It was really nice to see this young male Citrine Wagtail at Skagen today!

Eastern Imperial Eagle in Skagen! Only the second adult to ever be seen in Denmark. The last adult was in 1990!

Another fun spring day a Skagen.

I was at ringing again this morning with highlights being the first Willow Warblers of the spring and a Coal Tit.

Birding in the afternoon was also good with White Stork, Golden Eagle, Black Kite and this Wryneck!

Tree Pipits are often seen flying overhead in Skagen so it is really nice to occasionally catch them during the morning ringing.

#birdringing

Not my shot, one of the locals took it (name in ALT). But this is my video of the same bird!

Picture taken by Erik Christophersen

You could say we have had some good views of Pallid Harriers in the last couple of days!

The first Pallid Harriers and Black Kites have arrived at Skagen this spring!

Today I was graced by an adult female Pallid Harrier and an adult Black Kite.

I have just found that this Cormorant was ringed as a chick at a local colony in 2017. Making this bird nearly nine years old! Recaptures like this really show the true value of ringing!

Cormorants are difficult birds to handle so it is important to have good control of the neck at all times whilst handling. It is also important not to hold the neck too tight. This means that injury to the bird and the handler can be prevented.

It has been a couple stormy days at Skagen so night catching over the last couple days has been possible, but not successful.

So it was a real surprise to be able to hand catch this Cormorant last night.

It was even already carrying a ring. So hopefully we get some cool data from that.

Hard to say as they are both amazing! But I think overall I preferred today’s bird as I found it in the net which was very exciting. Plus… it has a shining blue throat! Nature’s rarest colour!

I think this is about as good a start to April that I could’ve ever imagined!

White-spotted Bluethroat ringed at Skagen. Only the second spring male to ever be caught here!

I had some very nice views of the 2CY Glaucous Gull today that has been around Skagen for the last few days!

Another really fun day at Skagen.

Ringing was really nice with 5 more Twite, 1 Snow Bunting, 2 Bullfinch and 3 Northern LTT.

Migration was nice with 9 Taiga Bean Goose and a male Hen Harrier.

I then went into town to shop for food and saw a lovely flock of 23 Waxwings!

It has been a really fun day at Skagen today.

Highlights from the morning migration were Glaucous Gull and Goshawk.

Whilst ringing highlights were 1 Twite, 2 more Snow Buntings and 10 Northern LTTs!

My first day volunteering at Skagen Bird Station has been amazing.

We all woke up at 04:30 to try and catch Snow Buntings. We caught four birds including this very nice young male.

Bird highlights from migration were Woodlarks and BT Diver. Hopefully more to come in the next few days…

I have had a really fun time doing my first mainland ringing this winter.

Really nice to see a lot of the more common species up close.

My highlights have been re trapping a Brambling from Fair Isle, Fieldfare and Jackdaw.

I look forward to learning more a Skagen soon!

Whitesands Quarry and Barns Ness Lighthouse at sunrise

A great day in the Dunbar area today. Good weather meant lots of song was in the air!

Highlights were White-billed Diver, Tundra Bean Goose, Firecrest, Snow Bunting, Russian Whitefronts, Brent Geese, Sand Martin, Black-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver and Red-necked Grebe.

#BirdingScotland

A short trip to Barns Ness just after noon to see the Firecrest. It showed incredibly well which meant I was able to take a few photos through my binoculars.

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Whitesands Quarry as well as a Greenshank.

#BirdingScotland

1 of 2 Willow Tit together at Ken Dee Marshes

RSPB Mersehead

One of many Pintail that showed very nice at Mersehead

Leucistic Barnacle Goose at Mersehead

A really enjoyable day in Dumfries today.

Highlights were 2 Willow Tit, GW Egret and both Whitefront subs at Ken Dee Marshes. Then Marsh Harrier, Pintail and this lovely leucistic Barnacle Goose at Mersehead. But no Cetti’s Warbler or Hen Harrier.

#BirdingScotland
@dgbirdnews.bsky.social

Black-necked Grebe at Whitesands Quarry

2 of 20+ (possibly up to 30) Mandarin Duck at Pressmennan Lake

A very enjoyable day in East Lothian today by train and bike.

Highlights being Shore Lark at John Muir CP, BN Grebe at WS Quarry, WW Scoter off Port Seton, 20+ Mandarin at Pressmennan Lake and 2 Whitefronts with Pinkfeet over Belhaven Bay.

@birdinglothian.bsky.social
#BirdingScotland

Well done! Hopefully more arrive so I can get in the action. Back in Lothian on Wednesday…

14/15 Puffins I saw washed up today were adults. These Easterlies just make feeding too difficult for them

A lot of Puffins washing ashore in Lothian as well. I had 15 today as well as a few other things

Still SE. I was near Lower Largo which is probably more sheltered. Would be interesting to see the number of washed up birds in areas near Fife Ness etc

I was in Fife a couple days ago and the swell and winds along the coast in East Lothian were much worse.

Someone has picked it up. It was too heavy for me to carry the rest of the coastline and I am travelling back on a train so a dead diver wouldn’t look so great!

White-billed Diver

Barnacle Goose

One of many Puffins washed ashore

Kittiwake

Today I walked from Tyninghame Beach to North Berwick to count the number of seabirds that have washed ashore in this harsh weather. Hopefully this weather ends soon to give these birds a break.

It was a right surprise to find this White-billed Diver on the beach.

#BirdingScotland
#BirdingLothian

White-winged Scoter off Dumbarnie Links

Red-necked Grebe off Lower Largo

1 of 5 Russian White-fronted Geese at Kingskettle

4 of 5 Russian White-fronted Geese at Kingskettle

A brilliant trip to Fife today by bus despite the grim weather.

I started on the coast with highlights being WW Scoter, WB and BT Diver, RN Grebe, the possible Stejneger’s Scoter, Little Gull and more!

I then went inland to Kingskettle to see the 5 Whitefronts.

#BirdingScotland
#BirdingFife

An excellent day out at Gullane.

Really nice to see @kgbirder.bsky.social (and thanks for pointing out a lot of the birds!).

Highlights being a pair of Surf Scoter, 3 Little Auk, Whimbrel, Puffin and GN Diver.

@birdinglothian.bsky.social
#BirdingScotland