Heavy rains during the last night made the path through the steep slopes of the rainforest almost impassable. Again and again I sink up to my knees in the mud while I try to follow my guide, who is carrying my luggage and using his machete to help us through the thicket of lianas and… Continue reading Magnificent Bird-of-paradise in the rainforest
Category: Bird Trips (Pictures & Stories)
What could be seen, what to see, the landscape…
Gurney’s Pitta at Khao Pra Bang Khram Park in southern Thailand
I wake up in the middle of the night to the heavy pounding of rain falling on the tin roof. It takes a good 1 hour before I can go back to sleep. Then I remember: the reason to come to Khao Pra Bang Khram Park (formerly Khao Nor Chu Chi) is the chance to… Continue reading Gurney’s Pitta at Khao Pra Bang Khram Park in southern Thailand
Anhingas in Florida
The ditch along the visitor’s trail is teeming with fish. Suddenly a sharp, dart-like beak emerges out of the water right in front of us. It is followed by a long piece of neck. Like a snake, Anhingas – the snakebird – (Anhinga anhinga) glides silently through the water. Its water-permeable plumage reduces the buoyancy… Continue reading Anhingas in Florida
Spectacled Duck in Tierra del Fuego / Patagonia
I slept poorly in the cold. When the alarm clock rings I am still very sleepy. But the prospect of an extraordinary rafting experience makes me get up. By the time I have done everything, dawn has already begun. First I have to make myself really cold-proof. Fleece underwear, fleece shirt, a shirt, the blue… Continue reading Spectacled Duck in Tierra del Fuego / Patagonia
Birding in the Marañon valley
The Spot-throated Hummingbird (Leucippus taczanowski) is one of the (almost) endemic birds in the Marañon valley and one of the top finds for an excursion in this remote northeastern part of Peru. The of the Hummingbird´s underparts are cream or very light gray and there are small glittering spots on the chest and throat. The… Continue reading Birding in the Marañon valley
Extremadura, a paradise for birders
The steppes and extensive dehesas of Caceres and Trujillo are famous for their steppe bird life. Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus), Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax), Great Bustard (Otis tarda), Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus), Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis), Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyana) and Calandra Lark… Continue reading Extremadura, a paradise for birders
Photographing birds on the Shetland island Foula
A barely inhabited island, rugged cliffs, changing light moods and unusual species of animals: this is how the Shetland island of Foula presents itself. A terrain made for nature photographers. As long as the wind does not blow the equipment or the showers from the sea put everything under water. When I visited the Shetland… Continue reading Photographing birds on the Shetland island Foula
Beautiful Sunbird on a flower in Ghana
A male Beautiful Sunbird (Cinnyris pulchellus) balances busily and without misstep on a bare stem of a Aloe, which lead to some, small yellowish flowers with red borders. There, the photographer has a chance to shoot the bird, which is aptly called its English name. The male of the Beautiful Sunbird places the rather long,… Continue reading Beautiful Sunbird on a flower in Ghana
White-vented Violetear in display
Right out of the car, a loud singing bird can be heard with a rhythmic sound. A beautiful morning in early August on the north side of Das Emas National Park in the state of Goiás in Brazil has started. The sound is generated by a hummingbird. It is the White-vented Violetear (Colibri serrirostris). This… Continue reading White-vented Violetear in display
White-browed Fantail flying over a fountain
The White-browed Fantail (Rhipidura aureola) is aiming for its future “bathtub” in low flight. A little later, the drops will splash for several meters. The White-browed Fantail had already bathed extensively in the shallow fountain a few minutes before. The feathers are soaked with water. The White-browed Fantail is obviously not afraid of water. Proper… Continue reading White-browed Fantail flying over a fountain
Forbes’s Plover in Mole National Park
It is incredibly hot. If you would leave the air-conditioned bus, you will be attacked by extremely annoying bees. But: we are looking for the Forbes’s Plover (Charadrius forbesi). The Forbes’s Plover has to be found now. We drive to a flat area in the middle of the dry savannah of northern Ghana, which is… Continue reading Forbes’s Plover in Mole National Park
Oriental Skylark versus Eurasian Skylark
The Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula) is basically an “eastern” species. Nonetheless, the species is a local migrant and winter visitor in Israel. The best places to observe them are the are alfalfa and lucerne fields in the valleys. During migration periods, these larks are regularly seen along the Mediterranean coast. The Lesser Skylark is often… Continue reading Oriental Skylark versus Eurasian Skylark