The Cunning Magpie: A Feathered Hunter’s Encounter with a Serpent in Romania

In the wilderness, nature stages captivating dramas that unfold in completely unexpected ways. Today the scene is in Bucharest. Unfortunately, Stirbey Park is filled with horrible, loud gypsy music. It’s a shame, nowhere is you safe from it. We check out different places. But nothing to see. In the heart of the park, which features… Continue reading The Cunning Magpie: A Feathered Hunter’s Encounter with a Serpent in Romania

Vagrant Egyptian Nightjar on Fuerteventura

A Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius) was found on March 29, 2007 near La Lajita Beach on Fuerteventura. The Egyptian Nightjar was ringed and released the next day. After the onset of south-easterly winds and sandstorms from the Sahara, a Egyptian Nightjar was caught on the island of Fuerteventura at the end of March 2007, probably… Continue reading Vagrant Egyptian Nightjar on Fuerteventura

Pied Lapwing on boat trip at Rio Aquidauana

Due to the long drive from Campo Grande to the Pousada Toca da Onca, I arrived on the first day in the southern Pantanal in the late afternoon. But it was not too late to join a boat trip. It is very cloudy, but also very warm and humid. The clouds in the sky indicated… Continue reading Pied Lapwing on boat trip at Rio Aquidauana

Andean Cock-of-the-rock at Tunquini Field Station from a camouflage tent

A beautiful day announces itself with a perfect starry sky. So I can really throw myself into the adventure. First I try my luck with the Nikon Nikkor AF-I 4.0/ 600 on the Nikon F 5 set up on the fruiting single tree on the slope where I couldn’t find anything yesterday. I’ve barely taken… Continue reading Andean Cock-of-the-rock at Tunquini Field Station from a camouflage tent

Stelvio National Park: bird diversity in the Alps

As the first light of dawn paints the sky in shades of pink and orange, a small group of intrepid bird watchers gather at the entrance to Stelvio National Park. Armed with binoculars, cameras and a shared passion for the winged inhabitants of this Alpine paradise, they embark on a journey into the heart of… Continue reading Stelvio National Park: bird diversity in the Alps

Wintering Short-eared Owls in Brandenburg

Very few people will see them in the northern German winter. A Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) flies over the moor in front of the dark edge of the forest with a typical rowing flap of wings. The sun has already set for half an hour. Fog rises from the moor. Soon the last glow of… Continue reading Wintering Short-eared Owls in Brandenburg

Good tips for a trip to the Kakamega Forest

If you are keen to hear the morning roar of the Guerezas (Colobus guereza), just one of seven resident monkey species in the heart of western Kenya, and see a Green Hylia (Hylia prasina) or a Yellowbill (Ceuthmochares aereus) in the semi-darkness of the forest, you should take your time for the Kakamega forest in… Continue reading Good tips for a trip to the Kakamega Forest

Epaulet Oriole in the Pantanal: Taxonomy issues

The morning is still fresh and I want to visit the light gallery forest within the Fazenda in the morning. Again a great sunrise. I start walking with my Nikon Nikkor AF-I 300mm f/2.8 D ED on a Gitzo Monopod and a Metz flash MZ-5. Right at the beginning, there is light forest with its… Continue reading Epaulet Oriole in the Pantanal: Taxonomy issues

Andean Motmot at the nest in Tunquini Field Station

After a successful morning, I try my luck as a photographer with the Nikon Nikkor AF-I 4.0/ 600 on the Nikon F 5 on another slope. First I try to photograph a few birds with the 600 set up directly at the houses of the Tunquini Biological Station. I do see a Andean Motmot or… Continue reading Andean Motmot at the nest in Tunquini Field Station

In the heart of western Kenya: a trip to the Kakamega Forest

In the heart of western Kenya, where the sun bathes the landscape in shades of gold, lies the Kakamega Forest – a realm full of ancient trees, vibrant birdlife and secrets that whisper in the rustling of leaves. Before dawn, in the light of the moonlight, I make my way to a small hill on… Continue reading In the heart of western Kenya: a trip to the Kakamega Forest

Western Orphean Warbler: a vagrant on the North Sea coast of the Netherlands

The morning sun keeps coming out. In the vicinity of Poppendamme I manage to photograph quite a dark Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) and even a single Dunnock (Prunella modularis). Then I drive in the direction of Middelburg, to the Arnestein industrial area. The area cannot be missed with the Kuipersweg. The whole street at the described… Continue reading Western Orphean Warbler: a vagrant on the North Sea coast of the Netherlands

Snipes: Courtship in the air

A flooded area in the middle of the swampy lowland of the Nuthe, south of the Fläming in southern Brandenburg only 30 km south of Berlin. As soon as I arrive at the wetland at dawn, snipes (Gallinago gallinago) start flying. The area was heavily flooded in the winter. Now the highest water levels have… Continue reading Snipes: Courtship in the air