European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) lead a short, eventful life in Germany. The iridescent birds only arrive in our latitudes in the second half of May, and in August they migrate back to the south. In between, they have just enough time to raise their young and prepare them for the long way to the winter… Continue reading European Bee-eater: life in Germany
Category: Bird Migration
Observations of migration birds, aspects of migration
Black-winged Kite in winter near Torgau
For a birder interested in subtropical birding in the middle of german winter, there is a chance right now. Reports in Ornitho.de notice a Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) just 150 km or 2 hours drive away from Berlin. The Kite has positioned itself on the Elbe near Dommitzsch north of Torgau. With the great portrait… Continue reading Black-winged Kite in winter near Torgau
Wintering Bramblings in Apaj-Pussta/ Hungary
Icy wind drove the snow clouds in the wide valley of the Danube plain in front of it. After it had snowed for a few days, it became noticeably drier, but also significantly colder. Temperatures below -10 ° C were not uncommon. One day, one day after New Years Day 1999, I went on a… Continue reading Wintering Bramblings in Apaj-Pussta/ Hungary
Bramblings in autumn forest
It prevails, wonderfully calm autumn weather. Otherwise, autumn is associated with rain and storm. It promises to be a sunny October day. In the morning I set off for a longer walk in the Brandenburg quarry forests. The sun penetrates the haze, over which is a steel-blue sky spread. After the first few meters, a… Continue reading Bramblings in autumn forest
Black Stork: a rare but regular migrant in Germany
On a beautiful late summer day in late August, I was busy most of the day moving my winter hide to another place to rebuild it. We therefore had little time to take pictures. A little exhausted, we made our way home in the evening when we discovered a Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) a few… Continue reading Black Stork: a rare but regular migrant in Germany
Common Shelduck in contryside of the Niederen Flaeming
As far as the eye can see, the agricultural steppe spreads in the area of the Niederen (Lower) Flaeming in the south of Brandenburg. The area covers the intensive agricultural land west, south and east of Jüterbog, from Marzahna in the west to Dahme / Mark in the east. The flat undulating, slightly hilly landscape… Continue reading Common Shelduck in contryside of the Niederen Flaeming
Nature in the Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea is considered one of the last semi-natural landscapes in Central Europe. The Wadden Sea is the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world, with natural processes undisturbed throughout most of the area. It stretches from Denmark, over Germany to Netherlands over more than 1,100,000 ha and encompasses… Continue reading Nature in the Wadden Sea
Bee-eaters in Majete Game Reserve near Lengwe NP
The trip to the Majete Game Reserve makes me stop at a bush. A remarkable bird party can be seen here. After some minutes I can detect Fork-tailed Drongos (Dicrurus adsimilis), Livingstone’s Flycatcher (Erythrocercus livingstonei), Red-capped Robin-Chats (Cossypha natalensis), Bearded Scrub-Robins (Cercotrichas quadrivirgata) and a Holub’s Golden-Weaver (Ploceus xanthops) – with a strikingly flesh-colored beak… Continue reading Bee-eaters in Majete Game Reserve near Lengwe NP
Dusky Thrush as rare vagrant in Germany
It was a bit of a sensation. A Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus) was sighted in a flock of Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) in the middle of the Erzgebirge (Iron Mountains) near Stollberg, south-west of Chemnitz in south-eastern Germany. A Dusky Thrush discovered 4 years ago on Helgoland was the only report that I was able to… Continue reading Dusky Thrush as rare vagrant in Germany
The first returnees from migration: the Black Kite
The wide meadows oft he Elbe south of Wittenberg in Saxony-Anhalt is a special bird protection area. By far not as populated as the lower Rhine valley, it favors many migrating and breeding bird species. Spring is spectacular. A familiar “neigh” is in the air. The meadows are mainly characterized by the distinctive calls of… Continue reading The first returnees from migration: the Black Kite
Winter visitors: the Merlin
Progress is slow on the little-traveled pothole road. Lucky, because just 100 meters in front of me, a bird flies into an apple tree with a raptor-like flight. This is a winter habitat for the Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor), which can be seen here in the south of Brandenburg in some years for the 4… Continue reading Winter visitors: the Merlin
Small Pratincole at Yala NP beach/ Sri Lankas
Tiny grains of sand whirl up. The wind on the southern coast of Sri Lanka is very decent again. There is sand and salt in the air. The combination of wind, sand drifts and blazing sun does not allow many visitors to enjoy the beautiful beach just 100 meters from the hotel in the dunes.… Continue reading Small Pratincole at Yala NP beach/ Sri Lankas