Ringmærkningen: Despite the strong easterly wind, which is really bad for us, there was some activity in the garden. We managed to ring 34 birds and recapture 17, bringing the total number of 51 birds and 11 species . Not to bad for Anne's first morning, that as arrived yesterday. It was a double redstart day, with the second Black redstart (Husrødstjert) of the season (a different one to the friendly one at the tip !) and the first Common redstart (Rødstjert) of the season. It was a beautiful young male and could be the same one we saw in the garden two days ago. I really love seeing the long-distance migrants on their way back from Sub-Saharan Africa. It gives me a sense of humility and immense admiration to handle these second calendar birds that have already travelled thousands of kilometres.

Common redstart (Rødstjert) Foto : Théophile Fontaine

This morning was also marked by a good movement of finches over the garden, mostly Chaffinches (Bogfinke) and Bramblings (Kvaekerfinke), and in a mixed flock were my two first Wood larks (Hedelærke) of the year! Due to the low number of birds, I (Théo) even had time to go to the tip between two rounds to see how things were going at the tip, and it seems that they were doing well !

It was also a good day for increasing the Alba ringing list: she added three species this morning, the Redwing (Vindrossel), the Firecrest (Rødtoppet fuglekonge) and the Black redstart (Rødstjert). I hope it will continue this way for her !

Redwing (Vindrossel) Foto : Théophile Fontaine

It seems that it could rain a bit tomorrow, so we'll see if the first Willow Warbler (Løvsanger) or the first Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger) will be caught or if we have to wait a bit more...

Trækket på Odden: It was time for another morning at the tip. Mads rolled up on his bike, just as Cyann put down our little cart at the designated spot for the day. The clouds kept it a rather dark morning, with low visibility, but we were entertained by a large group of Common Scoter (Sortand) males courting a single female, and a Mute Swan (Knopsvane) sleeping peacefully right in front of us, and later going through its morning cleaning routine.

Sleeping Mute Swan (Knopsvane) through scope. Foto: Mathilde Sif Eiby / GFU

As it finally became light enough to have a clear view, began the several rounds of especially ducks, as well as some terns and gulls too. As it's only my second day migration counting ever, Mads and Cyann got to teach me how to recognise the 37 species of birds that came through, since I'm mainly used to identifying them swimming or sitting around. 

Spot of the day. Foto: Mathilde Sif Eiby / GFU

The ducks definitely became today's main characters:
There were a lot of Scaup (Bjergand), half black, half white. 
Then came the Teal (Krikand), which even though they gave name to the colour teal, just look grey in flight.
This still sounds like a Pokémon to me, but the Wigeon (Pibeand) came plentiful as well, with their big white wingpatch.
The elegant Pintail (Spidsand), with the dark head, the white neck, and the white line on the wings.
The Gadwall (Knarand) with just a white square in the back corner of the wing.
The Shovelers (Skeand) looking like distant releatives of the Eiders. 
The characteristically colorblocked Shelduck (Gravand).
And of course the Mallard (Gråand), the classic, but I hadn't noticed how striking the two wing stripes are before.

It was colder today, with no sun, but luckily only a slight drizzle in the last half hour. Foto: Mathilde Sif Eiby / GFU

We were also accompanied for a long time by a very friendly and curious young female Black Redstart (Husrødstjert) examining our stuff, looking at us from all angles, setting an example for how we wish more birds acted.

Female Black Redstart (Husrødstjert). Fotos: Mathilde Sif Eiby / GFU

Se alle dagens observationer ved Gedser Odde i DOFbasen.