This morning, looking out over Lake Schwielowsee near Ferch – very close to Potsdam – I could hardly believe my eyes. Among the usual Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and Coots (Fulica atra), something unusual was floating on the gray water – a robust, black-and-white bird with a greenish-tinged nape and a wedge-shaped, pale bill. No doubt… Continue reading Eider on Lake Schwielowsee
Category: Rare Bird sightings
Specialities
Ferruginous Partridge in the Japanese Garden in Bukit Tinggi
A local guide growls at me, asking if I’ve already scattered anything edible. I don’t understand him at first. Yes, I say: but only mealworms. Then he scatters grain. Then we take a seat. Half of his group stands at the net further up. The other guests are very nice and readily tell me that… Continue reading Ferruginous Partridge in the Japanese Garden in Bukit Tinggi
A leucistic Common Crane in Brandenburg south of Berlin
A normal, dirty November day. In a field Common Cranes (Grus grus) are feeding on corn with Grey Geese (Anser anser). In the middle of flock, there appears a completely white bird that also seems to be larger. My heart seems to stop. There are actually only two species of crane in the world that… Continue reading A leucistic Common Crane in Brandenburg south of Berlin
Wedge-tailed Hillstar at the nest near Cochabamba
On our trip to Cochabamba we pass a road bridge that my companion, Francoise, knows well from recent years. At that time, a Wedge-tailed Hillstar (Oreotrochilus adela) had bred there. We found what we were looking for right at the first bridge near Copachunchu – just 92 km from Cochabamba. A pair of delicate wings… Continue reading Wedge-tailed Hillstar at the nest near Cochabamba
Eleonora’s Falcon: The Spring Return of a Master Predator
As spring breathes new life into the landscapes of the Mediterranean, it also marks the return of one of the region’s most remarkable avian inhabitants: Eleonora’s Falcon. Named after Eleonor of Arborea, a 14th-century Sardinian ruler known for her progressive conservation laws, this falcon is not only a symbol of natural beauty but also of… Continue reading Eleonora’s Falcon: The Spring Return of a Master Predator
Harlequin Antbird, a jungle jewel of the PN da Amazônia
The group is pushing through low vines already the whole morning, the air dense with the perfume of rotting leaves and flower sap. A distant rustle betrays something moving just off the trail. The leader stop. Wait. The silence thickens. Then—there it is. Indeed. Suddenly, a Harlequin Antbird (Rhegmatorhina berlepschi) clings to a hanging vine.… Continue reading Harlequin Antbird, a jungle jewel of the PN da Amazônia
Manaus: Ponta Poranga Lodge clearly scores with its location
Not far from the city of Manaus, which has a population of one million, yet still offers a real jungle feel. Ponta Poranga Lodge clearly scores with its location. It’s easily accessible from Manaus, yet you feel like you’re in the middle of nature. For me, a stopover traveler who wants to get a taste… Continue reading Manaus: Ponta Poranga Lodge clearly scores with its location
Singing Alta Floresta Antpitta near ranger station at Urua in PN da Amazônia
We’re barely 500 meters from the ranger station in Uruá in the Amazon; every step on the dry leaves of my boots is unavoidably audible. And yet, our senses are on edge, our ears pricked. Then I hear it too—a deep, haunting whistle. Pause. Repeated. We all freeze as if on cue. It’s the Alta… Continue reading Singing Alta Floresta Antpitta near ranger station at Urua in PN da Amazônia
White-whiskered Puffbird with butterfly pinned in its bill
This morning, while wandering the tangled edge of a riparian forest on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, I had the luck of witnessing a moment that both thrilled and puzzled me: a White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) perched silently almost on eye level, a vividly patterned butterfly pinned in its bill. It was shortly after 11:00 a.m.,… Continue reading White-whiskered Puffbird with butterfly pinned in its bill
Young Blue Tit with beak defect
Sometimes it’s only at second glance that you notice what’s wrong with a bird—or, more accurately, what’s not quite right. This is the case with this young Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), which is wandering among ripe cherries in a blooming garden. Everything seems perfectly normal until you take a closer look at the photos. Then… Continue reading Young Blue Tit with beak defect
Hawfinch in an apple tree
Rain drips from the apple blossoms. The branches sag slightly under the weight of the water. And there, hunched and still, sits a Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes). It looks too heavy for the branch, too solid for a songbird. But it’s perfectly at home, blinking slowly through the drizzle, its massive beak tucked against its chest… Continue reading Hawfinch in an apple tree
Excellent boat trip to Rockabill
The day dawned bright and clear as we departed from the pier, setting the stage for what would be an idyllic adventure. The staff was exceptionally courteous and helpful, beginning our journey with a detailed overview of the route and ensuring our life jackets were securely fitted. Departing Malahide Marina right on schedule, we set… Continue reading Excellent boat trip to Rockabill