No way! There's birds!?

Observations:

The 8th of August started with weak westerlies blowing at around 6 m/s, progressively turning into southwest and decreasing in intensity.  These conditions are not ideal for detecting the migration of either seabirds or shorebirds from Blåvandshuk, being too weak winds to force pelagic species to pass close to land and too western for favouring inland waders to pass over the shore.

Even with low numbers, the count was fine with a nice diversity. Some highlights were a 1K Mediterranean Gull, a couple of immature Arctic Skuas, a Red-throated Diver and some Caspian Gulls of different ages, despite lower numbers than the previous days. 

Wader diversity was well represented, but the total number for 3h counting was around 150 individuals, so not an impressive number.  

View from the Sabine's Bunker in the evening.

The evening count was somewhat better, with 1,5h count producing over 250 waders, mainly oystercatchers carrying some other species in their mixed groups. Also the first documented juvenile Bar-tailed Godwits of the season were seen, first flying south over the Sabine's Bunker and then resting on the beach a hundred meters south.

Two juvenile Bar-tailed Godwits resting close to the shore. 

Ringing:

After a day of only one bird in the nets, the outlook could only really be positive (relatively). There was a big(ish) payoff with a whole 17 birds caught over 10 different species. The birds looked a lot like the birds we have been seeing all season, but with a few boring days, it was almost like seeing old friends :´) . We had time to inspect the funny specimens which included a yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) with a lot of its plumage still growing, and a willow warbler (Phylloscupos trochilus) with juuuuuust enough white to make you say "hmm" in the aging.

1K Willow warbler (Phylloscupos trochilus) with a lot of white on the belly.

Moulting Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

Todays ringing numbers:

At the station: Miguel, Lois, Nicolas, David, Alba, Ida and Johan