The occurrence of Little Auks Alle alle at Blåvandshuk, Denmark, with emphasis on the 1995-influx

Little Auks Alle alle were very rarely recorded during the first 21 years (1963-83) of seawatching at Bldvandshuk, the westernmost point at the Danish coast. A total of only 85 birds was seen in those years. From 1984 onward, the species suddenly became much more common and yearly totals of over 100 birds were now normal. After a general decrease in numbers from nearly 700 In 1990 to virtually nil in 1994, numbers peaked again in autumn 1995, when almost 2000 individuals were registered at this seawatching post. Even higher numbers were seen further north along the Jutland coast. Passage was most marked off Hanstholm, northwest Jutland. During the peak-day of the Little Auk movements, 28 October, 2300 birds passed here, while only 1628 were seen at Bldvandshuk. High numbers also passed SW Sweden that day. These observations suggest the Skagerrak was the source area for the birds seen along the west coast of Jutland. Should the birds have originated from the central North Sea, then the Jutland coast would have led more birds towards Bldvandshuk and numbers here should have been higher, not lower than off Hanstholm.