Ørnevåge dag

There's a saying in English that 'lightening never strikes twice', today however such prophesies were swept aside when a call from exasperated birders on the tip announced the presence of a second Long-legged Buzzard (Ørnevåge). The bird was much darker than it's counterpart, which migrated midweek. Staff at the obs missed the bird as it turned and returned North before anybody could get onto it, if you're in Gedser or the surrounding area in the next few days, be aware that this bird will probably attempt to migrate again and hopefully it will be picked up along the way.

Ørnevåge, Buteo rufinus 2K+ © Gert Jeppesen

Ørnevåge, Buteo rufinus 2K+ © Gert Jeppesen

Ørnevåge, Buteo rufinus 2K+ © Gert Jeppesen

Ørnevåge, Buteo rufinus 2K+ © Gert Jeppesen

Ørnevåge, Buteo rufinus 2K+ © Gert Jeppesen

Other than the flurry of excitement mid-afternoon, ringing was fairly standard for an August morning with a notable catch of Lesser whitethroat and Willow warbler. Totals for the morning were as follows:

Thrush Nightingale (Nattergal) - 1
Redstart (Rødstjert) - 1
Marsh Warbler (Kærsanger) - 1
Lesser Whitethroat (Gærdesanger) - 28
Whitethroat (Tornsanger) - 8
Garden Warbler (Havesanger) - 4
Willow Warbler (Løvsanger) - 19
Great Tit (Musvit) - 1
Short-toed Treecreeper (Korttået Træløber) - 1
Red-backed Shrike (Rødrygget Tornskad) - 1
Tree Sparrow (Skovspurv) - 2
Linnet (Tornirisk) 1

Total of 68 new birds.

On the tip there was little in the way of passage migrants. 85 Common Tern (Fjordterne) and 63 Arctic Tern (Havterne) were the highest counts of the afternoon with lesser numbers of Black Tern (Sortterne) 10 and Little Gull (Dværgemåge) 4. 7 Marsh Harrier, 7 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Buzzards, a Honey Buzzard and 3 White-tailed eagles rested around the area today and were reluctant to migrate. An Arctic Skua was a sign of things to come as their passage will take place over the coming weeks. Also worth looking out for is the Long-tailed Skuas which will also pass Gedser in the coming weeks.

In the evening Jon Kennedy arrived from Copenhagen to help with the ringing in the coming days.