Heath-moor landscape: spring awakening

Dusk falls over the high moor. A burring sound is suddenly heard over the bulbs and pines. A Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)  is on its territorial flight. She can also be seen briefly. A little later, the long-eared owl (Asio otus) reports with its typical call from an oak stand. In spring, life awakens in… Continue reading Heath-moor landscape: spring awakening

Spring fever not only for migrating Waders

At the end of February and beginning of March, life slowly but surely begins to pulsate again everywhere. The first birds return from the wintering grounds and the males of the meadow birds, such as the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), the Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) or the Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), try to impress the… Continue reading Spring fever not only for migrating Waders

The Cunning Magpie: A Feathered Hunter’s Encounter with a Serpent in Romania

In the wilderness, nature stages captivating dramas that unfold in completely unexpected ways. Today the scene is in Bucharest. Unfortunately, Stirbey Park is filled with horrible, loud gypsy music. It’s a shame, nowhere is you safe from it. We check out different places. But nothing to see. In the heart of the park, which features… Continue reading The Cunning Magpie: A Feathered Hunter’s Encounter with a Serpent in Romania

Vagrant Egyptian Nightjar on Fuerteventura

A Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius) was found on March 29, 2007 near La Lajita Beach on Fuerteventura. The Egyptian Nightjar was ringed and released the next day. After the onset of south-easterly winds and sandstorms from the Sahara, a Egyptian Nightjar was caught on the island of Fuerteventura at the end of March 2007, probably… Continue reading Vagrant Egyptian Nightjar on Fuerteventura

Stelvio National Park: bird diversity in the Alps

As the first light of dawn paints the sky in shades of pink and orange, a small group of intrepid bird watchers gather at the entrance to Stelvio National Park. Armed with binoculars, cameras and a shared passion for the winged inhabitants of this Alpine paradise, they embark on a journey into the heart of… Continue reading Stelvio National Park: bird diversity in the Alps

Wintering Short-eared Owls in Brandenburg

Very few people will see them in the northern German winter. A Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) flies over the moor in front of the dark edge of the forest with a typical rowing flap of wings. The sun has already set for half an hour. Fog rises from the moor. Soon the last glow of… Continue reading Wintering Short-eared Owls in Brandenburg

Western Orphean Warbler: a vagrant on the North Sea coast of the Netherlands

The morning sun keeps coming out. In the vicinity of Poppendamme I manage to photograph quite a dark Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) and even a single Dunnock (Prunella modularis). Then I drive in the direction of Middelburg, to the Arnestein industrial area. The area cannot be missed with the Kuipersweg. The whole street at the described… Continue reading Western Orphean Warbler: a vagrant on the North Sea coast of the Netherlands

Snipes: Courtship in the air

A flooded area in the middle of the swampy lowland of the Nuthe, south of the Fläming in southern Brandenburg only 30 km south of Berlin. As soon as I arrive at the wetland at dawn, snipes (Gallinago gallinago) start flying. The area was heavily flooded in the winter. Now the highest water levels have… Continue reading Snipes: Courtship in the air

Pygmy Owl in the upper Harz Mountains

A hike in the highlands around the Brocken, the highest mountain far and wide. It’s foggy and windless. It also snowed for a few days. Then suddenly a rhythmic song, a scale, can be heard. It is a Eurasian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum), which sits a little later on a dead, thickly icy spruce tree… Continue reading Pygmy Owl in the upper Harz Mountains

Wintering Stonechat in southern Brandenburg

A Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) sits on a newly erected metal fence in a renaturation area in one of the peatbog areas in southern Brandenburg. It is winter and there has already been a few days of permanent frost. Snow lies partly thick on the posts and the ground. Nevertheless, the male Stonechat obviously finds food.… Continue reading Wintering Stonechat in southern Brandenburg

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: an often overlooked winter visitor

What is this miniature version of a woodpecker in the garden in winter? He’s hanging on a fat ball. It’s lucky that we get a visit from a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor). Although the smallest native woodpecker is actually an insect eater, it doesn’t miss out on such a nutritious calorie bomb in the… Continue reading Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: an often overlooked winter visitor

Redwing in hawthorn

A park cemetery that is not overly maintained is ideal for birds in winter. Fruit for Blackbirds (Turdus merula), but also Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) is available in addition to what lies under leaves and litter, for example Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). The Hawthorn and the Common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), also known just as Barberry, are colorful… Continue reading Redwing in hawthorn