen and Hanelie Sidhu