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?
Tag: Bird migration
Photo of a Eurasian Dotterel in the magazine “Der Falke” (Issue 10/2026)
A blog post published on June 2, 2014, on www.bird-lens.com attracted significant interest. The renowned ornithological journal “Der Falke” (Issue 10/2026) used a photo of a female Eurasian Dotterel (*Eudromias morinellus*)—taken at Saariselkä Kaunispää near Inari, Finland—to illustrate an article in the “Ornithologie kompakt” (Ornithology in Brief) section. In June 2003, I had headed for… Continue reading Photo of a Eurasian Dotterel in the magazine “Der Falke” (Issue 10/2026)
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
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
Young Mediterranean Gull among the gulls of Blåvandshuk
You might simply be looking at the gulls on the beach at Blåvandshuk when, suddenly, one stands out as not quite belonging: a young Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) amidst the familiar grey and brown birds. Such a sighting is particularly interesting in early August. At this time of year, the gatherings of gulls at the… Continue reading Young Mediterranean Gull among the gulls of Blåvandshuk
Birdwatching at Blåvandshuk in Early August: Heavy Oystercatchers-Migration Early
In early August at Blåvandshuk, a mere glance across the surf is often enough to spot a string of dark dots moving along the horizon. A casual beach walk can quickly turn into a counting session: at this time of year, Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) are the dominant waders here. Eurasian Oystercatchers account for more… Continue reading Birdwatching at Blåvandshuk in Early August: Heavy Oystercatchers-Migration Early
Early migratory movements on the Pomeranian coast: observations near Dziwnów in mid-July
Sometimes, it is precisely those days when you simply want to “take a quick look” that you suddenly realize: there is more activity here than expected. In mid-July, unusually lively bird migration was observed on the Pomeranian coast near Dziwnów. A scan of the coastline revealed a whole range of species already on the move.… Continue reading Early migratory movements on the Pomeranian coast: observations near Dziwnów in mid-July
Bird migration as a research object
Bird migration is a constant research object and there are always new findings. Although birds know neither a map nor a calendar, they know exactly when and where to fly. Their innate instinct shows them the way. At night they orientate themselves by the starry sky, during the day by the position of the sun… Continue reading Bird migration as a research object