The Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus) utilizes the Southeast Asian tropics exclusively as its wintering grounds. As a long-distance migrant, this species departs its East Asian breeding territories in southeastern Russia, northeastern China, Korea, and Japan starting in August. Migration proceeds southward along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway to wintering sites spanning from Sumatra through Malaysia… Continue reading Eastern Crowned Warbler utilizes Southeast Asian tropics as wintering grounds
Category: Bird Migration
Observations of migration birds, aspects of migration
Northern Mockingbird of Niederkassel: Retrospective and Insights
Imagine taking a casual stroll, and suddenly you spot a bird that does not belong here at all! The excitement in the birder scene was huge in the winter of 2024, as the sighting of a Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) was an absolute rarity for Germany. Now, good two years after its first appearance, it… Continue reading Northern Mockingbird of Niederkassel: Retrospective and Insights
The Red-necked Nightjar: What is the difference?
When summer nights in the south glow and a mysterious purring echoes through the pine forests, they are never far away: the Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) and the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) transform the twilight into a magical setting! The restriction of the Red-necked Nightjar to the Iberian Peninsula and Northwest Africa is explained by… Continue reading The Red-necked Nightjar: What is the difference?
Siberian Nutcracker in a Baltic coastal forest
Sometimes, the wind from the Far East blows all the way to our European shores, and when the taiga’s fate strikes with an icy hand, a small ornithological miracle occurs. Suddenly, he appears—this somber yet fascinating visitor from the Siberian wilderness: the Siberian Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes macrorhynchos), whose slender, dagger-like beak speaks of vast, boundless… Continue reading Siberian Nutcracker in a Baltic coastal forest
4 Bar-tailed Godwits on a Sandbank
There stand four Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) on the sandbank, seemingly completely relaxed. They probe the damp sand and walk a few meters further, allowing themselves to be observed remarkably well. For bird photographers, this is precisely the moment one hopes for. The southern Baltic coast serves as an important stopover area for migratory shorebirds.… Continue reading 4 Bar-tailed Godwits on a Sandbank
Exhausted on the sandbank: A Dunlin at the shores of the Baltic Sea
There it sits. A Dunlin (Calidris alpina) rests amidst damp sand and small pools of water, while other shorebirds nearby continue to forage. The small wader appears remarkably unperturbed by my presence. The Dunlin is one of the most common shorebirds in European coastal regions. During migration, it stops over at the North and Baltic… Continue reading Exhausted on the sandbank: A Dunlin at the shores of the Baltic Sea
A vagrant in Ireland: a glimpse of the elusive Barred Warbler
It was one of those mornings that felt promising, with the quiet rustle of the willows and brambles on the breeze in Keem Bay on Achill Island, County Mayo. As I moved to the edge of the gulley above the stone bridge, another birdwatcher mentioned a sighting earlier that caught my attention. In a small… Continue reading A vagrant in Ireland: a glimpse of the elusive Barred Warbler
Little Egrets in Brandenburg: Why the rare species is appearing more frequently
Anyone spotting a small, elegant white egret at a lake in Brandenburg would do well to take a second look these days. A Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) might well appear among the familiar Great Egrets (Ardea alba), and the Little Egret remains a rarity in Germany. Nevertheless, there is a growing impression that the species… Continue reading Little Egrets in Brandenburg: Why the rare species is appearing more frequently
Sanderlings and a Lone Dunlin: A Moment on the Pebble Ballycastle Beach, Mayo
It’s early morning, and the pebble-strewn shore is alive with the soft chatter of shorebirds. Among them, a strong flock of Sanderlings (Calidris alba) scurries back and forth, their pale plumage blending into the beach’s muted tones. Darting in sync with the rhythm of the waves, they feed eagerly on small invertebrates. Just beyond them,… Continue reading Sanderlings and a Lone Dunlin: A Moment on the Pebble Ballycastle Beach, Mayo
Sahelian intruders into the Palearctic
I spend most of my birding trips in North Africa with a sense of discovery—always wondering which species will surprise me in the desert landscapes. Southern Algeria, especially the road south of Tamanrasset toward Tin Zaouatine, is one of those places where the familiar edges of the Palearctic meet the Sahel. On a recent journey… Continue reading Sahelian intruders into the Palearctic
Young Mediterranean Gull among the gulls of Blåvandshuk
You might simply be looking at the gulls on the beach at Blåvandshuk when, suddenly, one stands out as not quite belonging: a young Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) amidst the familiar grey and brown birds. Such a sighting is particularly interesting in early August. At this time of year, the gatherings of gulls at the… Continue reading Young Mediterranean Gull among the gulls of Blåvandshuk
Birdwatching at Blåvandshuk in Early August: Heavy Oystercatchers-Migration Early
In early August at Blåvandshuk, a mere glance across the surf is often enough to spot a string of dark dots moving along the horizon. A casual beach walk can quickly turn into a counting session: at this time of year, Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) are the dominant waders here. Eurasian Oystercatchers account for more… Continue reading Birdwatching at Blåvandshuk in Early August: Heavy Oystercatchers-Migration Early