The hike in the Fonsbach Valley east of the Rhöndorf Forest Cemetery in the Siebengebirge hills during the winter of 1987 was almost over. Harsh snow crunched underfoot. Dusk was falling. But in the gathering darkness, birds could be seen on the forest floor among the leaves and drying snow. Masses of birds. Countless Bramblings… Continue reading Brambling-Invasion in the Siebengebirge in Winter 1987/88
Tag: Beech
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
Where to watch birds in Germany: Fichtelgebirge
The stars sparkle from the cloudless firmament. In the dark the hike up to the mountain started. The markings lead you via forest paths and logging trails. After about 2, 5 hours and 4 km you can start the final spurt to the summit. When you arrive, you can feel the coolness of the early… Continue reading Where to watch birds in Germany: Fichtelgebirge
Hazel Grouse: the results
In total we visited 5 different locations where the local guides had encountered several individuals of the Hasezl Grouse the last weeks or even years. The last encounter sometimes was only 3 days before. 4 of the locations were locations like a lek – where you could hear the mating song and the mating
Hazel Grouse: the hide
Additionally finding Hazel Grouse means knowing the behavior of the Hazel Grouse. E.g. the Hazel Grouse is – although a shy bird – quite responsive or even aggressive during the mating season which has a first peak in September and then again in March/ April. In this time you can hear the mating call or… Continue reading Hazel Grouse: the hide
Hazel Grouse: the habitat
Finding Hazel Grouse is equivalent of knowing the habits of the Hazel Grouse which means also knowing and recognizing the habitat of the Hazel Grouse. The search for the right habitat is not eased by the fact, that the Hazel Grouse has at least 3 different habitat requirements during the year in the different seasons.… Continue reading Hazel Grouse: the habitat
Finding Hazel Grouse in the Carpathians
Hazel Grouses (Bonasa bonasia) are certainly one of the most thought-after bird species for naturalist and bird photographers in western Palearctic. This is in parts due to the fact, that this bird is one of the few autochthon representatives of the Phasianidae family in Middle Europe. And: actually it is a very beautiful bird. Unfortunately… Continue reading Finding Hazel Grouse in the Carpathians