In the depth of winter, those who pull the blanket over their heads before daybreak miss out on what is perhaps Brandenburg’s most magical natural spectacle at Lake Blankensee near Trebbin. A flock of bean geese (Anser fabalis) takes off over the mirror-like water in the very first light of dawn. The scene is defined… Continue reading Mass Push-up of Geese on Brandenburg lakes
Category: Birds of Western Palaearctic
Eastern Crowned Warbler utilizes Southeast Asian tropics as wintering grounds
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
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
A different kind of birding: How to accurately survey Grey Partridge populations
As dusk falls over the fields on a late winter evening, a somewhat unusual counting session begins for the birdwatcher. Instead of scanning for birds with binoculars, the task is primarily to stand still, listen, and wait for a brief “kirrreck” call. This is precisely when the population of the Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) can… Continue reading A different kind of birding: How to accurately survey Grey Partridge populations
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
Yellowhammer Sightings in Brandenburg: A Bird for All Seasons
It is bitterly cold. Snow has covered the landscape for several days. Anyone walking along a field path in Brandenburg in midwinter might suddenly come across a whole flock of small, yellow birds. They busily feed on the few remaining seeds they can find beneath the snow. In spring, by contrast, one often sees just… Continue reading Yellowhammer Sightings in Brandenburg: A Bird for All Seasons
Young Green Woodpecker Bathing
The forest was still quiet, only a fine mist hung over the path. On a morning walk through a sparse pine forest, I passed a patch of groundwater. The first rays of sunlight cast bright patches on the forest floor. At the edge of the spring, I heard a gentle splash. A young Green Woodpecker… Continue reading Young Green Woodpecker Bathing
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