Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri, as a vagrant for the Western Palearctic

Terns in general are excellent fliers, which may, from time to time, appear as vagrants outside of their home range. Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri, are no exception in that. Only some days ago, a Forster’s Tern was found on the coast of Ireland. An adult winter Forster’s Tern could be observed at Corronroo along with… Continue reading Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri, as a vagrant for the Western Palearctic

Bugun Liocichla in Eaglenest – Winter in North-east India 2008

It is January. Winter in the Himalayas of India. We made our way from Bomdila back to Tenga. In between, I slept in the car despite the many abrupt stops because of land slides or upcoming cars. Finally we came to Tenga, where the intersection is scheduled to depart to our new location. The journey… Continue reading Bugun Liocichla in Eaglenest – Winter in North-east India 2008

Small Buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus) for WP-portfolio

Early morning, 5:30 am. After a coffee in front of the small chalets, we will start for the first full day Malawi expedition. The typical east-african birds are our main interest. At 4:30 we have got up already. The starry sky promise a nice day. Great atmosphere. In the background the last lights of stars… Continue reading Small Buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus) for WP-portfolio

Eiders in the Frozen

Photographing the most colorful ducks of the world in 10-minus-degree temperatures in February at the northern tip of Europe sounds crazy. Well, whether it is crazy or just stupid is a matter of your point-of-view. But all can agree, that it is real Arctic Adventure. The one or the other vagrant Eider might arrive in… Continue reading Eiders in the Frozen

Birding around Berlin: former lignite mining lakes in southern Brandenburg

Lignite mining has a high impact on bird habitats and during the process of mining vast areas are devasted. After exploitation, the question how to deal with the moon-like landscape is often answered by filling the holes with water. Some of these waterbodies represent valuable habitat for endangered bird species as well as for other… Continue reading Birding around Berlin: former lignite mining lakes in southern Brandenburg

Black-capped Petrel in the western Palearctic

A report of a Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata) from the Northern Sea, maybe Heligoland, would be the Mega of the year. Even better, than the Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) which spend several weeks around the sea bird colony along the red cliffs on this sole off-shore island of Germany. In general observations of pelagic or… Continue reading Black-capped Petrel in the western Palearctic

Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica): 2014 record in the Rhine-Main area near Frankfurt

A Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) was reported end of May 2014 in the Offenbach district. During an inspection in the Nature Reserve Gehspitzweiher in Neu-Isenburg a warden suddenly observed a predominantly white, gull-sized bird. Looking for food the bird circled over the water surface and finally rested on the island in the lake. It quickly… Continue reading Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica): 2014 record in the Rhine-Main area near Frankfurt

Pallid Harrier on the Schroecker Feld north of Frankfurt/ M

At least since Saturday, July 19, 2014, a plateau east of Marburg, the Schroecker Feld, is home to a male Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) on. The Schroecker Feld near Marburg is roughly 100km distant from downtown Frankfurt/ Main. This Pallid Harrier male has very pale grey upperparts and is white below. In flight, the distinctive… Continue reading Pallid Harrier on the Schroecker Feld north of Frankfurt/ M

Blyth’s Reed-Warbler on Greifswald Oie

According to reports in Ornitho.de a Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) had been seen today – July 9th 2014 – on this tiny island in the Baltic Sea again. After reports from the island of the Greifswald Oie earlier in the year and from the off-shore island of Heligoland there were increasingly

Next Rarity for Noord Holland – a Glossy Ibis

According to a report from waarneming.nl a Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), a species from the birds family of the Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) could be observed on July 1st 2014 near Heemskerk in the Heemskerker Noordbroekpolder than in Heemskerk in the Waterberging Noorderveldjust south of Castricum. After the Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) at the coast… Continue reading Next Rarity for Noord Holland – a Glossy Ibis

Lesser Yellowlegs near Callantsoog/ Noord Holland – NL

Right now, it is possible to see a rare Tringa-wader in a Nature reserve at the coast of Noord Holland between Den Helder and Callantsoog. An adult Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) can be observed north of Callantsoog in the newly established nature reserve “The Nollen van Abbestede”. After a report two days ago it could… Continue reading Lesser Yellowlegs near Callantsoog/ Noord Holland – NL

Blyth’s Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) in north-east Germany

According to reports in Ornitho.de and Club 300.de there is a good chance that bird watchers and Twitcher of the North Central Europe can increasingly observe Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) comparatively to the west. After reports from the tiny island of the Greifswald Oie and from the off-shore island of Heligoland now comes a… Continue reading Blyth’s Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) in north-east Germany