Observation

Moderate southeast winds during the night and the morning in the 4th of August, along with very soft rain during the night and good cloud cover were quite promising for wader migration at Blaavandshuk.

The day started with a notable variety and good numbers of waders, particularly interesting when it comes to "continental" species, such as Shanks, Sandpipers or Plovers. Passage continued during the whole day, slowing down progressively in the evening.

Many birders at the Wader Spot and a 16.5 h count provided over 5,000 waders southwards! Oystercatcher was the dominant species with over 1,700 individuals, but Dunlin, Red Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit made a good contribution with 868, 586 and 350 birds respectively. Tringa species were abundant in the early morning with 50 Greenshanks, 7 Spotted and 282 common Redshanks, and 3 Wood Sandpipers plus 10 Green Sandpiper. Some other interesting records were a Temminck's Stint, 7 Spotted Redshanks and Little Ringed Plover. Other species detected included Whimbrels, Curlews, Curlew Sandpiper, Turnstones, Ruff, etc.

Some ducks brough some variety appart from waders, with 3 Goldeneyes, 5 Eiders, Velvet Scoter and some Graylags, Gadwalls, Eurasian Teals, Red-breasted Merganser...

All these birds contributed to a very funny day for the observer team from Spain and all the birders who joined the counts!

Ringing

While today was another overall slow day of migration ringing, we were rewarded with a long awaited first of season! We caught two female Redstarts (Rødstjert) which were absolutely stunning in the hand. 

Besides that, other highlights included a 2k+ Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger) and another Treecreeper (Trælober), bringing our total for the season up to five!

We kept nets open until 7, catching around one bird an hour (still doing net runs throughout dinner and the ringing team watchparty of Project Hail Mary). Afterwards, I completed my nightly humiliation ritual of catching 0 birds night catching.

The Strummer Edwards nightcatching experience at this point in the season

Observations:

Ringing:
We awoke today with hearts filled with hope and supplemented with coffee. The wind was direct eastern and with only 3m/s we rushed out to open every single net for maybe the first time since I've joined the station. Sadly the birds didn't join in the hype and mostly stayed away. We ringed/read a total of 17 birds across 11 species from 4:57 - 16:49. Highlights included a very photogenic Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca), a juvenile Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) with the same affinity for the lense, and a Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis) that was first ringed in 2022.

Juvenile Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricacilla)

A very beautiful Lesser whitethroat (Curruca curruca)

In the "extracurricular activities" coloumn we attempted a twitch of the Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) which was spotted in Esbjerg. After dipping the yankee, we returned and and got a visit from Tv2Syd. If you want to see the volunteers on the screen you can tune in tonight at 19:30 :)

Todays ringing numbers:

 At the station: Alba, Johan, Strummer, Ida, Henrik, David, Lois, Nico, Miguel, Leon, Anton

Observations

Early morning count started with west-southwest moderate winds and a rain front getting close to land. These conditions were apparently very promising for seabirds!

The expectations were well achieved with a very nice and close Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) flying southwards, very close to land. Good views for all the six observers at the moment of this scarce, but regular species in Blavandshuk.

Views from the shore south of Blaavand.

Tern numbers were again quite high, and some wader movement included a few small groups of Grey Plover and juvenile Dunlins.

A late evening walk along the beach south of the station allowed us to see most of the common seaducks and diving species in the area, with nice calm, sunny and clear conditions.

Ringing

The ringing was very slow today, with a total of only 2 newly ringed individuals (one during standard time, one after) and 4 recaptures. This was partly owed to (the risk of) heavy showers during the morning, which had us opening and closing some net sections to be safe. 

Species ringed today:

People at the station: David, Nico, Lois, Miguel, Alba, Ida, Strummer, Leon, Anton, Henrik

The weather today was similar to yesterday weak westerlies (shifting to WSW in the evening) with disperse showers alternating with sun and good lighting conditions for counting.

Many Terns are already using the Blåvand area while foraging and resting during the day, so the first hours after sunrise and the last before sunset are good opportunities for counting them while they come from the south and return, respectively. Over 4000 Common, 45 Arctic and 600 Sandwich Terns were counted during the 3h census in the morning, and over 6400 Terns in total were estimated to be present along the day (but could be even more!). More Arctic Skuas were also seen these last days.

Three Greater Scaups southwards in the late evening count were a good sighting, during an otherwise quiet observation period, at least for two migrants.

Ringing

Unfortunately it continues to be a very slow time ringing here at Blaavand, with fewer than ten birds caught for the day.  The highlight of the day  was another Treecreeper (Trælober), a sepcies which has been a frequent capture this season.