Blåvands easter special

Morning observations:

As usual, Marit, Levi, and I walked up to the observation spot, but we didn’t expect to see anything due to the thick fog. We could barely even see the lighthouse, and we were right – visibility was very poor. Still, we decided to try to carry out the observation, but after the first observation period, we concluded that conditions had become too poor to continue, so we packed up and headed back.
Levi and Marit took turns joining the others at the ringing, while I chose to take a long walk around the area. There were quite a few birds today, so I decided to see how many species I could find in the locality. After the long walk, I returned to the station, where I saw that Bent had arrived. After a short break at the station, I decided to join him on his walk – and it certainly didn’t disappoint! We saw lots of birds, and many great species were added to my list.
By the end of the day’s trips, I had recorded 37 species in the area, including Redstart “Rødstjert”, Northern Wheatear “Stenpikker”, Little Tern “Dværgterne”, Tree Pipit “Skovpiber”, and no less than 135 Sandwich Terns “Splitterne”. After the trips, I joined in the Easter fun with the others at the station. So even though the day started out disappointing with another canceled observation, it ended up being a really lovely and enjoyable day.

Todays observations can be seen here.

The ringing:

A foggy morning was the start of easter Sunday 2025. This weather did not bring us many birds, but some easter surprises. The first was a female Ring Ouzel “Ringdrossel”, that I found in a net a fyrhaven. I have been predicting that species since one and a half weeks so I was really happy to finally take it out of the net. Anne got to ring it, it was a new ringing species for her.

Ringouzel female/ Ringdrossel hun. Picture: Emma Gray

But there should also be a new ringing species for me today, which gets more and more rare. At the end of the next round, when we reached the Krattet nets, I started to run, as there was a Wood pigeon “Ringdue” in the net. It is of course a very common species in the field, but I have never had one in the nets.

Wood Pigeon "Ring Ouzel". Picture: Emma Gray

The observers came back earlier as the visibility over the sea was really bad. And to make the day perfect, also Marit got a new ringing species, a White Wagtail “Hvid Vipstjert”.

White Wagtail “Hvid Vipstjert”. Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

Levi also followed us on some rounds, he did not get his X-license yet, but he could release some birds, which he really enjoyed.

The moths:

Although it was not many moths species, also the traps brought some surprises. Two new moths species for me (of just seven species in total – quantity is not always quality :)

Phibalapterix virgata “Snerremåler” and Diaphora mendica “Grå tigerspinder” were new for me and I especially liked Diaphora mendica “Grå tigerspinder”.

Diaphora mendica “Grå tigerspinder”. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

Easter at BLF

The easter surprises were not over yet, our easter program had just begun. After ringing, we blew eggs and painted birds on them.

Blowing and painting easter eggs. Picture: Emma Gray

It was really fun and we are really happy with our artworks.

The whole team, our easter eggs hanging from the lamp and the eggs that we found in the garden. Picture: Hanelie Sidhu

After Anne, in her job as intern of the easter bunny, hit some easter eggs filled with candy for us in the lighthouse garden.

Where is the easter eg? Picture: Anne Hjortlund Hansen

We found all the eggs, after, Thomas went home and for me, it was soon time for cooking. I made an omelet out of the blown out of the eggs with some vegetables and salat. Our neighbors gave us an ice cake in the afternoon, which we very much admired and enjoyed as dessert. Thanks a lot!

At the station: Marit Nillissen, Levi van den Os, Thomas Kristensen, Emma Gray, Bent Jakobsen, Anne Hjortlund Hansen and Hanelie Sidhu