To begin with, a little update on last night: First, we did not catch an owl, unfortunately. Second, our “UFO” on the nightsky comes from the launch of a Space X rocket and has been observed by many people last night. Find more information here.

Morning observations:

This morning at the observations I saw the first Common tern “Fjordterne” and a few Little gulls “Dværgmåge”! Also the 3K Yellow legged gull “Middelhavssølvmåge” was again resting at the beach. There were a few diving Northern gannets “Sule” again, which was really cool to see! The variety of species this morning was really good, so it was a nice morning!

Todays observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

Chiffchaff "Gransanger". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

There was much time between the rounds today, I had very few birds. But a little surprise in the closing round: When I arrived at the first net at Krattet I thought I would first check all the four nets in the little forest if there were any birds and then close them from the back. That was a good idea, because when I was closing one of the other nets, a Collared Dove “Tyrkerdue” flew in the first net and got caught. I immediately ran to the net and had the Dove in my hand. We see them every day in the gardens but they do not get caught so often, so it was a fun catch. Just when I was sitting with the Dove in the lab, Bent came in the garden and together with Marit we were admiring the bird with its red eyes, after it got its ring.

Collared Dove "Tyrkerdue". Picture: Bent Jakobsen

At the station: Bent Jakobsen, Marit Nillissen and Hanelie Sidhu

Morning observations:

The weather was much nicer this morning at the observation, as it wasn’t that windy anymore. The Great Northern diver “Islom” is still resting in the water. It has been here for a few days now. I did saw a lot of Common scoter “Sortand” this morning!

Today’s observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

Yellowhammer "Gulspurv". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

To my great joy, the wind had slowed down a lot and it was perfect conditions for ringing again. I could open all nets and went on the rounds with a bag of freshly washed bird bags. I think all of these bags got used today, as I had quite many birds especially in the first two rounds. There was a little flock of lesser Redpolls “Lille Gråsisken”, one of them a recapture, ringed by Morten in 2023. Else I had a good number of Dunnocks “Jernspurv” and also Robins “Rødhals” and the biggest number of Chiffchaffs “Gransanger” this spring season, it was five of them. I recaptured a Wren “Gærdesmutte”, that was ringed by Merit in 2022, it is nice to see that these little fellows can live quite some years. My highlights of today were a Bullfinch “Dompap” and a Yellowhammer “Gulspurv”.

Bullfinch "Dompap". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

When it had slowed down in the nets, I had time to go to the observation spot because Marit had found the Great Northern Diver “Islom” again, it was resting in the water approximately at the same spot as the last days and I was happy that I have now also seen it.

 Besides birds I also had other animals in hand, that I found in the gardens, one was Xylocampa areola “Gedeblad-ugle", I had seven of them in the trap and on the wall by the trap in the lighthouse garden. Unfortunately no other moth species.

Another animal in hand was this beautiful Common toad “Skrubtudse”, that went out to sunbath.

Common toad “Skrubtudse”. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

In the Helgoland trap I do not have birds do often (but today I actually caught a Robin “Rødhals” in it), but I could admire a Heath bumblebee “Hedehumle” which was feeding on the young catkins in the trap. I like these fluffy insects. Sometimes they a so busy with feeding nectar from flowers that you can gently strike over their fur. But that one already noticed me, when I came to take a picture with the phone, so no bumblebee petting today.

Heath bumblebee “Hedehumle”. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Now in the evening, we are trying to catch owls with sound in both gardens, we did not have luck so far, but there is still the closing round…

On one round, we saw a very weird looking unidentified flying object in the night sky, this is no photoshopped picture and we are still wondering, what it was…

UFO in the sky over Blåvandshuk. Picture: Marit Nillissen

People: Marit Nillissen and Hanelie Sidhu

Morning observations:

Today was still windy at the morning observation. But we did see some variation in species! We saw a lot of Razorbills “Alk” and Common Eider “Ederfugl”. Thomas was also joining the morning observations for the first time. He will be joining us in april with the observations every morning!

Henrik and two people from DKU were also there, so it was a nice busy morning!

To the joy of us and the participants of the DKU meeting, the Yellow-legged Gull “Middelhavs-sølvmåge” was resting on the beach and there were also some Caspian Gulls “Caspisk Måge”

Yellow-legged Gull “Middelhavs-sølvmåge”. Picture: Henrik Böhmer

Caspian Gull "Kaspisk Måge". Picture: Henrik Böhmer

Tomorrow the weather will be less windy, so it will be less cold.

Today’s observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

The wind was less strong than yesterday so we could have most of the station garden open and do a standardized ringing day. While most of the participants of the DKU meeting either went to do morning observations or slept in today, Morten stayed with me at the station, and we did the rounds in the garden together. Considering that it was less than half of the nets that we had open and there was still quite some wind, we had an okay number of birds, 10 new and 7 recaptures. It was mostly new Robins “Rødhals” and we also had one Chiffchaff “Gransanger” in the net. Morten controlled a Chaffinch “Bogfinke”, that he had ringed in February 2024 and we had a Blackbird that was winged by Lisa in 2019.

Blackbird "Solsort". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

We cleaned the ringing bags from shit and feathers, and they are now washed and dried in the washing machine, ready for many new birds tomorrow, the weather looks good!

People: Henrik Böhmer, David Manstrup, Marit Nillissen, Hanelie Sidhu, Morten Jenrich Hansen and DKU

Morning observations:

Morning observations on a windy day. Picture: Marit Nillissen

This morning it was very windy at the morning observation. Some people from DKU where also at the observation. There was some variation in species, such as the Avocet “Klyde”, Garganey “Altingand” and Ruffs “Brushane”. We even saw two Northern gannets “Sule” diving, which was really cool to see! Around 09:15, I went back to the station.

Todays observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

I woke up this morning to see if it was okay to open the nets, but it was very windy, so I went back to bed and enjoyed sleeping in. When I came down, Morten, who is here for the DKU meeting had opened four nets in the station garden. He caught in total 8 new birds, mostly Dunnocks “Jernspurv” and recaptured tree. At 11.30 we closed the nets.

Dunnock "Jernspurv". Archive picture by Hanelie Sidhu

I used the slow day to do some data check, so all full sheets are checked and archived now.

At the station: Marit Nillissen, Hanelie Sidhu, Henrik Böhmer, David Manstrup, Morten Jenrich Hansen and the DKU meeting

My morning started actually with some difficulties. There was frost on the net poles and they were very slippery. When I wanted to open one of the 18 meter nets in the stations garden, the rope just slipped down on the poles on both sides of the nets and the net fell on the ground. The poles were too slippery to fix it in the morning, so I continued opening the lighthouse garden. Unfortunately, the same happened with one of the nets in the lighthouse gardens. So, two nets needed to stay closed. Yesterday was a good day but I wasn´t sure if I should expect the same for today, as it was so cold.  I was surprised how many birds I had to take out of the nets in the first round, it was mainly Robins “Rødhals” and Dunnocks “Jernspurv” but also two Songthrushes “Sangdrossel”.

Seven new Robins "Rødhals" were ringed today. That is a good sign, that spring migration is starting. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

The second round continued busy, there was a little flock of Lesser Redpolls “Lille Gråsisken” in the nets in the lighthouse garden. Also some other nice species were in the nets today, three Chiffchaffs “Gransanger”, a female Bullfinch “Dompap” and some Goldcrests “Fuglekonge”. I had the nets open for two more hours after standard time and had two visitors, who followed me on a round. In total 40 new birds were ringed, the best number for March so far.

The Lesser Redpoll "Lille Gråsisken" was the secound most bird caught today. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

I also found the first moth for days in the trap in the lighthouse garden, it was again Xylocampa areola “Gedeblad-ugle". As it is feeding on catkins and there are some both gardens, it is not surprising to find it here.

Xylocampa areola “Gedeblad-ugle". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

While I was busy in the ringing, Marit and Henrik went for morning Observations. The biggest highlight was a Great Northern Diver “Islom” resting in the shoreline. They saw again three Sandwich Terns “Splitterne”. There were also five Goosanders “Stor Skalleslugger”, which we do not see so often here and some Caspian Gulls “Caspisk måge” resting on the beach. Apart from that, it was a rather calm morning.

Todays observations can be seen here.

Around 13:00, Henrik proposed go on a little birdwatching tour in the area, so we closed all nets. While closing, we saw Det hvide C, which is called Comma in english in the stationgarden.

Polygonia c-album "Det Hvide C". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

We checked Grønningen for Pied Wagtails, the British subspecies yarelli, but there were none. At Nyeng and another place we had a good number of birds but all more winter species as Curlews "Sorspove" and Pintails "Spidsand".

Birdwatching at Nyeng. Picture: Marit Nillissen

After, we went to a heathland on the way to Veijers strand where we saw a Great Grey Shrike “Stor Tornskade” and went to a place where Henrik had found badger "Grævling" and most possibly wulf "Ulv" tracks.

There are some wulfs "Ulv". Here (most possibly) one of their tracks. Picture: Marit Nillissen.

On our trip we saw some Buzzards “Musvage” and two White-tailed Eagles “Havørn”.

It was a nice tour and also nice to get around a little more sometimes.

In the late afternoon, the participants of the DOFbasn quality assurance arrived at the station.

The bird to end todays blog: The Great Grey Shrike "Stor Tornskade". Picture Marit Nillissen

At the station: Henrik Böhmer, Marit Nillisen, David Manstrup, Hanelie Sidhu and DKU

Sunrise at Blåvandshuk. Picture: Marit Nillissen

Morning Observations:

Around 06:30, I was ready for the new morning observations. It was a bit foggy this morning, so I couldn’t see the wind farm in the sea. The first two hours there were a lot of Common scoter “Sortand” and Red throated divers “Rødstrubet lom” migrating. I also saw a lot more Northern gannet “Sule” then yesterday. Eventually the migration started to slow down and I went back to the station.

Todays observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

Songthrush "Sangdrossel". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

It was warmer than some of the last mornings when I opened the nets this morning. But still, there was icy frost on the poles and some of the nets. But it promised to become a nice morning. It was not as sunny as yesterday, but we still had some sun. It felt like there were even more Songthrushes “Sangdrossel” singing than the last days, so I was thinking that today, I would have one in the nets. I was right, it was even two. And it got a really nice morning for ringing. Apart from one zero round, I always had some birds in the nets and something to do. And some nice species that we always have around the house at the moment but that do not often go into the nets did us the pleasure and got caught: A Starling “Stær”, a Treesparrow “Skovspurv”, some three Greenfinches “Grønirisk” and a Woodcock “Skovsneppe”!

Starling "Stær". Picture: Marit Nillissen.

I kept the nets open a little longer than standard time, until 13.00, but at 12.30 it was just one new Goldcrest and a recapture Blackbird “Solsort” and at 13.00 the daily Lesser Redpoll “Lille Gråsisken” (it is everyday different birds of course) was in the net behind the pond, so it was okay to close.

It was a sunny afternoon, but I used it to make a list of which rings we have in stock, and which need to be ordered and checked how many nets of different lengths we have in reserve.

A good bird to end the blog: Todays Woodcock "Skovsneppe". Picture: Marit Nillissen

At the station: Marit Nillissen and Hanelie Sidhu

A beautiful sunrise over the bog this morning. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Morning observations:

This morning I did the morning observation with Joseph. It was a beautiful morning, with little wind and a nice sun; a relaxing start of the day. In total we saw 278 Common scoter “Sortand” and 170 Red-throated divers “Rodstrubbet Lom” migrating and some other species like the Northern gannet “Sule” and Common eider “Ederfugl”. We even saw the first two Sandwich terns “Splitterne” which we were really excited about! The beginning of the migration season is really here.

Around 10am the migration slowed down and I went back. Joseph had already gone home in the meantime, because he is going to Copenhagen to visit his girlfriend.

Todays observations can be seen here.

At the morning observation. Picture: Marit Nillissen

The ringing: 

One of todays Lesser Redpolls "Lille Gråsisken". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Already when I opened the nets I could see, that it would be a very nice morning. And it was, all sunny and the nice weather made some more birds fly. It was nineteen new birds ringed today, it is going up again! Two beautiful Goldfinches “Stillits”, one new Chiffchaff “Gransanger” and a Lesser Redpoll “Lille Gråsisken”, ringed by Morten in 2022 were the highlights of this morning. Between the rounds, when I had a short rest in the house, I met Joseph, getting ready to leave to Copenhagen after a short morning Obs, he will be back in a week, let´s hope the Jay “Skovskade” that he is hoping for in the nets will wait to fly in until the 27^th of March! Tomorrow it will be a little warmer in the morning, low winds but not so much sun, let´s see what it will bring!

Robin "Rødhals". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

People: Joseph Stephan, Marit Nillissen and Hanelie Sidhu

With four degrees, this morning was a little warmer than the last mornings, no minus degrees anymore. While I was waiting for the first round, Karen was packing her things to leave home, and do some birding stops on the way. It was some nice days, and we are sure that we will meet her again at some point this spring season.

For me it was a day of recaptures. By now, the nets need to be open at 06.00 in the morning but they were already at 05.45 and I did the closing round at 11.15. Standard time is just until 11.00 and until then, it was just recaptures in the nets. At 11.15, I had a new couple of Yellowhammers “Gulspurv” and a new Dunnock “Jernspurv”, all in one net. The whole morning, I heard Redpolls “Gråsisken” calling so after standard time, I left three nets open and had sound on for a little while, but I just caught one Lesser Redpoll “Lille Gråsisken”.

Female and male Yellowhammer/ Gulspurv. Picture: Marit Nillissen

Bent was also out with his scope this morning and we were exchanging one of the nets at Kratett together.

Marith and Joseph came back very early from the observation, as they did not have many birds on migration.

This morning at the obs. Picture: Joseph Stephan

Todays observations can be seen here.

In the afternoon, we went to the beach all together and hammered in three new poles to mark, where the electric fence for the breeding Terns will be set up.

Joseph and Marit working with the poles on the beach. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Tomorrow it will be sunny all day with very low wind, we are looking forward to it.

At the station: Marit Nillissen, Joseph Stephan, Bent Jakobsen and Hanelie Sidhu

While Hanelie was opening the mist nets, Karen and I prepared for the daily morning observation. The weather was chilly, with temperatures around 0°C in the morning and a steady northwest wind. 

The first two hours of migration were a pleasure to watch, with 498 Red-throated Divers flying south and 266 Gannets flying north. After 10 AM, the migration pace slowed down a bit. You can find the complete list of observations here.

Hanelie was thrilled to ring more birds than yesterday - even a Goldfinch found its way into the net today!

We were also excited to welcome Marit to the station. She will be assisting with migration counts and working on her bachelor’s thesis, which focuses on analyzing standard data, including interval-based standard counts.

After lunch, Marit and I went to the bog to retrieve a dead Black-legged Kittiwake that Frida and I had found two days ago. We labeled it with the species name, date, and precise coordinates before placing it in the freezer for Levi. He will be studying the stomach contents of stranded seabirds for his bachelor’s thesis.

In the evening, we enjoyed a delicious leek quiche that Hanelie had prepared.

With a promising weather forecast ahead, we made our way to bed, looking forward to another beautiful day tomorrow.

People at the station: Hanelie, Karen, Marit, Joseph

An update on yesterday’s nighttour: There were many visitors that came to the tour and showed a lot of interest in birds and nature. We had several stopps and saw Red deer “Krondyr” and looked at the planets: Jupiter with its two moons, Venus and Mars. It was a beautiful night sky and we were very lucky with the weather.

First stop of the night tour. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

In the morning, Lise and I were the first who got up to open the nets. Lise was here at the Bird observatory for a short period last autumn. Now she has received her X-licence and was very much looking forward to the ringing day. It was a nice morning with nice company. But the birds did not play along. Lise and I walked rounds and rounds, checking the empty nets. Now we need Blackbird “Solsort” no. 90, I said to Lise at some point. All the last days I had this 2k male Blackbird “Solsort” at the Kratett nets. And no. 90 did us the pleasure. It was the first bird that we found in a net – at Kratett of course. So Lise could practice holding the bird. Next round, an adult followed the example of no. 90, which did not have a ring yet. We could see the difference between a 2k bird with a moult limit and an 3K+ with just one generation of feathers. We also looked at the different feather groups and discussed where to look for the moult limit. There were no more birds until closing time, so we just had a nice lunch and then it was time for Lise to leave back to Aarhus.

Todays ringing totals:

Blackbird/ Solsort: 1/1

It was a big farewell day, also Frida left to back to Copenhagen today, but both promised to be back at some point in spring, we are already looking forward to it.

Henrik again was the first at the Obs this morning. There was quite a good number of Gannets “Sule” today but the highlight was definitely a Yellow-legged Gull “Middelshavs-sølvmåge” that he found! He also took great pictures of the bird. Apart from the Marsh Tit “Sumpmejse”, which is a rarity at Blåvandshuk on a very local scale, this is the rarest bird that was found a Blåvandshuk this year. Congrads to Henrik!

Todays obserbations at Blåvandshuk can be seen here.

3K Yellow-legged Gull/ Middelshavs-sølvmåge, pictures by Henrik Böhmer

In the afternoon, John Frikke and Annete came to the Bird Observatory. Nationalpark Vadehavet, Johns working place, is very much involved in the Little Tern “Dværgterne” project, as the breeding sites of the terns are in the National park. So John and Joseph did some planning for the project and I benefited from it by learning a little more about the National Park and eating some delicious cake with them. Mange tak!

Karen enjoyed the birds at the beach most of the day and took some great pictures, as of these Sanderlings "Sandløber". Picture: Karen Koefoed.

At the station: Henrik Böhmer, Lise Manstrup, Hanelie Sidhu, Karen Koefoed, Joseph Stephan and Frida