The ringing:

A good first round with Blackbirds “Solsort” and Wrens “Gærdesmutte” but we needed to close before the end of standard time because of a big rainfront, that brought us rain for the rest of the day.

In the evening, we had a cozy dinner together with all our guests.

The moth:

It was a good night for moth and I got a new species, that I was waiting for long: Alucita hexadactyla “Kaprifoliefjermøl”. It is a beautiful small moth, that flies the whole year, but most observations are reported on Arter in May and August. I was not expecting it that late in the year, so it was a very welcome surprise.

Alucita hexadactyla “Kaprifoliefjermøl”

At the station: Chung-Chi, Louis, Hanelie and 5 guests.

The ringing:

Blåvand went to sleep in fog yesterday evening and woke up in fog this morning. The good thing was, that the wind yesterday night and today was very low, and the wind can sometimes be a big enemy for ringing, of course, we need it to get birds, but often in the last days, it was a bit strong. So today very low wind that was not a problem at all for the nets. We had quite some Blackbirds “Solsort”. Tomorrow a little more wind, but pretty much the same, but later this night, it will clear up, let´s see if that will bring something.

Blackbird "Solsort"

The moth:

Finally, a night with very low to no wind, and some moisture in the air, that can be quite good for getting moth. Hopefully, I went two times in the evening to check both traps, there were moth, rather common ones though, but I got more species than the last nights, so it is finally worth again to make a list. The most abundant species was Phlogophora meticulosa “Agatugle”. In the morning, I found another water beetle in my trap in the lighthouse garden. It was Rhantus suturalis “Marmorvandkalv”.

Rhantus suturalis “Marmorvandkalv”

Observations:

En morgen med ret dårlig sigt, generelt meget fugtigt vejr, og ret få fugle..

De trofaste Sortænder gjorde at man ikke faldt i søvn.. og den første time kom der faktisk også en del Rødstrubede lommer..

Der var lige en en halv time hvor der kom over 200 Grønsiskener, men det gik i stå lige så hurtigt igen..

Ellers kom 2 Gråstrubede Lappedykkere, og en flok på 7 Bjergænder..

Eller var det meget stille den sidste time, og der kom meget tæt på ingen fugle..

Om aftenen var der gættefugle quiz på blåvandgård med DOFUng, da det var sidste aften de er i området..

At the station: Louis, Chung-Chi, Hanelie and 6 guests.

Observations:

En dag som på mange måder lignede igår.. vinden var stadig i sø og omkring 10 m/s.

..bare lidt færre overraskelser ..men en fin dag alligevel…

Det blev en fin morgen for bla. Sortand, med over 4700.

Igen kom der en fin portion Grønsiskener i første del af morgenen, men igen gik det lidt død senere på morgenen.

Om aftenen var jeg efter et meget langt twitch af en Fuglekongesanger som blev fundet inde i byen, blandt andet til felttræf oplæg af Mads og Tina Elley om fuglekigning i Senegal, på Blåvandgård hvor DOFUng holder til.

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No ringing today (and no moths).  We checked nets in both gardens, but the nets were too exposed. Instead, Chung-Chi used the time to explore the area, and I went for morning observations. Later, Karen and I went on a birding trip to Nyeng. We did not see the Olive-backed Pipit “Taiga-Piper” but Brent Geese “Knortegås”, many Golden Plovers “Hjeile”, Curlews “Storspove” Dunlins “Almindelig Ryle”, Oystercatchers “Strandskade” and Pintails “Spidsand” and Lapwings “Vibe” as well as some Red-breasted Mergensers “ Toppet Skalleslugger”.

In the late evening, a Pallas´s Leaf Warbler “Fuglekongesanger” was seen in Blåvand.

This night looks a little better for moth and tomorrow better for birds because of the low winds, so let´s hope for something good.

A Slow Worm "Stålorm", that Chung-Chi found today.

At the station: Louis, Chung-Chi, Hanelie and 5 guests.

The ringing:

This morning was quite windy. It was too much to open nets in the lighthouse garden, but the station garden was more sheltered, so we could open most nets down at the house. Torben joined us again from the first round on. We did not get many birds, but in the 9.30 round, Chung-Chi took a Firecrest “Rødtoppet Fuglekonge” out of the net. I announced the bird on zello and a lot of birders came to see it. We needed to close at 11 though, as the wind had picked up.

Firecrest "Rødtoppet Fuglekonge"

The moths:

Yesterday evening, I checked the trap down at the house and found two moths: Chesias legatella “Stor gyvelmåler” and Thera britannica/ variata. Nothing in the morning.'

Observations:

En relativt kraftig vind blæste fra sø denne morgen, tiltagende i løbet af morgenen og endte på over 12 m/s i slutningen af standardtiden, SØ vind plejer at være fint til specielt småfugle, hvilket det også mest blev til i dag, blandet med lidt gæs. Men 12 m/s er måske lige i overkanten, men det gik alligevel hen og blev en godkendt dag på hukket..

Sølvhejre / Foto: kommer…

Specielt på grund af én flok af Sølvhejre Og ikke bare 2 som vi faktisk også havde tidligere på morgenen, men én flok på hele 27, som kom flyvende sammen langsomt mod syd. Normalt er Sølvhejre lokalt semi sjælden på hukket, så en flok på 27 og dagstotal på 29 er vildt på hukket! Det er altid vildt fedt at se “store” flokke af Sølvhejre (hejre generelt hvis man spørger mig) på træk, og noget af en overaskelse her på hukket..

Udover hejre, kom der lidt gæs, flest Grågæs, derefter Bramgæs, men også bla. en Tundrasædgås, som er ret usædvanlig på hukket.

Småfuglene var der lidt gang i ..i perioder, specielt Grønsisken toppede lige midt på morgenen men faldt hurtigt i antal igen, to gode håndfulde Bjergvipstjerter og en Snespurv.

Det eneste der toppede sølvhejrene (for mig ihvertflad, og nok ingen andre) var 17 Dværgmåger, som bare er så vanvittig fede….

At the station: Louis, Chung-Chi, Torben, Hanelie and 4 guests.

The ringing:

It was a good first round today, I was joined by Chung-Chi, who arrived yesterday evening after a long travel from Taiwan and will stay here until the end of the season. Torben from Germany, who is on holiday in Blåvand but would like to stay here another time for ringing joined as well. After all birds from first round were ringed, we went down to the station garden. And were surprised by a net with about 40 finches!!! A big flock of finches, mainly Bramblings “Kvækerfinke” and Siskins “Grønsisken” and some Chaffinches “Bogfinke” went down in the garden and got caught. I counted, and it was 68 birds in that one round. After it got rather calm again. From 10 on, Jonas had a ringing tour again, but he stayed mostly in the stations garden while we stayed in the lighthouse garden, it was still good with birds. After standard Bent came with some friends to show them the ringing. There were some birds to show, but not so many, and we closed soon.

Not often in the nets: A Stonechat "Sortstrubet Bynkefugl"

The moth:

A busy day with birds, but a very slow day for moth, I found just one when I checked the traps yesterday evening, it was Thera Britannica “Ædelgranmåler”. This morning, the traps were empty. Although it is getting late in the year, it could be more moths in better weather conditions with less wind. But I take what I get and in the few ones I have had here, I had still some new species.

Thera Britannica “Ædelgranmåler”

At the station: Chung-Chi, Torben, David, Louis, Bent, Jonas, Hanelie and 6 guests

Ringing and moth:

Not so many birds today, but many visitors. Lise joined me again for the first round and Amanda came with a group of DOF ung birders for the second round. Unfortunately not so many birds after first round, but a nice Bullfinch “Dompap”, Robin “Rødhals” and Blackcap “Munk”. At 10.00 Jonas from the Nature school took over the ringing until 12, as he had a ringing tour. So I had a long break and then did the closing round together with Lise, she left Blåvand today but maybe we will see her at the station another time!

Brambling "Kvækerfinke", male in the closing round, foto by Lise 

I just caught one moth today, Autographa gamma “Gammaugle”, a very common moth, that you can also observe flying during the day, but its flight period is ending soon and I did not get it in the trap here in Blåvand jet.

Autographa gamma “Gammaugle”

At the station: Louis, David, Hanelie and 5 guests

Observations:

Endnu en blæsende, og regnende dag på hukket..

Det var lige før at der var flere mennesker end fugle på hukket, da det i dag var starten på uge 42 - felttræf, på et tidspunkt var vi 60 personer på hukket!

Det var ikke de helt store antal af fugle der kom, men det endte da alligevel med at blive en stabil nok dag ..selvom de ellers forventede havfugle igen udeblev lidt…

Over havet kom en del lommer, lidt specielt var det i dag at antallet af lommer tiltog i løbet af morgenen, og ikke aftog som vi ellers normalt ser.. Det var også en lom som skulle gå hen og blive dagens fugl på hukket ..en fed Islom som kom på en meget overkommelig afstand..

Islom / Foto: Louis Poulsen

Der kom også pænt med Sortænder, over 4000, og også lidt Pibeænder med 261 stks. ..ellers kom der også bla. en sjov Mosehornugle forbi ude over havet.

I småfugle afdelingen var der generelt ret stille, men der kom en god sjat Hedelærker og lidt Bjerglærker, som altid er super dejlige at høre og se..

Nogle af os blev siddende på hukket da vinden ifølge vejrguderne skulle tage til i løbet af eftermiddagen, hvilket kunne være fint til havfugle.. det var lidt stille, på trods af en enkelt kjove, og en ubestemt skråpe/havfugl, det var generelt meget dårlige obs-forhold på hukket sidst på middagen, og det var svært at holde teleskoperne stille.. Vores redning blev at militæret åbnede området tidlige end planlagt, og da det faldt sammen med at vinden for alvor tog til, skyndte vi os op i bunkeren i håb om at den kraftige vind ville smide noget af sig.. Lidt Stormmåger kom over stranden, 2 flotte gamle Dværgmåger, og 2 kjover, ellers var det lige til den stille side…

The ringing:

This morning, the weather was better than expected for a change. I did not get many birds, one good round, else it was slow. It did not feel like that though, because in the first rounds, I had company of Lise, who came to Blåvand for birdwatching with her father for a few days. If there are not so many birds, there is time to explain, which is also nice. But we also got a good round together, in with some Bullfinches “Dompap” in the nets.

Male and female Bullfinch "Dopmap", foto by Lise

Later in the morning, I walked through an empty station garden. There was a dark Thrush in a net, that was the only bird. It was a first calendar year male Ringouzel “Ringdrossel”. When I went up to the lighthouse garden, there were also just 2 birds, so there was enough time to show the bird.

Ringouzel "Ringdrossel", foto: Mads Elley

The moths:

I just got two moths today, but one was new for me: Ypsolopha ustella “Sideliniet møl”. There are not so many entries of that species in Arter and Naturbasn, but that is probably because it is a quite small and inconspicuous moth. I was happy about the new species though.

Ypsolopha ustella “Sideliniet møl”

In the afternoon, Karen and I made a trip to Tipmosen. It was nice, on the first part of our walk, we saw many Redwings “Vindrossel”, there were also quite many Robins “Rodhals” in the area and we saw a Hen Harrier “Blå Kærhøg” but my highlight was a Mistlethrush “Misteldrossel”. A very nice Thrush, would not mind to get that in the net as well. We also looked at the waders, the weather had already turned quite bad but many Curlews “Storspove”, Oystercatchers “Strandskade” and Dunlins “Almindelig Ryle” were nice.

Mistlethrush "Misteldrossel", foto: Karen Koefoed

Folk på stationen: Louis, Hanelie, David, +mange

Observations:

Blæsten fortsatte til morgen, men var dog gået i en meget sydlig retning hvilket ikke er optimalt for ihvertfald havfugle, og det blev det heller ikke rigtigt til, lige udover en Islom som kom flyvende mod nord fra sydhukket af, hvor den også blev set, og én enkelt Almindelig Kjove. …ellers var det meget stille over havet..

Der kom til gengæld, på trods af den ret kraftige vind, lidt småfugle hoppende mellem klitterne. Flest Engpibere med 637, og også en god sjat Bjergvipstjerter med 13 stks..

Efter obsen sagde vi farvel til Lorin, som har været har i 3 ugers tid, og har været en stor hjælp på obsen, vi har set en masse fede fugle, bla. forsøgt os med NocMig, og generelt haft en super sjov periode, så det var lidt vemodigt ..men forhåbenligt det blot er på gensyn…

Eftermiddag og aften tilbragte jeg på blåvandgård, hvor DOFUng har indfundet sig, og holder til i uge 42.

The ringing:

A new thing this morning was more new Blackbirds “Solsort” in the nets than the days before. There were many Thrushes in the air, but else, apart from one Songthrush “Sangdrossel”, they did not go down and into the nets. The weather was not perfect, light rain showers on and off, but it was possible to keep the nets open by walking constantly. Later, in the morning, the sun came out, but it started to get windy, and I needed to close the lighthouse garden. Down at the station I could keep most nets open, as they were more sheltered.

A Chaffinch "Bogfinke", that was nearly as agressive as the Bluetit "Blåmejse", that I took out of its bag after.

The moth:

Just three species today which I already had here before. It is less moth flying at that time of year an the wind does not help, but there are still some winter species to come, that will be new for me, so the lights will be kept on in the nights!

Pennithera firmata "Rød fyrremåler"

The Red Deer "Krondyr", after it left the parking of the bird observatory! But it came back later in the evening.

At the station: Louis, Lorin, Hanelie, David and 5 guests.

Observations:

Endnu en ret blæsende dag på hukket, og igen med øvelser i militær området det meste af dagen, sådan at vi ikke kunne gå i Sabinebunkeren.. ..så det blev en dag i "hullet" hvor der næsten var læ..

Der var fra start af ikke rigtigt så mange fugle, men der gik ikke længe før den første Sodfarvede Skråpe kom forbi mod nord, og i løbet af den næste time, kom 4 forbi på ret fornuftig afstand.

Senere på morgenen kom der i perioder også lidt småfugle, ikke særlig mange, men bla. 10 Hedelærker og én flok på 7 Bjerglærker.

Derudover var militæret igang med deres øvelser og der var kæmpe helikoptere overalt, og de landede ligefrem på mammut bunkeren på et tidspunkt.

Da vinden desværre aftog lidt midt på dagen, gik vi tilbage til stationen for at spise og luske lidt, da der næsten ikke skete noget over havet længere.. Vi fik også sagt farvel til Jonas som tog hjem i dag.

Men da vinden tog til igen og militær området og dermed også sabine bunkeren åbnede ved 15. tiden, tog vi op til denne og sad her indtil en god sjat efter solnedgang i håb om en stormsvale eller noget andet sjovt..

Det var ikke det helt vilde der skete generelt ..men de fugle som kom, kom tilgengæld virkelig godt..

Fløjlsand, som kom usædvanligt tæt på, i strandkanten / Foto: Louis Poulsen

Et par fede Dværgmåger kom også lige i strandkanten, og der kom et par små flokke af Stormmåger som blev tjekket godt igennem i håb om en Sabinemåge.

Dværgmåge, her en 1K fugl fra i år, med mørke tegninger på overvingen / Foto: Louis Poulsen

Sabinemåge blev det ikke til, men en anden overraskelse fik vi i form af en fed, fed Søkonge som kom drønende inde over stranden.

Søkonge / Foto: Louis Poulsen

Ringing and moth:

When my alarm woke me up, I heard heavy wind outside, so the nets needed to stay closed. Later in the morning, I went to check the moth traps and just found two moths: Xestia c-nigrum/ Det sorte c and Rhizedra lutosa/ Large Wainscot. Both species that I have had the nights before. But I noticed that the wind had dropped. Lorin called and confirmed that and told me that they saw many passerines at the sea watching spot. So I opened most nets in the stations garden and a few in the lighthouse garden. When I went out to do the first round, I met two ladies, with binoculars, who were looking for the best spot to watch birds. As they were also interested in the ringing, I invited them to follow me in the gardens first and we saw, that it had been a good idea to open, first I just found many Great Tits/ Musvit in the net, but when we continued, we saw many Brambings/ Kvækerfinke, that went down and had landed in the net. So my visitors got some birds in hand to see but unfortunately for me, the wind started to pick up again so I needed to close just after the second round. It looks like tomorrow, the wind will be a bit slighter, so I am hoping, I can keep the nets open for longer, as there are many passerines in the area.

Brambing/ Kvækerfinke

At the station: Louis, Lorin, Jonas, David, Hanelie and four guests.

Observations:

En meget blæsende morgen på hukket, vinden var i NNV det meste af morgenen/middagen, hvilket er lidt for meget N, det skal helst være mellem SV-NV for at være rigtigt godt til havfugle, og ydermere havde militæret træning i dag, og det var derfor ikke muligt at gå i sabinebunkeren. Så vi satte os i læ, eller vi prøvede ihvertfald at få læ, på vest siden af bunkeren på obs-klitten, det virkede nogenlunde…

Vi håbede selvfølgelig på lidt havfugle, selvom vinden ikke var helt perfekt, men de kom aldrig rigtigt udover 1 Almindelig Kjove, og en kjove sp. laangt ude.

Det blev til gengæld en fin dag for Rødstrubede lommer, med 105 stks. alene i første periode, og 431 i alt.

En ung Havørn kom tidligt forbi over stranden på meget nært hold, og fik alle mågerne på vingerne.

Aftenobs på hukket;)

Lorin og jeg tog en lille aften obs da vinden skulle gå en smule mere mod NV, men det blev ikke til det helt store, en del Stormmåger kom forbi, men ikke nogen deciderede havfugle i denne omgang..

Vi forsøgte os med at få et glimt af nordlys om aftenen, men skyerne besværliggjorde det en smule, men vi fandt en død Sortand og havde vældig meget sjov i den 15 m/s kraftige vind på stranden;)

Ringing:

When I opened the nets, I could already hear flight calls of Thrushes, Redwing “Vindrossel” and Songthrush “Sangdrossel” and Robins “Rødhals” calling in the bushes. That sounded like a promising day if the weather would have cooperated. It did not, which meant, that the second round was closing round because it started raining and the wind picked up a lot.  Nevertheless, it was not too bad considering the weather, I ringed 19 birds, 12 of them Robins “Rodhals”. The mayor of Varde commune visited today, and it was good timing because he could still see the last three birds being ringed: A Chaffinch “Bogfinke”, a Blackcap “Munk” and a Robin “Rødhals”.

Blackcap/ Munk

Moths:

It was the best day for catching moths since long. I got 12 species today. There were no new ones for me today, but I will show some pretty ones.

Palpita vitrealis/ Hvidt halvmøl

Rhizedra lutosa/ Stor sivugle

Folk på stationen: Louis, Lorin, Hanelie, David, Jonas, Bent, Henrik