During observations to the northern part of Norway from February 28th – 3rd of march 2013 I shot images of a very pale gull, what I thought at that time was a regular adult Iceland gull. But I showed the image – more by accident – in the BirdForum and one of the experts asked… Continue reading Kumlien’s Gull (Larus glaucoides kumlieni) on Varanger, Norway
Author: Jonas Kleinschmidt
Steller’s Eider female on Baltic Sea of Germany
Today a female Steller’s Eider, Polysticta stelleri, has been recorded north of the Holnisspitze, which is a peninsula north-east of a town in Schleswig-Holstein named Gluecksburg. After a run in the last days to the one individual of a male King Eider, Somateria spectabilis, at Kalkhorst at the shores of the Baltic Sea, this is… Continue reading Steller’s Eider female on Baltic Sea of Germany
Male King Eider on Baltic Sea of Germany
During the last days one male King Eider, Somateria spectabilis, continues to stay at Kalkhorst at the shores of the Baltic Sea. The german sea resort is approx. 15km distance east of Travemünde, Lübeck. This male King Eider in beautiful breeding plumage is obviously only one of the few records for 2013 so far south… Continue reading Male King Eider on Baltic Sea of Germany
Heavy migration of Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) through the Taunus/ Germany
During a short trip with sunny weather and quite clear sky but a cold wind in the morning of March 26th through the upper Taunus near Bad Soden I experienced many migrating birds among them approx. 50 Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) and more than a 100 Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs). Remarkable in the sighting of the… Continue reading Heavy migration of Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) through the Taunus/ Germany
Emergency landing for lapwings
Shorebirds as the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), are heavily suffering from the return of winter. The return of the winter in the past two weeks with temperatures down to minus two-digit nummbers also in the western part of Germany is devastating for waders. Due to observations of the Hessischen Gesellschaft für Ornithologie und Naturschutz (HG… Continue reading Emergency landing for lapwings
Migratory birds herald spring
Last weekend, you could observe heavy traffic in the skies over Frankfurt/ Germany. Although winter is not ready to lower its grip the first returning migrants already point to the imminent end of the cold season. In recent weeks, Eurasian Skylarks (Alauda arvensis), and Northern Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus), were seen already on their return. Particularly… Continue reading Migratory birds herald spring
Snowy surprise for Cranes & Geese in nature reserve Kuehkopf-Knoblochsaue in Germany
Although the winter’s chill hold finally broke last week the wintertime is not over, already. The mild conditions and temperatures of up to around 8 degrees did not last for a long time. By 19th a Scandinavian high pressure was fully in charge and a strengthening easterly flow and increasing cloud cover ensured that temperatures… Continue reading Snowy surprise for Cranes & Geese in nature reserve Kuehkopf-Knoblochsaue in Germany
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) at Laguna Gallocanta/ Spain
During the last days one Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) continues to stay at the Laguna Gallocanta in the south-western part of Aragon, Spain. This bird is obviously only the 3rd record for Spain since 2009 although there are more observations from the northern part of the Western Palearctic. The Sandhill Crane is present at least… Continue reading Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) at Laguna Gallocanta/ Spain
Common Buzzard at the bait in wintertime
To observe and photograph Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) at the bait in wintertime in good numbers – sometimes 8 individuals on one occasion. Is this possilbe right in the center of a heavy industrialized country like Germany? Yes, it is! The valley of the river „Leine“ and the surrounding hills called “Leinebergland” is not famous… Continue reading Common Buzzard at the bait in wintertime
Great Grey Shrike, Lanius excubitor in the Hochtaunus near Frankfurt
During a short trip to a hiking site near my hometown in the Hochtaunus just 25km from downtown Frankfurt I could observe a beautiful Great Grey Shrike, Lanius excubitor. This Northern Shrike could be seen in perfect light in the afternoon of the 20th of February in an area called Viehweide (cattle pasture) northwest of… Continue reading Great Grey Shrike, Lanius excubitor in the Hochtaunus near Frankfurt
Birding around Frankfurt Airport – Schwanheimer Duene
There are not too many foreign birdwatchers coming to the middle of Germany for just birding. But Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is the gateway to continental Europe. Many airlines use the Airport as a hub for connecting flights all over the world. If you have spare time between two flight and you are a birdwatcher, you… Continue reading Birding around Frankfurt Airport – Schwanheimer Duene
Canon 400mm f4 DO, an experience review for flight shots
In the reviews of my blog I often see, that photographers are scanning 400mm f4 DO-articles especially concerning its ability for birding photography. As I mentioned already, this lens brings out a diverse range of opinions. The summary focusses on the optical “disadvantages” like: Sharpness is very good, but falls off dramatically with TCs Contrast… Continue reading Canon 400mm f4 DO, an experience review for flight shots