An Eventful Day With View Birds In The Nets

Last night Elisabeth and James arrived at the station! While the prior volunteers went to bed, the new arrivals enjoyed Morten’s lasagna after settling in. It looks like Elisabeth and James will focus on observation counts their first week in Blåvand starting Friday. We are all happy to have them onboard!

Today took us on trip. This morning the nets opened a little past starting time due to some rainfall. Once the rain ceased to pour down the nets opened up until the end of standard time. There were some strong winds so not all nets opened at the lighthouse garden. The day started slow, but it did leave an impression on us. It was not the number of birds this time. Only 15 ringed birds and 7 recaptures.

No, the thing that left an impression today was a bit more shocking. At the lighthouse garden two Song thrushes got their tongue stuck in the net and one of them lost part of their tongue before we were able to remove the thrush from the net. There was no mayor bleeding so there is a good chance the bird will recover from its injury. Anyone who interacts with the natural world in order to better understand and benefit it, will come to realise that in doing so, in someways, you will disturb that what you try to help. It is the irony in which the nature lover lives.

Later in the morning there was one spark of positive excitement when a thrilling bird ended up in one of the nets in the station garden: a Hawfinch! Even Morten’s experienced and dexterous hands did not manage to evade the strong beak of the bird completely. Fortunately, it was only a tiny nibble the Hawfinch took out of his finger.

Before closing the nets, Elisabeth and James got the opportunity to walk a view rounds with Morten to get their first experience with the ringing process here in Blåvand. Early in the afternoon the fun was stopped with nearly unending rain for the rest of the day.

In the afternoon two guest who will be staying here a couple of night arrived. Together all of us sat around the dinner table this the evening talking about birds (of course) and proper British pronunciation among other things.

Tomorrow, it looks like another day with constant rain starting later in the morning. This gives us at least a view hours to open the nets and hopefully ring some new birds!