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

Zaunammer am Rand des Schwarzwalds

Der schnarrende Gesang der Zaunammer (Emberiza cirlus), die Reihe von etwas heiser klingenden Pfeiftönen des Wendehalses (Jynx torquilla), das kurze, dreiteilige Liedchen mit seinen rauen gequetschten Tönen des Hausrotschwanzes (Phoenicurus ochruros), meist von Warte aus gesungen. Alle Brutvögel tragen eine Strophe zum Konzert der Vögel hier in den Offenlandflächen am Nordhang des Schönbergs, nur wenige… Continue reading Zaunammer am Rand des Schwarzwalds

Gartenrotschwanz füttert Junges

Mit den ersten Sonnenstrahlen steht das Männchen des Gartenrotschwanz (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) auf einem Ast der Echten Walnuss, auch Nussbaum (Juglans regia) genannt. Schon zuvor war ein hart angeschlagenes „hüit“ aus einer Fliederhecke (Syringa sp.) zu hören. Damit wollte der Vater wohl ein Junges locken. Eine wunderschöne Maskenzeichnung ziert den Kopf. Gesichtsfeld und Kehle sowie die… Continue reading Gartenrotschwanz füttert Junges

Geier über Jodhpur/ Rajasthan

Die Meherangarh-Festung erhebt sich hoch über die Stadt im Westen Rajasthans inmitten der Wüste Thar. Das im 15. Jahrhundert gebaute Festung Meherangarh steht mit ihren bis zu 32 Meter hohen Mauern auf einem über 120 Meter hohen Felsen mächtig und drohend über der Stadt. Sie ist aber trotzdem von einer einzigartigen Schönheit. Gerne treiben sich… Continue reading Geier über Jodhpur/ Rajasthan

Sparrowhawk at Wallcreeper cliff in Alquezar in Northern Spain

For long I have been looking for Wallcreepers (Tichodroma muraria). Observations – or even photos – from the Wallcreeper are my dream. I’ve been days hiking in the Alps in the Karwendel mountains, in the Tien Shan in Kyrgyzstan, in the Carpathian Mountains. I was hiking at high altitudes and took a lot of efforts,… Continue reading Sparrowhawk at Wallcreeper cliff in Alquezar in Northern Spain

Adventure: driving to the Keoladeo National Park

It is November. A trip to Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India is scheduled. Due to delays in domestic flights I find out, that there are still three days left . Now you can spend the time in New Delhi, the capital of India, of course. According to some strange statistics the human population of New… Continue reading Adventure: driving to the Keoladeo National Park

Bird migration at the Stockert in the Eifel hills

A beautiful autumn day. Indian Summer, as written in the books. This time it is to go to the Eifel to hill Stockert south of Euskirchen where bird migration at day can be observed. It was still dark when I arrived. The first bird whispers were heard already . It was mainly chickadees whose calls… Continue reading Bird migration at the Stockert in the Eifel hills

Fall migration at the Black Sea Coast/ Romania

Spectacular numbers of Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus, and Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus, were the highlight of the first day. Having spent 3 days in May north of Constanta at Romania´s Black Sea coast, it was decided to try our luck with birds again in the area around the village of Vadu. The target was, to… Continue reading Fall migration at the Black Sea Coast/ Romania