The arrival of Mrs. Munk

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