Junge Rauchschwalbe bettelt am Gülper See

An einem warmen Sommerabend, als die Sonne hinter dem westlichen Ufer des Gülper Sees unter den Horizont zu sinken begann, sitzen junge Rauchschwalben (Hirundo rustica) auf einem rostigen Draht vor dem Beobachtungsturm. Ihre winzigen Flügel zitterten vor Vorfreude, der Rachen ist voll aufgerissen. Die Szenerie lebt vom hohen Zwitschern der Schwalben, aber die Jungvögel hatten… Continue reading Junge Rauchschwalbe bettelt am Gülper See

Common Kestrel with mouse in beak

A Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) draws attention to itself with high-pitched, tittering calls. Only through binoculars does one spot the prey it has brought to the tower. Then it takes flight – with a powerful wing beat, it launches itself into the air from the ledge. It holds its prey in its beak: a mouse,… Continue reading Common Kestrel with mouse in beak

Juveniler Wiesenpieper im Morgentau

In den frühen Morgenstunden, wenn die Wiesen noch von Tau bedeckt sind, sind Wiesenpieper (Anthus pratensis) besonders aktiv. Der Tau schützt ihre Nahrung – meist kleine Insekten und Spinnen – vor dem Austrocknen, wodurch diese leichter zu finden sind. Durch die Kühle des Morgens sind sie noch ganz klamm. Wiesenpieper bewegen sich geschickt durch die… Continue reading Juveniler Wiesenpieper im Morgentau

Küstenseeschwalbe im Anflug mit gefangenem Fisch

Vor kurzem hatte ich die schöne Gelegenheit, eine Küstenseeschwalbe (Sterna paradisaea) auf ihrem Rückflug mit einem gefangenen Fisch an der Südküste Irlands zu beobachten und zu fotografieren. Diesen eleganten Vogel in Aktion zu erleben, ist natürlich immer ein wirklich bemerkenswertes Erlebnis. Aber diesmal waren die Umstände perfekt. Wir positionieren uns in einem Gebiet, das zur… Continue reading Küstenseeschwalbe im Anflug mit gefangenem Fisch

Collared Flycatcher in Wildpark Potsdam

Anyone strolling through the Potsdam Wildlife Park these days might notice an unusual song: clear, persistent, and from a considerable height – often from the upper branches of a bare beech tree. The songster? Not an ordinary forest bird, but a rare visitor: the Collared Flycatcher. The Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) is considered a rare… Continue reading Collared Flycatcher in Wildpark Potsdam

Birding Hotel Bougainvillea San José

The calls of Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds (Amazilia tzacatl), an aggressive hummingbird, could be heard when you open the door to the garden. This little, tiny bird zipped around the flowering shrubs. Tucked away in the vibrant outskirts of San José, Costa Rica, Hotel Bougainvillea is more than just a comfortable retreat—it’s a birding haven. Its meticulously… Continue reading Birding Hotel Bougainvillea San José

Ermine with rat as its catch

With a considerable jump, a Stoat or Ermine (Mustela erminea) lands from the paved agriculture track in dense vegetation of Blackberries (Rubus sp.) and Hops (Humulus sp.). Fifteen minutes later the stoat appears in the same place again. It comes back with an equally impressive jump; only this time with a big Rat – probably… Continue reading Ermine with rat as its catch

Zugvögel auf der Mullet Peninsula in der Grafschaft Mayo

Wenn sich die kühle Herbstluft über Mayo legt, erwachen die windgepeitschten Landschaften von Annagh Head und der Mullet Peninsula zum Leben. Diese Küstengebiete, die für ihre raue Schönheit bekannt sind, werden zu einem Paradies für durchziehende und überwinternde Vögel und ziehen Vogelliebhaber von nah und fern an. Die Mullet Peninsula und Annagh Head liegen strategisch… Continue reading Zugvögel auf der Mullet Peninsula in der Grafschaft Mayo

Photographing Common Kingfishers during display

Many people photograph Common Kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) when they gather in small ponds, lakes and canals in winter to find food. I am particularly fascinated by the colours and movement of the birds. The shimmering plumage of kingfishers should be photographed using a high-resolution sensor such as the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III. Even the… Continue reading Photographing Common Kingfishers during display

Red-Bearded Bee-Eater’s Mating Display at Fraser’s Hill

Nestled within the lush highlands of Fraser’s Hill, Malaysia, is a spectacle that only a lucky few ever get to witness—the captivating mating display of the Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus). I was fortunate enough to experience this firsthand, and it was nothing short of mesmerizing. With its vibrant plumage and strikingly colored beard, this elusive… Continue reading Red-Bearded Bee-Eater’s Mating Display at Fraser’s Hill

A Rufous-thighed Hawk in the Refugio Los Volcanes in south-eastern Bolivia

One afternoon we almost finished our hike through the forest of Refugio Los Volcanes in Santa Cruz province in south-eastern Bolivia. Already almost back to the accomodation, we spotted a female Rufous-thighed Hawk (Accipiter erythronemius) – a close relative to the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), an ecological counterpart, in structure and plumage, and, to a… Continue reading A Rufous-thighed Hawk in the Refugio Los Volcanes in south-eastern Bolivia

Discovery of the Black Sittella (Daphoenositta miranda) in the Central Highlands of PNG

While exploring the Central Highlands of Papua New Guinea, I came across a remarkable bird, the Black Sittella (Daphoenositta miranda). This species belongs to the Neosittidae family and is native to several mountainous regions of New Guinea. In this blog, I would like to share my observations and findings about this rare bird. The Black… Continue reading Discovery of the Black Sittella (Daphoenositta miranda) in the Central Highlands of PNG