She lands silently on a lightly leafy branch. In her beak: a large lump—something soft, with legs. The high-pitched calls are intense. Seconds later, she flies on to the nesting box on a Pine tree (Pinus sylvestris). Out again. In again. Always with food in her beak. The female Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) is in… Continue reading Female Common Redstart at the nestbox
Category: Birds of Western Palaearctic
Great Spotted Woodpecker´s nestbox project
The sound is bright and harsh, almost metallic. It’s clear something hollow is being hammered, and not by accident. A quick glance confirms the suspicion: a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) is chiseling away at a wooden bird nest box. Not on a tree trunk, as expected, but right around the entrance hole of a… Continue reading Great Spotted Woodpecker´s nestbox project
Citrine Wagtail in the Krušné hory, the Czech Ore Mountains
When strolling through the vast, flower-rich mountain meadows of the Czech Ore Mountains in early summer, one might sometimes notice a bright yellow dot in the grass. A short call – sharp but not intrusive – and it’s gone again: the Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola). Once you’ve seen this lively, strikingly colored bird in the… Continue reading Citrine Wagtail in the Krušné hory, the Czech Ore Mountains
Northern Fulmar’s in strong winds
The Northern Fulmar’s (Fulmarus glacialis) flight is a marvel of natural engineering. Equipped with strong wings and a robust body, Fulmarus glacialis glides effortlessly on the gusts of wind that buffet the steep coastal cliffs. The Northern Fulmar is a remarkable seabird known for its exceptional ability to navigate the wild winds and turbulent air… Continue reading Northern Fulmar’s in strong winds
Rock Pipit and Tipula paludosa: A Unique Interaction in Coastal Ecosystems
The Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) runs through the grass with jerky movements. Stop, run, stop. This is the movement for quite a long time. Suddenly the Pipit has a long, thick object in its beak. It is a Marsh Cranefly. The Rock Pipit is a small passerine bird commonly found along the rocky coastlines of… Continue reading Rock Pipit and Tipula paludosa: A Unique Interaction in Coastal Ecosystems
Dance of the Eurasian Hobbies: A Ballet Over the Sangweiher in the Vulkaneifel
As the golden hues of dawn begin to streak across the sky, a tranquil lake amidst lush vegetation awakens in the morning light. First you can hear the chattering of ducks, Gadwalls (Anas strepera), Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata) and Teals (Anas crecca). As the sun rises, the first dragonflies (Odonata sp.) are… Continue reading Dance of the Eurasian Hobbies: A Ballet Over the Sangweiher in the Vulkaneifel
Lapwing chicks: precocial right after birth
A tiny chick runs directly on the shore of a lake on Lake Neusiedl. Still completely disheveled and barely freed from the eggshell, the tiny chick from the offspring of the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) trips off into the surrounding area on an exploratory tour. With every step the little precocious bird becomes safer and… Continue reading Lapwing chicks: precocial right after birth
Photographing Egyptian Geese with goslings on lake
The sighting of an Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) with goslings on a lake is hard to beat! The sight of the proud parent, surrounded by its young, is a beautiful reminder that spring is full of life and renewal. The goslings, usually between 8-10 in number, are so small and fluffy that they look like… Continue reading Photographing Egyptian Geese with goslings on lake
Red-breasted Goose as a vagrant in Brandenburg
The Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) is a fascinating bird that appears as a rare visitor to Germany. Its striking coloration and unusual migratory behavior make it a special object of observation for ornithologists and bird enthusiasts. So, there was great joy when a sighting of even two geese appeared on ornitho.de in western Brandenburg. Anyone… Continue reading Red-breasted Goose as a vagrant in Brandenburg
Crowdy feeder in April weather
A male Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) sits in a tree with a piece of ice on its beak. It was an unusually cool March day in the small village on the edge of the forest. Residents had hoped that spring was already in full swing, but nature seemed to have not yet made up its… Continue reading Crowdy feeder in April weather
Kummerower See: a lake in Mecklenburg´s Switzerland
The Great Rosin at the northwestern corner of See (lake) Kummerow is a detour to Mecklenburg. Our destination is located between the little towns of Malchin, Dargun and Demmin. Northern Shovelers (Spatula or Anas clypeata) are really common with almost 200 individuals and Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) as, but there are also 6 Garganey (Spatula… Continue reading Kummerower See: a lake in Mecklenburg´s Switzerland
Rare Spectacled Eider in Texel-Wagejot, Noord-Holland
Birdwatchers across the Netherlands and beyond have been buzzing with excitement over an extraordinary visitor: a male Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) spotted at Texel-Wagejot, Noord-Holland. This remarkable sea duck, native to Arctic regions, has drawn thousands of birders eager to catch a glimpse of a species never before recorded in the Netherlands. The discovery of… Continue reading Rare Spectacled Eider in Texel-Wagejot, Noord-Holland