Ringmærkning:

Ganske som i går var det en dag med en tilpas mængde fugle.

Om aftenen havde vi et arrangemetn med temaet "Nat i natuen". Eftermiddagen blev brugt på at checke om data er blevet lagt korrekt i vores databasen. Så alt i alt blev det en lang travl dag.

Vi lader derfor tabellen nedenfor fortælle resten om dagens mærkning.

Trækket på Odden:

by Lara W

The day began with a sky full of pinks, golds, and washed-out blues as the sun rose above the waves, rounded clouds tinted with light as the dawn broke. A total of 4442 individual birds of 42 species were counted during standard time. A great many Barnacle geese/Bramgæs periodically arose in long lines, swarming the inland horizon with honks and the whistling of wings, as they flew from one foraging area to another. Throughout the morning, we were treated to a flurry of activity from the raptors passing south, with 93 Rough-Legged Buzzard/Fjeldvåge, 64 Sparrowhawk/Spurvehøg, and 9 Common buzzard/Musvåge flying out over our heads and also coming out over Gedser harbour. A White-tailed Eagle/Havørn was spotted lazily gliding out over the sea, passing round the point and disappearing off to the small sandy island to the west, most likely on a foraging trip, his wing tips dipping in and out of the early morning haze.

Dawn over Gedser Odde, photo credit: Lara Winsloe

Flocks of seabirds were somewhat fewer than on previous days, with 1376 Common Eider/Ederfugl, 493 Wigeon/Pibeand, and 145 White-fronted goose/Blisgås counted. Interspersed between these flocks, and often intermingled, were 13 Tufted duck/Troldand, 6 Scaup/Bjergand, and 3 Goldeneye/Hvinand. Around midmorning, a majestic adult Gannet/Sule flew across the horizon, strong and sure wingbeats carrying him swiftly onwards.

After standard time ended, a few of us stayed to watch the migration continue into the afternoon, although I will admit I spent more time reading than birding! A report had come from Sandhammaren, Sweden, of an eclipse male King Eider/Kongeederfugl which had passed them at approximately 1030 this morning, and we were hopeful of catching a glimpse. We were in luck. After scanning carefully each Eider flock, at 14:58, a bird matching this description appeared, to our hoots of joy. The distinctively large bill with prominent orange knob at the base was a dead giveaway, a wonderful sight! Given the time this bird was originally spotted in Sweden (if it was indeed, the same individual), it means he flew at least 170km in just under 4.5 hours, quite a feat!  A male in full breeding plumage was also reported passing Sweden in the last couple days, so perhaps we will spot him in the days to come.

People at the station: Lara Winsloe, Larissa Britton, Susanne Primdahl, Rie Birkelund Elgaard Jensen, Søren Mygind, Ole Friis Larsen.