It is foggy and windless in the Kokorin Valley. The area is named after Kokorin Castle, which towers over the valley of the same name. Already at the southern end of the long valley there are impressive sandstone formations that are so typical of this area. The numerous pine trees give the wildly romantic landscape… Continue reading Pygmy Owl in CHKO Kokorin in Czech Republic
Category: Rare Bird sightings
Specialities
A Winter Visitor: Western Cattle Egret in Brandenburg
It’s not every day that you come across a Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) in the heart of Brandenburg, especially during winter. On a crisp afternoon, around 1:00 PM, this striking white bird was spotted on the edge of a village, fearlessly searching for food among a flock of sheep. Unlike other migratory species, this… Continue reading A Winter Visitor: Western Cattle Egret in Brandenburg
Stilt Sandpiper: A Winter Visit to the Guaporé River Wetlands
When the sun rises over the lowlands of eastern Brazil, painting the Guaporé River in hues of gold, I catch a sight of slender-legged birds wading gracefully in the shallows. First I think of a Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca). And one of the bird is a Greater Yellowlegs. But among the other waders I identify… Continue reading Stilt Sandpiper: A Winter Visit to the Guaporé River Wetlands
Peregrine Falcon at the Pacific coast of Peru
An early morning at 5:50 am. My trip from Chala to Atico on the Pacific continues along a beautiful and sometimes quite winding coastal road. Then the road leads again and again directly along the coast or climbs up the coastal mountains, sometimes at a considerable height, to avoid cliffs. So I make good progress… Continue reading Peregrine Falcon at the Pacific coast of Peru
Eurasian Pygmy-Owl in Saxon Switzerland National Park south of Dresden
As the sun sinks behind the horizon and casts long shadows across the forest floor, the kingdom of owls in the “Saxon Switzerland” National Park should be visited. In the mysterious hours between dusk and dawn they come to life. With every step the forest shines into the observer to envelop a symphony of rustling… Continue reading Eurasian Pygmy-Owl in Saxon Switzerland National Park south of Dresden
Andean Cock-of-the-rock at Tunquini Field Station near La Paz
The caravan that sets off from Chailo over a swaying suspension bridge could be perfectly captured in any slave film. It is a humid midday heat when we arrive on an November day at the place that lies at the entrance to the Tunquini Field Station – Chailo. But the legendary Andean Cock-of-the-rock is said… Continue reading Andean Cock-of-the-rock at Tunquini Field Station near La Paz
Yellow-browed Warblers as vagrants in Middle Europe again!
High-pitched calls shout from the bushes along the banks of an oxbow of the Havel River a little river in northern Brandenburg in Germany. In the willows you can quickly spot Goldcrests (Regulus regulus), scurrying through the bushes inconspicuously but in large numbers. But it’s worth taking a closer look. And really, in this case… Continue reading Yellow-browed Warblers as vagrants in Middle Europe again!
An immature Pallid Harrier in the Niederer Fläming
On sunday, 13th of October, I had the unique opportunity to observe an immature Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) in the Niederer Fläming region of Brandenburg, a truly exciting find for any birdwatcher. With its distinct features and behavior, this raptor should be unmistakable in good observation conditions. But identifying immature and femlae individuals can be… Continue reading An immature Pallid Harrier in the Niederer Fläming
A putative Hybrid Herring x Caspian Gull at Lake Gülpe in Brandenburg: A Detailed Observation
It was already evening at the outlet of the Gülper See into the Havel. The air was filled with the calls of migrating water birds. A white-headed gull sat on a boat bollard. In addition to the familiar sight of swans and ducks, this gull caught my attention. The first thing I noticed were its… Continue reading A putative Hybrid Herring x Caspian Gull at Lake Gülpe in Brandenburg: A Detailed Observation
Exploring the Pelagic Birds of the Atlantic: A Glimpse at Leach’s Storm-Petrel
We are on a seabird watching tour west of Ireland with Blacksod Sea Safari. On the trip to the Atlantic we pass the island of Inishkea, which my skipper, Toby, highly recommends to me because of the many breeding birds – probably also Storm Petrels – in summer. But I’m not in the mood for… Continue reading Exploring the Pelagic Birds of the Atlantic: A Glimpse at Leach’s Storm-Petrel
Spotted Nutcracker in the Nockberge in Austria
One afternoon we almost finished our hike through the Nockberge-mountains. In some spruce trees, we saw a family of Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes). The followed us for several minutes and gave excellent views. The term “Nocke” refers to the rounded shapes of the mountains in the southern Austrian Alps, which reach up to 2,400 meters… Continue reading Spotted Nutcracker in the Nockberge in Austria
Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) on Mallorca
Spotting Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) in mid-April can be quite futile. By then, these falcons are still en route to their summer destinations in the Mediterranean, typically arriving in late April and May. Although I have never visited the island due to its popularity among tourists, a friend shared a memorable experience. During his visit,… Continue reading Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) on Mallorca