Ringmærkningen: 

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.