Bye Bye Blåvand - from Clara

Observations/ Ringing /Little terns project : 

There were no birdwatching/ringing activities today because of the stormy weather ! So everyone could take a day-off and rest a bit ! And I (Clara) could take the time to pack my things whilst listening to music !

----- time to say bye bye ------ 

I suppose it's time to write my last blog post of the season and say goodbye to all (until next time). 

It’s already been two months since I arrived! Time flies (like a bird) at the observatory; it feels like a different world.
I must say that at first, I was stepping completely into the unknown, as this was my first experience at a bird observatory, working and living at a foreign station.

I’ve learnt so much over the past two months, with wonderful first sightings of birds such as arctic skuas, pomarine skua, black terns , the wryneck that Robert and Hanelie caught & others!

I’ll always remember those magical moments at sunrise, with the low-angled light and the birds beginning to migrate on the horizon. The marvellous spectacle of flocks of red-throated divers high in the sky, little terns feeding on the shore than an arctic skuas chasing the little terns, accompanied by the characteristic songs of  blavand, the skylarks and their tireless melodies, the yellowhammers, linnets and white wagtails and later in spring season the little terns !

Yes, of course, there were mornings that were tougher than others, when it was cold, when you were alone and there were few birds. But that’s all part of the experience and what makes it enriching. And then, over the course of those two months, we could always count on one another ! 

Thanks to the great atmosphere at the station, we were all able to push ourselves and help each other out as best we could :) - sometimes a windspan game could help also ! -

There were so many wonderful encounters, and I really do think this experience was as much about people as it was about birds!

A huge thank you to Henrik, Thomas, David, Bent, Hanelie, Jorn, Joseph, Alix, Morten, Robert, Mathilde, Rose, Morgan, Karin & Paula !  

Last picture in the dunes whilst it was still sunny ! I used to love taking the time in the afternoon to do the big walk around blavand and draw the birds and the animals i could spot ! That was such a pleasure. 

Bye bye, take care of each others and the birds and see u soon !!!!!!!!!


At the station: Alix Bortolussi, Clara Delahaye & Jorn de Jong