As soon as I arrived at the wetland at dawn, 6 Common Snipes (Gallinago gallinago) suddenly flew up. It takes about half an hour until the first one flies in fluttering and then stands quietly, relying on the camouflage of its plumage, between dead grass and willow branches. A little later the next Common Snipe… Continue reading Common snipes on fall migration in Brandenburg
Tag: Common Snipe
Common Snipe: Air transport in case of danger
Still completely disheveled and barely freed from the eggshell, the tiny Common Snipe chick (Gallinago gallinago) sets off to explore the surrounding area of a peat bog. With every step the little precocious bird becomes safer and braver. A little too brave, supose its mother. Because the little one steps out into the open meadow.… Continue reading Common Snipe: Air transport in case of danger
Große Rosin: Northern Shoveler after heavy hailstorm
A hailstorm sweeps across the countryside. Just after the thunderstorm ceased a male Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) flies particularly beautifully in front of us on the watch tower. From the observation tower it can be admired in flight at eye level with its bright blue and green wings and the brown belly. Although it is… Continue reading Große Rosin: Northern Shoveler after heavy hailstorm
Snipes: Courtship in the air
A flooded area in the middle of the swampy lowland of the Nuthe, south of the Fläming in southern Brandenburg only 30 km south of Berlin. As soon as I arrive at the wetland at dawn, snipes (Gallinago gallinago) start flying. The area was heavily flooded in the winter. Now the highest water levels have… Continue reading Snipes: Courtship in the air
Photography from the camouflage tent: Common Snipe
A flooded area in the middle of the slightly hilly, agricultural area of the Niederer (Lower) Fläming. As soon as I arrive at the wetland at dawn, Common Snipes (Gallinago gallinago) start flying. The area was heavily flooded during thunderstorms and rain in the wet summer. Now the highest water levels have already receded, revealing… Continue reading Photography from the camouflage tent: Common Snipe
Red-footed falcon on migration in the Flaeming south of Berlin
It’s migration time again. Six Common Snipes (Gallinago gallinago) fly up from the wetland in the middle of the agricultural steppe. The reason seems unclear to me until I see 2 small raptors circling over the area. A raptor, the one with a gray upperside, looks like a sparrowhawk; not much larger or the same… Continue reading Red-footed falcon on migration in the Flaeming south of Berlin
Whiskered terns and waterfowl at estuary on the Caspian Sea of southern Azerbaijan
The view of the shallow bay is just great. We are en route to explore the lagoons and coastal habitats between Liman, Narimanabad and Baliqcilar in southern Azerbaijan. The huge bay of Kizil Agach (another spelling: Qizilagach or Ghizil-Agaj) is the largest wetland in Transcaucasia. It is easily accessible from the causeway between Liman and… Continue reading Whiskered terns and waterfowl at estuary on the Caspian Sea of southern Azerbaijan
Northern Shoveler in heavy hailstorm
A hailstorm falls over the ponds of Stangenhagen. While many wading and waterfowl used to stand stoically by the lake, the masses of birds that meet here in late summer to moult and rest for the first time on their way to their winter quarters are now beginning to move. First, the Northern Lapwings (Vanellus… Continue reading Northern Shoveler in heavy hailstorm
American Painted-snipe at the Rio de la Plata in the Estancia Palenque
An American Painted-snipe (Rostratula semicollaris) poking in the moist soil in the most beautiful morning light in early March 2000. What a picture. It looks much smaller than the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). The Painted-Snipe is foraging in shallow water at the edge of a sedge stand, picking up prey with the semicircular movement of… Continue reading American Painted-snipe at the Rio de la Plata in the Estancia Palenque
Great Snipe photography in Estonia
A creaky staccato. A Great Snipe (Gallinago media) shakes itself in extacy. Then the snipe jumps briefly in the air. This can last for many hours at the midnight mating court, a lek. Common Snipes (Gallinago gallinago) also perform their courtship with sounds. But these are very different from those of the Great Snipe. Loud,… Continue reading Great Snipe photography in Estonia
Photographing birds on the Shetland island Foula
A barely inhabited island, rugged cliffs, changing light moods and unusual species of animals: this is how the Shetland island of Foula presents itself. A terrain made for nature photographers. As long as the wind does not blow the equipment or the showers from the sea put everything under water. When I visited the Shetland… Continue reading Photographing birds on the Shetland island Foula
Pintail Snipe: ID for a WP vagrant
The genus Gallinago provides observers with difficulties in field identification, chiefly because of the rather similar general plumage patterns of snipes and their concealed lifestyle. Most views are of flushed birds flying away from the observer. Difficulties generally arise between large-looking Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) and Great Snipe (Gallinago media) but emphasis on these two species… Continue reading Pintail Snipe: ID for a WP vagrant