We expected that now, in April, every day will be warmer than the previous one. This spring seems to be trying to surprise us however. When we walked out of the house at 5 am, we felt even colder than yesterday. It got warmer only after 10, when all the clouds have passed and let the Sun heat the Earth with its rays. But yet I must confess that I did not have to embrace much of this morning’s coldness, as right after the first round we had so many birds that I was sitting in the lab ringing them, and was receiving new waves of bags every half an hour. I also need to write that I am very proud of Agata, who was bravely extracting all the Robins and Chiffchaffs in temperature that low.
Of course, species mentioned above were not the only ones that we caught today. We even consider some of the birds as little highlights of this Easter. First of them was the Great Spotted Woodpecker that I got to ring (it was my first one in Denmark), although it was much more difficult to age precisely than all the ones I have seen before.
Not only the Woodpecker was problematic today, as we also had to think for a longer while on the Yellowhammer, Great Tit (yes, they can be completely not obvious sometimes) and a Lesser Whitethroat (as we haven’t held them in hand for quite a long time now). The latter was also the second highlight by the way, because it was the first one caught in Gedser this year.
All the doubts that we have during identification only confirm our conviction that it is exceedingly good to have other ringers around. I think we are learning so much everyday and the experience that we will carry with us after the stay here is priceless.
Besides ringing activities, we still admire general living and just being here. When our job for today was done, we could sit outside in the bright sunlight and enjoy very tasty (and sooo sweet) Æblekage with whipped cream.
In the afternoon we were joined by Signe and Philip, who will help Susanne during next week, when me and Agata will already be in Blåvand. Soon after their arrival we went to the shore for one of our last (for now!) birdwatching experiences in Gedser and finally we managed to see seals through the telescope! Moreover, when we were standing there and searching the Sea, Philip sighted (and obviously showed us) a House Martin and a Sand Martin, what combined with a Barn Swallow that we saw earlier above the Fuglestation, lets us say that we saw all three species of swallows in one day!
Like always here, that was a good day.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker. Female. Beautiful. Photo: Benjamin Bechgaard Lisse

Lesser Whitethroat, the first one this season, harbringer of a warm spring (hopefuly). Photo: Susanne Primdahl

People at the station: Agata Balicka, Maciej Wozniak, Susanne Primdahl, Benjamin Bechgaard Lisse, Signe Agermose, Philip Elbek.

Complete list of birds caught today (ringed/recaptured):
Stor Flagspætte / Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1/0
Gærdesmutte / Wren: 4/2
Jernspurv / Dunnock: 7/0
Rødhals / Robin: 12/13
Rødstjert / Common Redstart: 3/0
Solsort / Blackbird: 1/0
Sangdrossel / Song Thrush: 2/0
Gærdesanger / Lesser Whitethroat: 1/0
Munk / Blackcap: 4/0
Gransanger / Chiffchaff: 18/0
Rødtoppet Fuglekonge: 3/0
Musvit / Great Tit: 0/1
Bogfinke / Chaffinch: 2/0
Grønirisk / Greenfinch: 1/0
Tornirisk / Linnet: 0/1
Gulspurv / Yellowhammer: 1/0

Total: 60/17