Eurasian Hobby on the migration along the Black Sea coast of Türkiye

After the thick cloud cover has broken up a bit and the sea is no longer too stormy, I can take really good pictures of a low-flying Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) in the early morning lights. It’s already the second of its kind. The first was so fast that it simply passes. But the second… Continue reading Eurasian Hobby on the migration along the Black Sea coast of Türkiye

Immature Pallid Harrier on migration in southern Brandenburg/ Germany

In April I was in the so-called Niederer Fläming (Lower Flaeming), a gently sloping landscape in southern Brandenburg. I had an incredible experience that I will not soon forget. I had the opportunity to observe a young Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). A beautiful clear morning kept the Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) soaring and cheering over the… Continue reading Immature Pallid Harrier on migration in southern Brandenburg/ Germany

Wet Wagtail shaking its feathers

Completely soaked, a black and white bird stands on a beam. Here, at the corner of a settlement, I can photograph a Wagtail (Motacilla alba), which stands on a beam after a band and shakes and dries itself extensively. The feathers are completely soaked. It is not known whether the bird is a non-swimmer; In… Continue reading Wet Wagtail shaking its feathers

Songbird migration along the southern Black Sea coast

The roosting Red-backed Shrikes (Lanius collurio) are all juveniles. One has taken a long morning bath and is now shaking its wet feathers on a stick in the morning sun. Again and again the wings are spread, shaken and then placed one on top of the other. In particular, a tiny garden with runner beans… Continue reading Songbird migration along the southern Black Sea coast

Greater Short-toed lark on migration along the Pontic Mountains in Turkey

We walk along a narrow pebble beach on the Black Sea coast. What is really remarkable is that I see a fawn colored bird flying in that has a remarkable eye stripe and a thick beak. Spontaneously I think of a Pipit (Anthus sp.), but it is a Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla), which turns… Continue reading Greater Short-toed lark on migration along the Pontic Mountains in Turkey

Harriers on wintering grounds in Awash NP – Ethiopia

Having seen the Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus), a species of a graceful flying raptor already during trips in September on its migration route along the Black Sea coast near the town of Constanta south of the Danube delta at the Black Sea coast of Romania and north of Astrakhan along the Volga river in Russia… Continue reading Harriers on wintering grounds in Awash NP – Ethiopia

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hello to you all, Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year. Although winter might be not truly there where you are with minus temperatures and snow so far, but think it could be when you have mostly rain. Plenty of snow means a hard time for birds, too. If… Continue reading Merry Christmas Everyone!

Parasitic Jaeger (Arctic Skuas) in Romania: a nice surprise

September is fall migration time in Romania´s Black Sea coast. Thus it is prime birdwatching time. After having seen the spectacular mass migration of Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus, in an area south of the Danube Delta with its wide stretch of a sandy shoreline with shallow lagoons we arrived at the sandy beach near the… Continue reading Parasitic Jaeger (Arctic Skuas) in Romania: a nice surprise

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

Migration of raptors over the Macin Mountains National Park

Because Macin Mountains is famous as an important migration hotspot for raptors in autumn, we decided to visit this site after a visit in May again at the end of September. An excellent choice. Arriving only at around 11:00h the activity of the “normal” birds were low. But the highlight, we were looking for, was… Continue reading Migration of raptors over the Macin Mountains National Park

Black Kite on migration along Black Sea coast Romania

During a trip from September 21st till 24th 2012 to experience migrating birds in Romania a remarkable sighting could be noted. A juvenile Black Kite was seen flying against heavy wind southward on his migration route along the Black Sea coast near the town of Eforie over Lake (Lacul) Techirghiol. Lacul Techirghiol and Eforie are… Continue reading Black Kite on migration along Black Sea coast Romania