Morning observations:

The migration was okay, it wasn’t as good as yesterday, but way better than the other days this week. The Little terns “Dvægterne” also came by to say hello again! Our highlight of the day was a Lapland bunting “Laplandsværling” and a Marsh harrier “Rørhøg”, which were really cool!

Todays observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

Anne and I met at 5.30 in the morning as the previous days to open one garden each. I went up to the lighthouse garden, but it was very windy up there. In the end, I left the nets closed, just checked the moths trap and went down again. Anne also left some of the nets closed but we still had 90 net meters. So it was a rather calm morning without a lot of walking. At nine, Anne left to meet her family today. For the last two rounds, Marit joined me after the morning obs.

There were mainly Chiffchaffs ”Gransanger” in the nets, but also a few Robins “Rødhals” and recaps of a Blackbird “Solsort” and a Dunnock “Jernspurv”.

One of todays Chiffchaffs "Gransanger". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

The moths:

Despite the wind, I had some moth in the traps, eight different species today plus one unidentified Agonopterix. One was new for me, it was Chesias rufata “Rustrød gyvelmåler”. It is also not such a common one so I was very happy about it.

Chesias rufata "Rustrød gyvelmåler". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Biston strataria “Broget vintermåler” was also a nice catch, always a nice species to see.

Biston strataria “Broget vintermåler. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

News of the station:

The rarity committee, which had a meeting at the bird observatory in the weekend left today. In the afternoon, Antonia and Frida arrived at the station, they will both stay with us until Thursday.

At the station: Thomas Kristensen, Marit Nillissen, Anne Hjortlund Hansen, David Manstrup, Hanelie Sidhu, Antonia, Joseph Stephan and Frida

Morning observations:

Then it finally happened – a really big migration day. We had a day with a lot of scoters "Sortand", probably around 10,000 individuals, and besides that, also a lot of Sandwich Terns "Splitterne". It was also a day when many species hit Blåvand, with Wryneck "Vendehals, Northern Wheatear "Stenpikker, and Willow Warbler "Løvsanger". And during the migration, we got the first Little Terns "Dværgterne" for Blåvand this year – a much-awaited species for us. And they even chose to take a break and feed a bit right in front of us, so we got to see them really well. After a day where we had almost worn down our click counter from counting all the migrating birds, we chose to join the last couple of ringing rounds, where there was also a good number of birds.

Today’s observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

There were a lot more birds singing this morning than in the days before when Anne and I opened the nets in the early morning hours. A good sign that today would be better than the days before. Which it was. We had twenty-five new birds today, and some were new for the season: We caught the first Willow Warbler “Lovsanger” and the first Redstart “Rødstjert”.

Willow Warbler "Løvsanger". Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

Redstart "Rødstjert". Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

Also the first new ringed Linnet “Tornirisk”. Marit and Thomas joined for some rounds after the morning obs and Thomas ringed his first bird, a Blackcap “Munk”.

The moths:  

Not many moth species today. I will show Orthosia gothica “Gotisk forårsugle”. The night is quite mild, so hope, there will be more tonight.

Orthosia gothica “Gotisk forårsugle”. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

At the station: Anne Hjortlund Hansen, Thomas Kristensen, Marit Nillissen, Joseph Stephan, David Manstrup, Hanelie Sidhu

Morning observations:

Gulls and Sandwich Tern "Splitterne" on a sandbank. Picture: Marit Nillissen

This morning, the weather looked good again. The visibility was good, so Thomas and I could luckily go to the morning observation! The migration was way better than the other days this week, we saw around 2000 Common scoters “Sortand”! The variety in species was also pretty good. We even saw a Short-eared owl “Mosehornugle” flying to the station’s garden! I was hoping it would fly into the nets, so Hanelie and Anne could ring it, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. During the morning observation, Hanelie and Anne had caught a Collared dove “Tyrkerdue” and asked me if I wanted to ring it and of course I wanted to. So I went down to the stations garden to ring the Collared dove. It was a new ringing species for me and the biggest bird I ever ringed.

Today’s observations can be seen here.

After the morning observation, Thomas and I had joined the ringing for the last two rounds, but no birds in the nets. But it was nice to have a walk through the gardens.

The ringing:

Today’s ringing meant walking a lot without catching many birds. Nevertheless, Marit got a new handspecies, which was another Collared Dove “Tyrkerdue”. She was observing today but we called her so she could also ring one. The other new bird was a blackbird. Today there was no highlight in the recaps.

Todays Collared Dove "Tyrkerdue". Picture: Marit Nillissen

The moths:

It was quite windy during the night, but I still caught some moths, although it was just three different species today.

Xylocampa areola/ Gedebladugle. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

(Bird-) news from Blåvand:

In the afternoon, Anne, Marit and I went to the opening of the new exhibition of the lighthouse museum for the 125^th anniversary of the lighthouse. Now there are some information plates, also about birds around the lighthouse.

In the afternoon, I went two the bog. It was rather quiet but I had a great highlight just before I wanted to go back: I saw four Ring-Ouzels “Ringdrossel”. After dinner, David also went to the bog to go birding in the last light and had a possible Bluethroat “Blåhals” singing! Would be great to have one of these in the nets!

At the station: Joseph Stephan, Marit Nillissen, Anne Hjortlund Hansen, Thomas Kristensen, Hanelie Sidhu, David Manstrup

The ringing:

Instead of sun, we were welcomed by another foggy morning. Which meant that the observers joined us in the ringing again today.

The way up to the lighthouse garden in the fog. Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

There was nearly no wind but also very few birds flying in this weather. We got 4 new and 8 recaptures. The first Linnet “Tornirisk” of the year went into the net, it was a recapture that was ringed in spring 2024 as 2k+, but no matter if it was a 2k or a 3k+ last spring, it is now at least in its 3^rd calender year, and we aged it correctly as 3k+. It was a pretty female.

Linnet female/ Tornirisk hun. Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

When it had cleared up a little bit, Thomas went to the beach and did a count of the roosting birds, but the visibility was still not good and there were not many birds.

Todays observations can be seen here.

The bottom line of one net broke today, maybe the cute hare that I saw sitting next to my moth trap yesterday evening, ran into it. Else the net was fine, so I spent some time in the afternoon exchanging the bottom line, now the net looks as good as new.

 The moths:

Earophila badiata "Brungul bladmåler". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

I had many moths, but mainly of the same species and no new for the season today. Phyllodesma iliciflolia “Hede-takspinder” sat on the trap again this morning, I put it in a tree in the station garden yesterday and it went up to the light in the lighthouse garden again. I guess it is the same as it is not so common. Today, I walked a bit further with it and put it in a tree in the bog to give it the chance to go back to nature and not be at the light again tonight. I always collect the moths from the trap and walls and put them in a bush a bit away from the trap, so they can go back to nature.

At the station: Thomas Kristensen, Marit Nillissen, Joseph Stephan, Anne Hjortlund Hansen and Hanelie Sidhu

Morning observations:

Today, Marit and I were fortunately able to carry out the observation in decent weather, with fine visibility and a few degrees above freezing from early morning. However, the improved weather didn't bring along many birds. Just like the past few days, it was very quiet bird-wise, and most of the migration happened far out over the sea. Apart from a few white wagtails “Hvid vipstjert” and barn swallows “Landsvale” passing through, it was hard to tell that spring migration was underway. So we're hoping that the migration picks up soon.
Throughout most of the observation, we had a pair of red-breasted mergansers "Toppet skallesluger" resting just off our position, close to the beach. And in the absence of birds, we could at least enjoy the large number of seals – both in the water and out on the sandbanks.

Todays observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

Another day with northwesterly winds, they are quite a killer for us here in Blåvand in spring.

Anne and I walked a lot and had very few birds – the good thing about that was, that we could enjoy the fire in the house, that Joseph had made. In the first round we caught a beautiful Redwing ”Vindrossel”, that got a ring, later, when Marit and Thomas had finished the morning obs and joined us for some rounds, we had a new Robin ”Rødhals”.

The beautiful underwing of the Redwing "Vindrossel". Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

Otherwise just recaps. But one of the recaps, a beautiful Dunnock "Jernspurv", that we aged as 3K+ turned into a reason to celebrate later in the day, when I entered the data. Because I found out that Anne had called this bird when she was here in summer 2023! By then, it was a 1K, and Anne even found a picture of exactly this Dunnock "Jernspurv" in full juvenile plumage!

The moths:

I have seven different moths species at teh wall and in the trap today. One of them was new for the season and also new for me, it is a not common one: Phyllodesma ilicifolia "Hede-takspinder". There is a quite similar one, Phyllodesma tremulifolia, but it is usually more orange brown while ilicifolia is brown with gray-brown edges. The fringe of the wing is usually less contrasting to the color of the rest of the wing in tremulifolia than in ilicifolia. After some research I also found out, that tremulifolia appears more in southern European countries, while ilicifolia is found in the north. Nevertheless, on a European scale tremulifolia is doing better than ilicifolia. Phyllodesma ilicifolia ”Hede-takspinder” is a pretty moth, and we were all happy to see it.

Phyllodesma ilicifolia "Hede-takspinder". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu 

In the afternoon I wanted to see some more birds than we did in the morning and checked Reginevej. There was nothing out of the ordinary so I continued on my bike to Grønningen.

Landscape at Grønningen. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

I ckecked the horse fields, there were quite some White Wagtails ”Hvid vipsjert” and I found one Pied Wagtail ”Sortrygget hvid vipstjert”, the British subspecies yarelli, among them. This was nice, I continued a bit and saw a flock of about 80 Golden Plovers ”Hjeile” together with some Starlings ”Stær”. I was content with my trip and headed back to the station. On the road not far from the house I found a Starling "Starling", a car had driven over it. It was a ringed one and I didn't need to go back long in the archive to see that I had ringed it on the 20 ^th of March this year. That is quite sad, we had one great and one sad recap today... Let's see what tomorrow brings.

At the station: Thomas Kristensen, Marit Nillissen, Anne Hjortlund Hansen, Joseph Stephan and Hanelie Sidhu

The ringing:

When we woke up this morning, Blåvandshuk was covered in fog. Anne and I opened the nets and went back to the house for breakfast until it was time for the first round. In the meantime, Thomas had arrived at the station and Marit had come down, prepared for the morning obs. But it did not look like they would see much of the sea, the visibility was very bad. So they also joined the ringing today. We were many people for not so many birds, but at least there were more birds than people. We ringed bird no. 500 for the season today, which was a Dunnock “Jernspurv”. That fits quite well as it is also the bird caught most this year, 111 Dunnocks “Jernspurv” in 2025 so far.

Bird no. 500 for the season: A Dunnock "Jernspurv". Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

Anne did not choose the days with the most birds as her first days at the station this year. Nevertheless, she had something to celebrate, in the last round we caught a Collared Dove “Tyrkerdue” in the station garden, it was a new hand-species for her!

The Collared Dove "Tyrkerdue" and a part of the team. Picture: Joseph Stephan

Red eye of the Collared Dove "Tyrkerdue". Picture: Joseph Stephan

To celebrate it, she baked us a delicious and beautiful cake in the afternoon.

Cake and coffee. Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

The moths:

I had six different moths species today, and one that could not be surely identified on species level. It was mostly the same species as yesterday, but one was different, I caught Agriopis marginaria “Grågul frostmåler” today, I had it before this season but that is already a few days ago and I think it is a quite nice one.

Agriopis marginaria “Grågul frostmåler”. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

At the station: Marit Nillissen, Anne Hjortlund Hansen, Thomas Kristensen, Joseph Stephan and Hanelie Sidhu

Morning observations:

Thomas at the morning obs. Picture: Marit Nillissen

Thomas joined me today for the morning observation! I was hoping that the morning observation was going to be more interesting then it was yesterday. But unfortunately, it was even more quiet. But, in the last hour of the observation, we saw a pretty big flock of Velvet scoters “Fløjlsand”. A flock of 30 ducks were migrating south which was so nice! Usually we only see two or three of these species, so this was a nice surprise. We also saw again quit some Sandwich terns “Splitterne”, it looks like everyday will be more.

Todays observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

I had company in the ringing today by Anne, who arrived at the station yesterday evening and who is taking a three weeks break from her studies in Copenhagen to stay with us at the Bird Observatory! The ringing experience can just improove in these three weeks, today it was prettz slow, we had three new birds in five hours. The notheasterly wind had changed to northwest in the morning and it was a little more windy. But tomorrw looks better, so let´s hope for some more birds in the nets.

Songthrush "Sangdrossel". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

The moths:

It was six different species of moths in the traps this morninig. No new for me and no new one for the season. But there can´t be every day...

I will show Alucita hexadactyla "Kaprifoliefjermøl" in the blog, a small moths which I think is actually quite pretty, as it looks like its wings are set together of feathers.

Alucita hexadactyla "Kaprifoliefjermøl". Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Bird news from other parts of the country:

 At 16:09 a White-tailed Eagle ”Havørn” chick hatched at the Fugleværnsfondens reservat in Saksfjed-Hyllekrog. It is possible to watch the chick and its parents on the nest 24 hours a day live on ØrneTV. This was our evening TV for today and we got some quite nice vies on the chick and the patents.

White-tailed Eagle ”Havørn” chick hatched at the Fugleværnsfondens reservat in Saksfjed-Hyllekrog. Pictures: Ørne TV

It is worth to have a look at it! We wish the young White-tailed Eagle ”Havørn” and its patents the best luck!

At the station: Thomas Kristensen, Anne Hjortlund Hansen, Marit Nillissen, Joseph Stephan and Hanelie Sidhu

Morning observations:

It was a very quiet morning again today. Even more quiet than it was yesterday. Andreas and Bjørn joined me again at the observation which was nice! Our highlight of the day was 6 Common terns “Fjordterne” migrating! Other than that, it wasn’t that crazy. Tomorrow, Thomas will join me at the morning observation. He will be joining us for almost everyday for the morning observations. Hopefully tomorrow will be better with the migration.

Todays observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

Cold air, that I did not expect awaited me when I went out to open the nets today. Early in the morning, it was minus degrees again. Luckily, the sun was out very soon and heated all up.

First, it was still northeasterly winds, that turned more to east in the late morning. This did not seem to have helped birds with migration, I got 14 new today and 10 recaptures of the last days.

My highlight was a beautiful 2k+ male Yellowhammer “Gulspurv”, that was in the net without ring.

Yellowhammer, male/ Gulspurv, han. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

The moths:

Although it had been cold, I had again nine different moth species. Just one was new for the season, Gymnoscelis rufasciata “Rødbandet dværgmåler”. However, it is not a new one for me. Nevertheless, very nice to find it on the wall today. It is a species that can be found every moth of the year, although it flies mainly from March to October, so it is a good one to remember!

Gymnoscelis rufasciata “Rødbandet dværgmåler”. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Little Tern project:

Joseph came back to the station early in the evening today, after they have put up the Little Tern “Dværgterne” fence at Rømø. It is an even larger fence than the one here, so it was quite some work. But now just  one more fence is left, the one on Fanø, which they will put up next weekend.

Bjørn and Andreas left the staion after the morning obs, they had a great journey home with Pallid Harrier "Steppehøg" and Black Kite "Sort Glente", we would wish that they bring these species with them to Blåvand next time they visit!

At the station: Marit Nillissen, Hanelie Sidhu, Bjørn Frikke, Andreas Pedersen, Joseph Stephan

Owl trip and morning observations:

Yesterday I went with Bjørn, Andreas and Joseph to go listen to Tengmalm´s owl’s. We actually got pretty close so we could hear it very good! We got home at around 23:50, so I went to bed immediately, because I had to wake up early again for the morning observation.

The morning observation was very quiet. There was not much migration going on and it was a bit chilly outside. At the beginning of the observation, I saw a hare which got pretty close to me. After around 30 minutes, Bjørn and Andreas joined me at the observation. It was good to have some company! Our highlight of the morning was two Green sandpipers “Svaleklire”. They were resting around our observation post.

Todays observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

When I went out to open the nets in the morning, it was 2 degrees and low wind from northeast. It was still a morning with very nice weather at Blåvandshuk, but not as nice and warm as yesterday and later in the morning, the wind picked up a little to 7,7 meters per second at closing time.

I did not have many birds in this weather, ten new and nine recaptures. I was happy about another male Blackcap “Munk” in the 07:45 round. Two hour later, I had the first female Blackcap “Munk” in hand. It was definitely my highlight of today´s ringing. Usually in spring, it is the males that arrive first at their breeding grounds to occupy the best breeding spots and the females are following. Now both have arrived here. The female had a collar of red juice, maybe she just had her breakfast before she went into the net, she was also weighting one gram more than the male, 17,4 grams.

Blackcap female/ Munk hun on the left. I chose this picture because you can see the collar of red juice, although I got sharper pictures of this bird. Blackcap male/ Munk han on the right. Pictures: Hanelie Sidhu

The morning went quite fast although there were not many birds as there was a lot of bread and people having breakfast at the station. Bjørn had brought the bread which is from too good to go yesterday evening, and it was very good. Breakfast company was Kim and John, who came to adjust the fence for the Little Terns “Dværgterne” together with Joseph.

The moths:

I did not have as many different moths species as the last two days, but it was still six species. The season has really started now! One species was new for me, Orthosia opima “Ligelinet forårsugle”. I will also show a picture of Diurnea fagella “Bøgeprydvinge”, I had it the day before yesterday but did not get such a good picture, but also think it is a very nice one.

Orthosia opima “Ligelinet forårsugle”. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Diurnea fagella “Bøgeprydvinge. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Little Tern project:

Joseph, Kim, John and Bjørn were adjusting the breeding fence for the Little Terns “Dværgterne” a bit today. Now there is a bit more space for people to walk between the sea and the fence and it is not in danger of flooding. Furthermore, they have put signs up to inform people about the breeding birds on the beach.

John and Kim at work. Picture: Joseph Stephan

Content with their work, Kim left with Joseph to Fanø because it is closer to Rømø, where they will put up a breeding fence for Little Terns “Dværgterne” tomorrow.

At the station: Joseph Stephan, Marit Nillissen, Hanelie Sidhu, Andreas Pedersen, Bjørn Frikke, Kim Fischer and John Frikke

A beautiful sunrise over the bog today. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Morning observations:

Today was a very nice morning at the observation. I did saw quite of lot of Sandwich terns “Splitterne” again. It looks like there are coming more of these each day. Other than that, the morning observation was not really different form other mornings. But it was still a nice morning!

Todays observations can be seen here.

After the morning observation, Joseph and I joined Hanelie with the ringing! I ringed a Song thrush “Sangdrossel”, a Robin “Rødhals”, Chiffchaff “Gransanger” and a Great tit “Musvit”. It was a really nice day!

The ringing:

Equipped with a bag of freshly washed bird bags – I had washed them yesterday – I started the first round this morning at 06:45 after I had opened all nets and looked at some moths and ate a little breakfast between opening time and first round.

Every round I had some, but not many birds. At 08:30 I woke up Joseph from his dreams, who had enjoyed some more sleep today, because I had a Starling “Stær” in the net, a species that he did not see in hand before and they are really beautiful to see from very close. We wanted to take a nice picture in the sun, so you could see all the beautiful shimmering colors of its plumage. The Starling “Stær” commented this with loud screaming, it can be a very noisy bird in hand. But we managed to get a star picture of it. As a reward, it got released and joined two other Starlings right away and we could watch them sitting on the tops of three trees, until they took off again.

Starling "Stær". Picture: Joseph Stephan

Joseph was also amazed of a beautiful 3k+ male Chaffinch “Bogfinke”, that I showed him through the window, so I decided to put a picture of it in the blog.

Chaffinch male/ Bogfinke, han. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Nets were open two more hours after standard time, there were still some birds and Marit and Joseph wanted to join on some rounds. We had two late flying Songthrushes “Sangdrossel”, usually I just get them in the nets in the first two rounds, so both Marit and Joseph could ring one.

The moths

I had nine moth species today and when I checked yesterday evening before going to bed. Besides many Xylocampa areola “Gedeblad-ugle” I also had many Cerastis rubricosa “Okkerrød Aprilugle” today. There was one new species for me, which was Orthosia cerasi “Rødgul forårsugle” and I was happy about Biston strataria “Broget vintermåler”, which was a bit hidden under the small windowsill of the lab window. It is a very beautiful moth, I think.

Orthosia cerasi “Rødgul forårsugle”. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Biston strataria “Broget vintermåler”. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

There was also one caterpillar of Xestia xantographa “Gulmærket glansugle” next to the trap. I think they might also be attracted to the light, but usually don´t come, as they are not that mobile as the adult moths of course, without wings.

News from the station:

Bjørn and Andreas arrived for a spontaneous visit for the weekend at the station, it was a nice surprise to see them again. Now they went out to a plantation with Marit and Joseph to listen to Tengmalm´s owls and I heard they were successful!

I decided to stay here, there was still data to enter and to get some more sleep, tomorrow will be an early morning with good weather again.

At the station: Joseph Stephan, Marit Nillissen, Andreas Pedersen, Bjørn Frikke, Hanelie Sidhu