not finished

Ringing

Observations

Nice clear skies greeted us on the dunes today and we were shortly treated to a lovely sunrise over the heath. However, there was little time to enjoy the view as I was glued to the scope for the first hour, counting common scoters (Melanitta nigra) migrating past in a steady flow. The peak is always in the first hours or so after sunrise, and already within that time I had counted 800. 

We had a nice day for geese compared to the last couple days, with flocks og brant (Branta bernicla), barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis), and greylag geese (Anser anser). We are expecting a higher count of migrating geese throughout October, and hopefully a nice representation of species as well. 

Raptor numbers were good today, at least by Blåvand standards. This is not a great place to watch migrating raptors compared to migrating sea-birds, but we still had two hen harries (Circus cyanistes), three red kites (Milvus milvus), and three white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), as well as a very close-flying sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus). 

While checking his photos from today, Anton discovered a surprise horned lark (Eremophila alpestris) amongst his photos of other small birds (mostly finches). Although the quality is not the best, some key characteristics are still visible: black moustacial stripe down the cheek, a white supercilium (eyebrow) and pale chin. It would have been a lifer for me, if only we had noticed when it was actually there. However, I still got a lark lifer today, when I heard a wood lark (Lullula arborea) sing for the first time!

Surprise horned lark discovered amongst the small bird photos from today. Photo by Anton Ræbild Jensen. 

Todays observations

At the station: Strummer Edwards, Mathilde Sif Eiby, Anton Ræbild Jensen, Storm Hauris Borum and Johan Them Steffensen