Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) are not pronounced migratory birds, which can be seen from their flapping flight style and their wide, rounded wings. The Jay´s body is more made to fly from tree to tree, less to cover longer distances. Small migratory movements probably take place annually, but are hardly noticed due to the wide… Continue reading Influx of Eurasian Jay in autumn 2019
Category: Bird Migration
Observations of migration birds, aspects of migration
Common Whitethroat at Brenu Beach Grasslands near Cape Coast
After a long journey from Ankasa, we – a Birdquest-Group – stranded for an afternoon birding at Brenu Beach Grasslands near Cape Coast / Ghana. We had just seen a male Marsh Tchagra (Tchagra minuta) a bird in a spiny bush reminded me of an old friend from Germany. It looked like a Common Whitethroat… Continue reading Common Whitethroat at Brenu Beach Grasslands near Cape Coast
American Golden Plover near Tarifa at the Playa de los Lances
As the morning dawns on an early October day at the Playa de los Lances, west of Tarifa at the southern tip of Spain, only two fighting sanderlings (Calidris alba) con be observed and photographed. Apart from that, there are Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), Dunlin (Calidris… Continue reading American Golden Plover near Tarifa at the Playa de los Lances
Save landing for Black-tailed Godwit Christiansieneson
A satellite transmitter packed on a juvenile Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) called “Christiansieneson” recorded a save landing the Inner Niger Delta in Mali. The Black-tailed Godwit has made the more than 4,100 kilometers from the wetlands of the Duemmer (south of Bremen in northern Germany) down to the African wintering area in record time and… Continue reading Save landing for Black-tailed Godwit Christiansieneson
British Yellow Wagtail on Heligoland
Although the distribution area of Motacilla flava flavissima is not far from Germany, records of this (sub-)species are quite rare. As to be expected, there are some records from the islands in the wadden sea (Amrum, Sylt-Ost, Norderney, Wangerooge, Neuwerk, Baltrum) or near the coast as e.g. Horumersiel but the best location for a german… Continue reading British Yellow Wagtail on Heligoland
Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus) in Germany
In size between a Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) and a Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and black as well. Pygmy Cormorants are increasingly a sighting in Germany. Right now, a Pygmy Cormorant has been reported from Stotternheimer See near Erfurt. Several images show, as the Pygmy Cormorant swims, rest and starts from the water in front… Continue reading Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus) in Germany
Cape Teal on Malta
A common sighting in Southern African, the Cape Teal (Anas capensis) is a very rare vagrant to regions north of the Sahara. Thus, the observed (and photographed) Cape Teal at Is-Simar Nature Reserve, Malta, on 28 January was maybe the biggest twitcher-news of this last years January-week for the Western Palearctic. The bird was unhinged,… Continue reading Cape Teal on Malta
Cranes in the moor
Humans have always been fascinated by the elegant birds. Their calls ring in the autumn the beginning of winter and announce its early end in early spring. a wintry tour led to the resting place of more than 100 birds in the Rambower Moor in Prignitz district in Brandenburg. South-east of the picturesque village Rambow… Continue reading Cranes in the moor
Red-throated Pipit: Fall migration along Egypts Rea Sea
Hotel garden lawns along the Red Sea coast can be remarkable birdy. The sun has just appeared on the horizon for 3 hours. Nevertheless, it is already really hot. Coming from breakfast in a hotel complex on the Egyptian Red Sea, we walk first our inspection round. Here we see again the two Ruffs (Calidris… Continue reading Red-throated Pipit: Fall migration along Egypts Rea Sea
Whimbrel in Ponta Delgada Port on São Miguel
Ponta Delgada Port on São Miguel, the biggest island of the Azores, is a busy place. This is true also in terms of foreign tourists and local visitors. Beautiful is the view from the pier from one of the sidewalk cafes. On first sight, it is a surprise that a wader comes very close even… Continue reading Whimbrel in Ponta Delgada Port on São Miguel
Common Swift and Northern House-Martin: a bad year in Germany?
You could read in May several times in the media that there were fewer Common Swifts (Apus apus) and Northern House-Martins (Delichon urbica) this year than in previous years. For example, a conservation organization reported on the results of the “Stunde der Gartenvogel”, which is equivalent the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch number of these fast-flying… Continue reading Common Swift and Northern House-Martin: a bad year in Germany?
Influx of Rosy Starlings in Middle Europe
Rosy Starlings (Pastor roseus) are sociable and partly nomadic breeding birds of the steppes and semi-deserts of Central Asia and Southeastern Europe. Westward thrusts are usually associated with the mass propagation of grasshoppers. In Germany, Rosy Starlings are rare vagrants with few records per year, which usually affect rather inconspicuous pale-colored juveniles. At the moment,… Continue reading Influx of Rosy Starlings in Middle Europe