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Waders on the move

søndag 4. juli 2021
af Samuel Perfect

A very quick blog post this time so I can squeeze in a few hours sleep before running through all the motions again.

In total 131 moths were trapped overnight involving 52 species. Highlights included 7 Silver Y (Gammaugle, Autographa gamma), dozens more were seen later in the day suggesting an upsurge in migrant moth activity, 2 Plutella xylostella, Yellow Shell (Okkergul Bladmåler, Camptogramma bilineata), Notocelia roborana (year tick) and Lobesia abscisana (year tick).

04.07.2021_Blavand_Denmark_226.JPG

Lobesia abscisana

The light southeasterly wind produced a rather decent passage of waders past the point, the commonest of which was Dunlin (Almindelig Ryle, Calidris alpina) totalling 332!

IMG_1366.JPG

A surprise Yellow-legged Gull (Middelhavssølvmåge, Larus michahellis) was also stood on the beach.

It was also a five tern species seawatch day, represented by: Common Tern (Fjordterne, Sterna hirundo), Arctic Tern (Havterne, Sterna paradisaea), Sandwich Tern (Splitterne, Thalasseus sandvicensis), Black Tern (Sortterne, Chlidonias niger), and Caspian Tern (Rovterne, Hydroprogne caspia)!

See the link below for a full account of this morning's observations.

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=04-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

In the afternoon I went for a bike ride to Tipmose to photograph some invertebrates and flowers, I have yet to go through all my pictures so here's a Common Toad (Skrubtudse, Bufo bufo) for your amusement for now...

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Common Toad (Skrubtudse, Bufo bufo)

Personnel: Samuel

2nd Manx of the year!

lørdag 3. juli 2021
af Samuel Perfect

A total of 156 moths of 48 species were trapped overnight. Highlights included year ticks in the form of Red-necked Footman (Blodnakke, Atolmis rubricollis), Flame (Brændeugle, Axylia putris), True Lover's Knot (Spættet Lyngugle, Lycophotia porphyrea), and Common Wave (Gulhvid Stregmåler, Cabera exanthemata).

RED-NECKED_FOOTMAN_03.07.2021_Blavand_Denmark_1.JPG

Red-necked Footman (Blodnakke, Atolmis rubricollis)

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A suprise Great Green Bush-cricket (Stor Grøn Løvgræshoppe, Tettigonia viridissima) was also lurking in the trap when I checked it at 4am!

The standardised seawatch was even quieter than yesterday although a Manx Shearwater (Almindelig Skråpe, Puffinus puffinus) shearing north at close range livened things up as it was only the second individual past Blåvands Huk this year! Additional noteworthy sightings included 17 Gannets (Sule, Morus bassanus), 140 Common Terns (Fjordterne, Sterna hirundo) mostly heading in a southbound direction, and an adult White-tailed Eagle (Havørn, Haliaeetus albicilla) perched on the beach perhaps looking for some food to scavange as it was in the same spot as a Red Fox (Rød Ræv, Vulpes vulpes) which was feeding on a washed up Harbour Porpoise (Marsvin, Phocoena phocoena) carcass the day before.

See the full account of this morning's seawatch in the link below.

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=03-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

Personnel: Samuel

Seawatch and moths

fredag 2. juli 2021
af Samuel Perfect

The moth trap was once again quite busy with 113 moths of 52 species trapped. Highlights included several firsts for the year in the form of Archer's Dart (Strand-Landmand, Agrotis vestigialis), Riband Wave (Vinkelstreget Løvmåler, Idaea aversata), Grey Pine Carpet (Grå Fyrremåler, Thera obeliscata), and Epiblema grandaevana.

ARCHERS_DART_02.07.2021_Blavand_Denmark_41.JPG

Archer's Dart (Strand-Landmand, Agrotis vestigialis)

As I was releasing the moths into the long grass I chanced upon this stunning male Sand Lizard (Markfirben, Lacerta agilis) perched at the top of some grass stems waiting for the sun to warm it. It remained motionless for half an hour allowing me to get some great photographic oportunities of it!

SAND_LIZARD_male_02.07.2021_Blavand_Denmark_119.JPG

SAND_LIZARD_male_02.07.2021_Blavand_Denmark_46.JPG

Sand Lizard (Markfirben, Lacerta agilis)

The morning's seawatch also produced a few noteworthy sightings including an adult Bar-tailed Godwit (Lille Kobbersneppe, Limosa lapponica), 44 Red-breasted Merganser (Toppet Skallesluger, Mergus serrator), 12 Red-throated Diver (Rødstrubet Lom, Gavia stellata), and a trickle of Common Scoter (Sortand, Melanitta nigra). On my return to the observatory, there was a smart male Redstart (Rødstjert, Phoenicurus phoenicurus) feeding in the car park!

Bent also dropped by today. His walk around the recording area produced some noteworthy sightings including Little Ringed Plover (Lille Præstekrave, Charadrius dubius), three Red-backed Shrike (Rødrygget tornskade, Lanius collurio) and seven Ringed Plover (Stor Præstekrave, Charadrius hiaticula) including a fully grown 1st calendar year individual which may not have been born on site.

See the link below for a full account of this morning's observations.

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=02-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

Personnel: Bent and Samuel

First standardised observation of the "Autumn"!

torsdag 1. juli 2021
af Samuel Perfect

The morning period was rather busy as I tried checking the moth trap very early in order to conduct the first standardised observation of the "autumn" from sunrise!

As it turns out the northeasterly wind produced the largest catch of the year to date with 176 moths of 60 species! Highlights included several firsts for the year in the form of: Bedstraw Hawkmoth (Snerresværmer, Hyles gallii), Silver-ground Carpet (Bakkebladmåler, Xanthorhoe montanata), Clouded-bordered Brindle (Rustugle, Apamea crenata), Dotted Fan-foot (Græs-Snudeugle, Macrochilo cribrumalis), Barred Straw (Citrongul Havemåler, Eulithis pyraliata), Donacaula mucronella, Glyphipterix thrasonella, and Archips podana.

BEDSTRAW_HAWKMOTH_01.07.2021_Blavand_Denmark_9.JPG

BEDSTRAW_HAWKMOTH_01.07.2021_Blavand_Denmark_12.JPG

Bedstraw Hawkmoth (Snerresværmer, Hyles gallii)

Glyphipterix_thrasonella_01.07.2021_Blavand_Denmark_18.JPG

Glyphipterix thrasonella

As alluded to earlier, immediately after checking the moth trap I headed down to the coast to conduct the first standardised observation of the "autumn", a favourable north easterly breeze greeted me and resulted in a fairly productive start to the season. Highlights included a single Little Ringed Plover (Lille Præstekrave, Charadrius dubius) flying north, 40 Red-breasted Merganser (Toppet Skallesluger, Mergus serrator), and a huge gathering of gulls stretching all the way from the Blåvand Horses in the south to well into the military area in the north.

See the link below for a full account of this morning's sightings.

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=01-07-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

The most unusual sighting of the day goes to a fully leucistic or albino Common Scoter (Sortand, Melanitta nigra) which flew south with a flock of 60 normal Common Scoters! Follow the link for a bit of shaky phone-scope fottage).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9Q_Le7JZKM

01.07.2021_Blavand_Denmark_2.JPG

A fully leucistic or albino Common Scoter (Sortand, Melanitta nigra) with a flock of normal Common Scoter

Personnel: Bent and Samuel.

Moths and gulls

onsdag 30. juni 2021
af Samuel Perfect

A quieter day following yesterday's escapades. Once again the moths took up much of the morning and included 83 mothsof 34 species. Although the totals were down on yesterday evening some noteworthy species were still caught including Shark (Grå Hætteugle, Cucullia umbratica), Elephant Hawkmoth (Dueurtsværmer, Deilephila elpenor), and Swallow Prominent (Poppelporcelænsspinder, Pheosia tremula).

30.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_8.JPG

Elephant Hawkmoth (Dueurtsværmer, Deilephila elpenor) with two Small Elephant Hawkmoths (Lille Vinsværmer, Deilephila porcellus)

There has been quite a lot of interest lately in the moth trap I have been using so just to inform readers exactly what I do I have built a wooden box with two pieces of perspex angled inwards at the top of the box (this design is known as a "Skinner" moth trap). I then placed a mercury vapour bulb over the box and distribute some egg cartons in and around the trap for the moths to perch on. It's then a simple matter of leaving out overnight and checking it early the following morning. It tends to take an hour or two to sift through the results in the morning, identify as many of the moths as possible, log them in an excel spreadsheet, and take some photos of a selection of the catch. Once all have been logged I release them back into the long grass and bushes unharmed ready for them to polinate, mate, and (in some cases) migrate the following evening.

29.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_25.JPG

My homemade "Skinner" Moth Trap

The forecasted rain held off longer than expected so a wander down to the beach was made to catch up with some gull activity in the hope of reading some colour rings. There were 1000's of gulls present but the task of reading rings was surprisingly tricky given their skittish behaviour. Perseverance finally allowed me to read a total of four Lesser Black-backed Gull (Sildemåge, Larus fuscus) colour rings and find a resting Caspian Tern (Rovterne, Hydroprogne caspia) in the process. I kept an eye on the sea in the meantime but very little seemed to be on the move. See the link below for a full account of this morning's sightings.

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=30-06-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

30.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_15.JPG

Caspian Tern (Rovterne, Hydroprogne caspia)

30.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_24.JPG

colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull (Sildemåge, Larus fuscus)

People: Samuel

Moths and field trip

tirsdag 29. juni 2021
af Samuel Perfect

The moth trap produced 108 moths of 48 species including the first Sand Dart (Kyst-Landmand, Agrotis ripae), Clay (Rusten Græsugle, Mythimna ferrago), Acleris bergmanniana, Anania hortulata, and Scoparia pyralella of the year.

SAND_DART_29.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_11.JPG

Sand Dart (Kyst-Landmand, Agrotis ripae)

As well as the year ticks, I am catching quite a few colourful species, although I tend to pay them less attention and focus on the trickier ones to identify. As a result, I took a brief moment to take some quick pictures of some of the more familiar (if not more colourful) moths for our readers to enjoy.

PUSS_MOTH_29.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_1.JPG

Puss Moth (Hermelinskåbe, Cerura vinula)

PINE_HAWKMOTH_29.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_2.JPG

Pine Hawkmoth (Fyrresværmer, Sphinx pinastri)

CLOUDED_BUFF_29.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_1.JPG

Clouded Buff (Rødfrynset bjørn, Diacrisia sannio)

Once Bent arrived, we headed out together for a visit to Filsø and Vrøgum Kær for a mix of birds, invertebrates, and flowers. Bird highlights on our trip included singing Cuckoos (Gøg, Cuculus canorus), White-tailed Eagle (Havørn, Haliaeetus albicilla), Red-necked Grebe (Gråstrubet lappedykker, Podiceps grisegena), singing Bluethroat (Blåhals, Luscinia svecica), and last but not least a suprise 2nd calendar year male Montagu's Harrier (Hedehøg, Circus pygargus) hunting over Kallesmærsk Hede! Follow the link below for a shaky video of the harrier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY0Yozlf2EA

Further highlights included our main targets of the day, Early Marsh-orchid (Kødfarvet Gøgeurt, Dactylorhiza incarnata) and Heath Spotted-orchid (Plettet Gøgeurt, Dactylorhiza maculata)!

HEATH_SPOTTED-ORCHID_29.06.2021_Vrogum_Kaer_Denmark_60.JPG

HEATH_SPOTTED-ORCHID_29.06.2021_Vrogum_Kaer_Denmark_67.JPG

Heath Spotted-orchid (Plettet Gøgeurt, Dactylorhiza maculata)

29.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_24.JPG

Bent amongst the Heath Spotted-orchids (Plettet Gøgeurt, Dactylorhiza maculata)

To finish the day a stunning sunset as a backdrop to the lighthouse at Blåvand.

29.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_30.JPG

People: Bent and Samuel

Ringing, seawatch, and moths

mandag 28. juni 2021
af Samuel Perfect

The moth trap produced 76 moths of 37 species this morning. Year ticks included Bordered Pug (Bynke-Dværgmåler, Eupithecia succenturiata), Poplar Grey (Poppelugle, Acronicta megacephala), Brussels Lace (Lille Lavmåler,Cleorodes lichenaria), Scoparia ancipitella, and Anerastia lotella. In addition to catching lots of moths the trap does occasionally lure in something else of interest, on this occasion a Bishop's Mitre (Almindelig Bispetæge, Aelia acuminata)!

POPLAR_GREY_28.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_10.jpg

Poplar Grey (Poppelugle, Acronicta megacephala)

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Brussels Lace (Lille Lavmåler,Cleorodes lichenaria)

BISHOPS_MITRE_28.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_16.jpg

Bishop's Mitre (Almindelig Bispetæge, Aelia acuminata)!

Bent arrived around mid-morning with a tree for the heligoland trap. He has been working hard to try and fill the trap with some lush green growth in order to attract the birds. It is prooving to be a difficult task as the soil quality is rather poor. Perseverance will hopefully pay off.

The nets were also open for a total of twelve hours. In all, only two birds were ringed (although there were at least several more retraps to keep things interesting).

Ringing:

  • Wren (Gærdesmutte, Troglodytes troglodytes)
  • Dunnock (Jernspurv, Prunella modularis)

image1_4.jpeg

retrap Icterine Warbler (Gulbug, Hippolais icterina)

Some observations were also conducted from Sydhukket although they were only brief ad hoc visits so the total passage throughout the course of the morning would have been significantly greater than is implied by the totals in the link below.

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=28-06-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

The rest of the day was dedicated to identifying some plants and invertebrates photographed yesterday and giving both fridges a thorough clean.

People: Bent and Samuel.

Invertebrates

søndag 27. juni 2021
af Samuel Perfect

The moth trap produced 103 moths of 36 species. Highlights included the first Shore Wainscot (Marehalmugle, Mythimna litoralis) and Choristoneura diversana of the year.

SHORE_WAINSCOT_27.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_27.JPG

Shore Wainscot (Marehalmugle, Mythimna litoralis)

Choristoneura_diversana_27.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_70.JPG

Choristoneura diversana

Later, a long amble around the military area yielded yet another moth highlight, Periclepsis cinctana! Other noteworthy sightings included Variable Damselfly (Flagermus-Vandnymfe, Coenagrion pulchellum) and Common Cow-wheat (Almindelig kohvede, Melampyrum pratense). The bird highlights for the day included several singing Cuckoos (Gøg, Cuculus canorus) and a male Red-backed Shrike (Rødrygget Tornskade, Lanius collurio) in the lighthouse garden.

DSC_6642_2.JPG

Periclepsis cinctana

VARIABLE_DAMSELFLY_27.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_9.JPG

Variable Damselfly (Flagermus-Vandnymfe, Coenagrion pulchellum)

COMMON_COW-WHEAT_27.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_8.JPG

Common Cow-wheat (Almindelig kohvede, Melampyrum pratense)

People: Samuel.

Moths and gardening

lørdag 26. juni 2021
af Samuel Perfect

A calmer day than yesterday began as usual with moths. Highlights included the first Common Marbled Carpet (Jordbær-Bladmåler, Dysstroma truncata), Myelois circumvoluta, and Pterophorus pentadactyla of the year.

I hope the recent moth focus on the blog is still keeping regular readers interested, to be honest there are few passerine migrants about at the moment so the focus does change during the course of the season. However, the seawatching has been surprisingly productive given the time of year so for anyone under the impression there isn't much to see avian-wise at this time of year I would highly recommend a seawatch! As proof have a read of this morning's observations.

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=26-06-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

Pterophorus_pentadactyla_26.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_6.JPG

Pterophorus pentadactyla

Meylois_circumvoluta_26.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_20.JPG

Myelois circumvoluta

The rest of the morning was dedicated to replacing two nets in the lighthouse garden and doing some much needed gardening (trimming back the net rides to stop the branches snagging on the nets).

People: Bent and Samuel.

Multitasking

fredag 25. juni 2021
af Samuel Perfect

A rather busy day with beginning as usual with a check of the moth trap. The station nets were also open for a total of 15 hours and a few intermitent visits to Sydhukket to check on the sea passage were made. All produced some nice surprises!

The stand out highlight from the moth trap was a very fresh female Goat Moth (Pileborer, Cossus cossus), so named because the larva have a distinct goat-like smell (although I can't say I have personnally experienced this). A few migrants were also noted amongst the 45 moths of 29 species trapped. These included Ostrinia nubilalis, Silver Y (Gammaugle,Autographa gamma), and Straw Dot (Lille Å-Ugle, Rivula sericealis). Other less common species (as well as year ticks) included Blackneck (Vikkeugle, Lygephila pastinum) and Dioryctria schuetzeella.

GOAT_MOTH_25.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_186.JPG

Female Goat Moth (Pileborer, Cossus cossus)

BLACKNECK_25.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_15.JPG

Blackneck (Vikkeugle, Lygephila pastinum)

Dioryctria_schuetzeella_25.06.2021_Blavand_Denmark_31.JPG

Dioryctria schuetzeella

There was a steady trickle of birds through the garden, most of whom where using the pond due to the lack of nearby freshwater. This led to 22 birds of 13 species being ringed. Ten recaptures were also made, including a stunning 3rd calendar year plus male Stonechat (Sortstrubet Bynkefugl, Saxicola rubicola)!

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3rd calendar year plus male Stonechat (Sortstrubet Bynkefugl, Saxicola rubicola)

other highlights from the ringing...

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Juvenile Stonechat (Sortstrubet Bynkefugl, Saxicola rubicola)

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Juvenile Crested Tit (Topmejse, Lophophanes cristatus)

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Adult male White Wagtail (Hvid Vipstjert, Motacilla alba)

Ringing:

  • 2 Nordlig/Lille Gråsisken (Common/Lesser Redpoll, Acanthis flammea/cabaret)
  • 1 Tornirisk (Linnet, Linaria cannabina)
  • 1 Rødhals (Robin, Erithacus rubecula)
  • 1 Topmejse (Crested Tit, Lophophanes cristatus)
  • 2 Gærdesangere (Lesser Whitethroat, Curruca curruca)
  • 1 Jernspurv (Dunnock, Prunella modularis)
  • 1 Sortstrubet Bynkefugl (Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola)
  • 2 Musvit (Great Tit, Parus major)
  • 5 Skovspurv (Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus)
  • 1 Hvid Vipstjert (White Wagtail, Motacilla alba)
  • 1 Grønirisk (Greenfinch, Chloris chloris)
  • 2 Sangdrossel (Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos)
  • 2 Stær (Starling, Sturnus vulgaris)

Last but not least a few breaks between the rounds allowed me to briefly check on passing seabirds. A remarkable (given the brevity of my visits) total of 3700 Common Scoter (Sortand, Melanitta nigra) were moving north past the point. Other noteworthy sightings included 17 Red-breasted Merganser (Toppet Skallesluger, Mergus serrator) and 6 Crossbill (Lille Korsnæb, Loxia curvirostra).

See the full list of sightings in the attachment below...

https://dofbasen.dk/search/result.php?design=table&soeg=soeg&periode=dato&dato=25-06-2021&omraade=lokalitet&hiddenlok=555209&obstype=observationer&species=alle&summering=yes&sortering=dato

People: Bent and Samuel.


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