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

Photographing European Bee-eater: How and Where

A thin branch in the most beautiful evening light and on it a European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster). This is an image many nature photographers want to shoot. This raises the question of course of what the Bee-eater’s habits and preferences are. If you take a closer look at Bee-eater photography, you ask yourself e.g. how… Continue reading Photographing European Bee-eater: How and Where

Schwarzhalstaucher beim Brutgeschäft

In vielen Teilen Europas findet sich zur Brutsaison auf abgelegenen Seen alljährlich eine große Anzahl der seltenen Schwarzhalstaucher (Podiceps nigricollis) ein. Mit einem eigens konstruierten, schwimmenden Tarnzelt könnte man die Taucher beim Brutgeschäft beobachten ohne sie dabei zu stören. Denn sehr scheu sind die Vögel nicht. Im Gegenteil. Die ständige Anwesenheit von Naturschützern schützen die… Continue reading Schwarzhalstaucher beim Brutgeschäft

Alpensegler: eine Paarung im Flug

Während einer Reise vom 1. bis zum 8. Juli nach Rumänien und Bulgarien konnte eine bemerkenswerte Beobachtung in den rumänischen Karpaten im Bild festgehalten werden. Ein Männchen und ein Weibchen des Alpenseglers (Apus melba) wurden gesehen, wie sie unter einem Felsvorsprung in einer Steilwand flogen und dabei über mehrere Sekunden die Begattung vollzogen. Dies konnte… Continue reading Alpensegler: eine Paarung im Flug

Copula in flight of Alpine Swift in Romania´s Carpathians

 During a trip from July 1st till 8th 2013 to observe birds in Romania and Bulgaria a remarkable sighting could be noted. A couple of Alpine Swift (Apus melba) was seen flying below a crag in a steep rock and copulated for several seconds. This could be seen in a beautiful gorge near the town… Continue reading Copula in flight of Alpine Swift in Romania´s Carpathians

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!

Birds in autumn in the Comana Natural Park / Romania

Having seen a spectacular bird migration in the Macin Mountains and at the Black Sea Coast near Constanta we decided to look for birds on a different spot. Maybe not really an important migration hotspot but a wetland near the capital of Romania should be still good at the end of September. An excellent choice.… Continue reading Birds in autumn in the Comana Natural Park / Romania

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