There has been a sudden upsurge in personnel at the station with the arrival of three new and one returning personnel, it's great to have such a lively crowd again. With the extra hands we will surely accomplish a lot over the coming weeks. We welcome Andrea, Oliver, Jonas, and Taima (who was also present during late spring). Ole (who arrived yesterday) is also here on his annual visit to make the most of the wader migration and assist with the daily standardised counts.

Daily proceedings began in a similar way to the previous few weeks with a check of the moth trap yelding 155 moths of 52 species. Year ticks included Drinker (Græsspinder, Euthrix potatoria), Early Thorn (Almindelig Månemåler, Selenia dentaria), and Gelechia nigra.

Early Thorn (Almindelig Månemåler, Selenia dentaria)

The morning observations produced some noteworthy rewards despite the tough northerly breeze restraining any substancial wader movements. Highlights included the lingering adult Great Skua (Storkjove, Stercorarius skua), one Arctic Skua (Almindelig Kjove, Stercorarius parasiticus) and 1301 terns of four species.

A Black Kite (Sort Glente, Milvus migrans) which flew over Bent and Ole added some buzz to the usual proceedings as this represnts the first for the station so far this year!

See the link below for a full list of this morning's sightings:

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=20-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

Personnel: Taima, Andrea, Oliver, Jonas, Ole, Bent and Samuel

No moth trap was set last night as the wind was too strong so instead some extra time was spent on the beach after the observations were complete to read some colour rings on the gulls and photograph the terns flying north.

The morning seawatch once again continued in a similar vein to the previous two days with several thousand Black-headed Gulls (Hættemåge, Chroicocephalus ridibundus) migrating north along with the highest Sandwich Tern (Splitterne, Thalasseus sandvicensis) count of the autumn thus far (991). Further notewrothy sightings included two Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove, Stercorarius parasiticus), sadly one was trailing a meter long piece of marine plastic litter behind it as it was caught around its leg. The same lingering adult Great Skua (Storkjove, Stercorarius skua) from yesterday was also still present.

See the link below for a full list of this morning's sightings:

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=19-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&egneobs=on&summering=yes&sortering=dato

Sandwich Tern (Splitterne, Thalasseus sandvicensis)

Common Tern (Fjordterne, Sterna hirundo)

An unusually white Black-headed Gull (Hættemåge, Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

Personnel: Bent, Ole Fries Larsen and Samuel

The moth trap was once again rather busy with 240 moths of 83 species present. Year ticks included Pale Mottled Willow (Stråtagsugle, Caradrina clavipalpis), Ruby Tiger (Kanelbjørn, Phragmatobia fuliginosa), Common Footman (Blygrå Lavspinder, Eilema lurideola), Least Yellow Underwing (Mørksømmet Smutugle, Noctua interjecta), Endotricha flammealis, and Cacoecimorpha pronubana.

Purple-bordered Gold (Mose-Løvmåler, Idaea muricata)

The morning seawatch resembled yesterdays in several ways with a strong passage of both gulls and terns. Highlights included an adult Great Skua (Storkjove, Stercorarius skua) flying north along the shoreline and two Mediterranean Gulls (Sorthovedet Måge, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) also migrating north (one each of 1cy and 2cy).

See the link below for a full list of this morning's sightings:

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=18-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&egneobs=on&summering=yes&sortering=dato

An afternoon bike ride to Oksby Klitplantage was fairly productive as well as seeing White-tailed Eagle (Havørn, Haliaeetus albicilla), two Cranes (Trane, Grus grus) and numerous Grey Herons (Fiskehejre, Ardea cinerea) the focus was once again on the invertebrates and flowers.

Marsh Gentian (Klokke-Ensian, Gentiana pneumonanthe)

Pyrausta despicata

Foresters (Grøn Køllesværmer, Adscita statices)

Personnel: Samuel

The early morning check of the moth trap yielded 122 moths of 58 species, not bad returns given the strong northerly wind overnight. One year tick was present, a Confused (Mørk Stængelugle, Apamea furva).

Confused (Mørk Stængelugle, Apamea furva)

The morning seawatch, although low in diversity, certainly made up for its shortcomings with high numbers of both gulls and terns, the highest counts were awarded to Black-headed Gull (Hættemåge, Chroicocephalus ridibundus) with 3574 mostly flying north and 930 CommonTern/Arctic Tern (Fjordterne/Havterne, Sterna hirundo/Sterna paradisaea), the highest count of the autumn so far! Even by the time I left, the passage of Black-headed Gulls was still in full swing!

See the link below for a full list of this morning's sightings:

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=17-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

Personnel: Samuel

Vinden var fortsat i nord, men var aftaget lidt siden i går. Jeg tog mig selvstændigt af den første halvdel af morgenobsen, da Samuel havde travlt med natsværmerne. Cirka 1 time efter obsens start deltog han også i morgenobsen, på trods af den stille omgang. 
Der var fortsat ikke meget aktivitet udover havet, med kun enkelte flokke af Strandskader kom flyvende, en enkelt rødben og en tidlig småspove fra morgenstunden. 

Til stor glæde for både Samuel og jeg stod mågerne rigtig godt i medlys på stranden. Dette gjorde det muligt at tjekke dem igennem. Det resulteret i hele 4 Kaspiske måger, 1 3k Sorthovedet måge og 1 voksen Ride. 
 Her ses en 2k Kaspisk måge. Lange ben, sorte tertiære med smal hvid kant, lyst hoved, tyndt næb og hvid på bryst og bug med få pletter i nakken og på flanken. Derudover en mere kontrastrig overside end for eksempelvis Sølvmåge har. Foto: David Manstrup 

Samuel havde som skrevet før meget at give sig til ved natsværmerfælden, idet han fangede 151 natsværmere fordelt på 71 arter. Deriblandt denne Ypsolopha nemorella:hYpsolopha nemorella. Foto Samuel Perfect


(DMA)

Jeg spurtede ud på morgenobsen i dag, fuld af motivation efter en god nat søvn.. 
Jeg skulle måske have ventet lidt, fordi den første halve time regnede væk i middelkraftig regn. Derudover var vinden i nord og kraftig, imellem 8-12 ms i løbet morgenen, så det var svært at finde et sted med læ. 
Det blev hermed en svær morgen at hive i land. Meget få trækkende fugle sås, og der er intet spektakulært at nævne. 

Jeg kunne i de mest sløve perioder nyde selskabet af mågerne og ternerne på stranden, men heller intet der skilte sig markant ud. 
Desværre ser det også lidt trist ud den næste uge. De lover nordlige vinde indtil søndag i næste uge.
Så det kan gå hen og blive en lidt sløv periode i Blåvand. 
Vi må håbe at de laver udsigten lidt om, eller at der mod forventning kommer lidt trækfugle til os. 

Samuel fortsætter sit gode arbejde på fuglestationen frem til 20. august, inden han drager mod fuglestationen på Long Point i Canada. 
Vi er meget glade for at have Samuel en måned mere.

(DMA) og BEJ

The early morning check of the moth trap yielded 196 moths of 64 species. Year ticks included Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Gul Båndugle, Noctua fimbriata), Festoon (Stor Sneglespinder, Apoda limacodes), Small Dotted Buff (Mosebunke-Ugle, Photedes minima), Double Dart (Graphiphora augur), Eana penziana, Bactra furfurana, and Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana.

There was a modest turnover on the mornings seawatch with a small number and diversity of both ducks and waders. Highlights included a 3cy Little Gull (Dværgmåge, Hydrocoloeus minutus), 11 Grey Herons (Fiskehejre, Ardea cinerea), and three Curlew Sandpipers (Krumnæbbet Ryle, Calidris ferruginea).

See the link below for a full list of this morning's observations:

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=13-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&egneobs=on&summering=yes&sortering=dato

Personnel: David and Samuel

I dag lovede de østenvind og det plejer at betyder rigtig pæne vadertotaler, men i dag gik det en anelse sløvt. Måske fordi at det stadig er tidligt på sæsonen. Morgenobsen blev flittigt gennemført af Samuel og undertegnede.

Der var også konstant et eller andet at kigge på, og vi kedede os ikke i løbet af morgenen. 
Af vadertal nævnes omkring 140 Almindelige ryler, 50 små kobbersnepper, 47 Sandløbere, 2 Mudderklirer og 14 Islandske ryler. 
Der kom desuden en Almindelig kjove trækkende i det allerførste dagslys. Derudover sås en Gråstrubet lappedykker trækkende..  
Små Kobbersnepper på træk. Foto: David Manstrup

Vi bemærkede under morgenobsen at der igen i dag var et vældigt liv af måger på stranden. Vi valgte derfor at bruge et par timer på mågetjek.. 

Det bragte 3 Kaspiske måger med sig plus en 3k Dværgmåge. 
Den ene 1k Kaspiske måge var ringmærket med en gul ring, og det bliver derved spændende at se hvor den kommer fra? 

Det lykkedes at få et par fotos af den ene 1k Kaspiske måge:

Kaspisk Måge 1k - Foto David Manstrup

(DMA)

A total of 231 moths of 87 species were attracted to the trap overnight. Year ticks included Horse Chestnut (Mørk Hedemåler, Pachycnemia hippocastanaria), Purple-bordered Gold (Mose-Løvmåler, Idaea muricata), Aethes margaritana, and Diplodoma laichartingella.

Purple-bordered Gold (Mose-Løvmåler, Idaea muricata)

Epiblema foenella

Aethes margaritana

The seawatch was also relatively productive with a trickle of waders and ducks. Three Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove, Stercorarius parasiticus) were also noted along with a 3cy Caspian Gull (Kaspisk Måge, Larus cachinnans) preening on the beach.

See the link below for a full list of this morning's observations.

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=11-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

3cy Caspian Gull (Kaspisk Måge, Larus cachinnans)

Personnel: Samuel

The overnight northerly breeze was expected to dent the moth numbers but despite the hinderance 218 moths of 69 species were trapped, a remarkably good total! Highlights included the first Small Chocolate-tip (Chokoladeplet, Closera pigra), and the stunningly colourful Oecophora bractella, of the year.

Small Chocolate-tip (tChokoladeplet, Closera pigra)

Oecophora bractella

The seawatch was admittedly a little quieter than yesterday with respect to wader activity, however, a surprise Common Sandpiper (Mudderklire, Actitis hypoleucos) and two dark phase Arctic Skuas (Almindelig Kjove, Stercorarius parasiticus) livened up proceedings. The major difference compared with recent days was the dominant northward passage of Black-headed Gulls (Hættemåge,Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and terns particularly close to the shoreline.

See the link below for a full list of this morning's sightings.

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=10-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

Personnel: Samuel