Right now, there is a large invasion of Hawfinches (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) recorded for Great Britain. The peak took place in fall 2017, and good numbers have remained during the winter months. With fewer than 1,000 breeding pairs in Britain, Hawfinch populations are critically low and the bird is Red-listed as a Bird of Conservation Concern,… Continue reading Where and how to photograph Hawfinches
Category: Bird Behaviour
How birds behave, strange features, fighting, eating….
Where to photograph seabirds in flight in the UK
In the age of digital full-frame cameras with a very fast autofocus, flight-shot photography is possible that used to be (almost) unthinkable only some years ago. Ducks starting trembling over the water were (and are) still quite easy. But who managed to photograph a flying Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)? Other land birds were usually only… Continue reading Where to photograph seabirds in flight in the UK
Great Bittern at Colfiorito in Umbria
In early January, the weather forecast announced a Siberian high above the Mediterranean and the Italian west coast. After a few mild winters, the upcoming cold now seemed to reverse the trend of recent years. In fact, temperatures dropped on the Italian peninsula, especially in northern Italy and in the center of the southern Apennines… Continue reading Great Bittern at Colfiorito in Umbria
Goldcrest, bathing under waterfall on Flores
Walking a steep trail in search of North-American vagrants under the high cliffs near the little village of Ponta da Fajã on the west coast of Flores eventually I came to a waterfall right beside the hiking trail. I took a rest and was surprised to notice some movement close to the constant shower of… Continue reading Goldcrest, bathing under waterfall on Flores
European Nightjar feeding habit
When the sun has set and dusk turns to darkness, a discreet purring is heard often over the heath in Brandenburg´s landscape south of Berlin. The rhythmic purr of the Eurasian or European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) is increasing in volume in the background. The time lags between the purring of the Nightjar become shorter more… Continue reading European Nightjar feeding habit
Little Greenbuls fly catching insects in the rain
Having been in Campo Ma’an National Park in southern Cameroon already the 2nd day, we experienced a heavy thunderstorm with endless rain. Probably not the first front of the rainy season brought heavy rain and thunder – and myriads of flying insects. Just outside our basic camp, birds made sallies into the air, to catch… Continue reading Little Greenbuls fly catching insects in the rain
Black Jacobin in the Itatiaia NP/ Rio de Janeiro
White flashes on the tail of an almost completely black bird is hovering in the air. Not far from me, a hummingbird is feeding on a nectar stick. The ornitologist and German naturalist Helmut Sick described the Black Jacobin (Florisuga fusca) as abundant and the most frequent species of hummingbird in Macai de Cima (or… Continue reading Black Jacobin in the Itatiaia NP/ Rio de Janeiro
Black Grouse on leks in the snowy spring of Finland
Nature photographers, who visit the snow-capped central Finland in early April, might observe a very special natural event: the mating display of the Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix). If you want to take pictures of the mating display, you should go to Scandinavia for nature conservation reasons alone. For the last remnants of domestic populations the… Continue reading Black Grouse on leks in the snowy spring of Finland
Remarks to wintering Solitary Sandpipers (Tringa solitaria) in the Pantanal
During scientific research in the northern Pantanal between the 20th of December 2012 and the 10th of January 2013 I often observe Solitary Sandpipers along the muddy ditches on a farm. Of the two subspecies of the solitary sandpiper recognized the subspecies present probably was Tringa solitaria solitaria which usually has a more well-defined streak… Continue reading Remarks to wintering Solitary Sandpipers (Tringa solitaria) in the Pantanal
Rufous Hornero on a termite mound
The Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus) is so common in the Pantanal, that you hardly think of taking a picture, as you think, that you will do it next day. Ok, this time some pictures were shot, when the bird was standing on a termite mound. There is some examination ungoing to study the interaction between… Continue reading Rufous Hornero on a termite mound
Rusty-fronted Tody-flycatcher at the nest
A trip during a scientific excursion in the northern Pantanal between the 20th of December 2012 and the 10th of January 2013 showed a lot of excitement. One day I perceived a movement right along the path I was walking. A small bird with a transversely lying blade of grass quickly disappeared in the thicket.… Continue reading Rusty-fronted Tody-flycatcher at the nest
Andean Cock-of-the-rock in Manu/ Peru
The spectacular Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana) suddenly sits on a branch in the middle of the thicket. In the middle of a pristine Cloud Forest lies the legendary spot, where you can photograph the most beautiful orange bird full-frame. Whether you travel in the mist forest of Manu or into the wilderness of Amazonia, starting… Continue reading Andean Cock-of-the-rock in Manu/ Peru