An elegant Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) glides the calm waters. The morning light dampers the contrasts and highlight the breeding plumage of this Grebe. In the background, high-pitched sounds like a bright “krrik” or “krílük” give the early morning a special sound. These are the many Common Teals (Anas crecca) that otherwise like to hide… Continue reading Mecklenburg´s Switzerland: a true paradise for ornithologists
Tag: Common Crane
Common Cranes gather on ice
A single patch of open water holds its ground on the lake. Around it, winter tightens its grip. Early in the morning, a light haze drifts across the wide ice surface, softening edges and muting sound. For weeks, temperatures did not rise above freezing. The cold feels settled, confident it will not be chased away… Continue reading Common Cranes gather on ice
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
Late winter migration of Comon Cranes
„Gru,Gru“, „Gru, Gru“. In between, a hoarse whistle. Their calls and their wedge-shaped flight formation are as much a part of autumn as the colorful foliage on the trees. Every year the migration of the Common Cranes (Grus grus) is an unmistakable sign that the cold season is approaching. Despite the frost and snow, several… Continue reading Late winter migration of Comon Cranes
The view of the stars shows the way, the earth’s magnetic field is the compass
The bird commutes between the Arctic and Antarctic: The Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) from the gull family does not grow forty centimeters long, but covers up to 90,000 kilometers a year. New findings on bird migration always open up exciting insights into the world of birds. How do birds manage their journey, often thousands of… Continue reading The view of the stars shows the way, the earth’s magnetic field is the compass
Yellow-billed Stork: a special for the western Palearctic
As if they had swallowed a stick, two individuals of a species known from Africa are standing on the banks of a chanal ot the Toshka Project. Between many Gray Herons (Ardea cinerea) two Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis) stand upright with hanging beaks. The colors are beautiful to see in the morning sun. I was… Continue reading Yellow-billed Stork: a special for the western Palearctic
Kranichfotografie in Aragonien
Das Gebiet, das ein wichtiger Rastplatz für die Kraniche (Grus grus) auf ihrem Weg in die Winterquartiere Südspaniens und Nordafrikas ist, liegt in einer Hochebene mit steppenartigem Charakter und ackerbaulicher Nutzung mitten in Spanien. Weite unverbaute Landschaften im Hintergrund werden von pittoresken Bergketten (heute mit Windrädern verschandelt) abgeschlossen. Willkommen im Reserva Natural de la Laguna… Continue reading Kranichfotografie in Aragonien
The first returnees from migration: the Black Kite
The wide meadows oft he Elbe south of Wittenberg in Saxony-Anhalt is a special bird protection area. By far not as populated as the lower Rhine valley, it favors many migrating and breeding bird species. Spring is spectacular. A familiar “neigh” is in the air. The meadows are mainly characterized by the distinctive calls of… Continue reading The first returnees from migration: the Black Kite
Laguna de Gallocanta and its Common Cranes
The salt lake and its surroundings have long been an important resting place for Common Crane (Grus grus) on their way to the wintering grounds in southern Spain and north Africa. The number of Common Crane overwintering has been increasing steadily for several years, so that over 10,000 cranes can be found on the lagoon… Continue reading Laguna de Gallocanta and its Common Cranes
Aufregung in Möwenkolonie
Schon seit einiger Zeit waren hin- und herfliegende Zwergdommeln (Ixobrychus minutus) an den Linumer Teichen nicht mehr gesichtet worden. Plötzlich gibt es Aufregung an einem der Brutflöße einer Möwenkolonie (eigentlich eine gemischte Kolonie aus Lachmöwe (Larus ridibundus) und Flußseeschwalbe (Sterna hirundo)). Einige Jungvögel hatten einen ersten Ausflug vom Brutfloß gewagt und schwammen nun im Umkreis… Continue reading Aufregung in Möwenkolonie
Extremadura, a paradise for birders
The steppes and extensive dehesas of Caceres and Trujillo are famous for their steppe bird life. Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus), Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax), Great Bustard (Otis tarda), Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus), Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis), Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyana) and Calandra Lark… Continue reading Extremadura, a paradise for birders
Ospreys attack White-tailed Eagle at the nest
Their nests are never far from water. The bulky structures are often high on a pylon for the power supply. Sometimes the nests are scattered over the landscape, sometimes they are not far from a road or a village. A nest of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) not far from a parallel main road made me… Continue reading Ospreys attack White-tailed Eagle at the nest