When you stroll along coastal mudflats or estuaries, one bird that will likely catch your eye is the striking Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta). With their distinctive black and white plumage and graceful, upturned bills, these birds are not only a delight to observe but also an important species in coastal ecosystems. Let’s delve into what… Continue reading Pied Avocets, conspicuous coastal birds
Category: Bird Behaviour
How birds behave, strange features, fighting, eating….
Squamate Antbird in Cananeia, São Paulo
Early morning in December 2001, as the mist still clung to the coastal thickets of Cananeia, São Paulo, I caught a glimpse of movement—a flash of rust, black, and slate. Raising my binoculars, I focused in and confirmed what I’d hoped for: Squamate Antbird (Myrmoderus squamosus). It’s not a species one stumbles upon casually, especially… Continue reading Squamate Antbird in Cananeia, São Paulo
Bathing Eurasian Jays in Brandenburg
After a long, hot summer day in the already drought-poor southern Brandenburg, the air still shimmers slightly over the field. The chattering calls of Eurasian Jays (Garrulus glandarius) can be heard in the trees all along. But nothing can be seen. Suddenly, one of the jays lands at the edge of a shallow spring draining… Continue reading Bathing Eurasian Jays in Brandenburg
White-whiskered Puffbird with butterfly pinned in its bill
This morning, while wandering the tangled edge of a riparian forest on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, I had the luck of witnessing a moment that both thrilled and puzzled me: a White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) perched silently almost on eye level, a vividly patterned butterfly pinned in its bill. It was shortly after 11:00 a.m.,… Continue reading White-whiskered Puffbird with butterfly pinned in its bill
Young Blue Tit with beak defect
Sometimes it’s only at second glance that you notice what’s wrong with a bird—or, more accurately, what’s not quite right. This is the case with this young Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), which is wandering among ripe cherries in a blooming garden. Everything seems perfectly normal until you take a closer look at the photos. Then… Continue reading Young Blue Tit with beak defect
Hawfinch in an apple tree
Rain drips from the apple blossoms. The branches sag slightly under the weight of the water. And there, hunched and still, sits a Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes). It looks too heavy for the branch, too solid for a songbird. But it’s perfectly at home, blinking slowly through the drizzle, its massive beak tucked against its chest… Continue reading Hawfinch in an apple tree
Young Great Spotted Woodpecker is pulling on the mother’s feathers
In spring, the forest comes alive and with it a multitude of young birds are born. One of the most fascinating sights is that of a young Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) hungry and impatiently pulling on its mother’s feathers to encourage her to feed. This behavior offers us a unique insight into the life… Continue reading Young Great Spotted Woodpecker is pulling on the mother’s feathers
Common Kingfisher during mating preparation with a fish
Many people photograph Common Kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) when they gather in small ponds, lakes and canals in winter to find food. I am particularly fascinated by the colours and movement of the birds. Common Kingfishers are truly incredible subjects, because their colours can change from dark blue to blue-green to turquoise depending on the angle… Continue reading Common Kingfisher during mating preparation with a fish
Female Common Redstart at the nestbox
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
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
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