Tag Archives: Razorbill

Birds of Western Palaearctic, Rare Bird sightings, Where to watch birds

Heligoland and its Northern Gannets

Leave a comment

BasstölpelA spectacular whitish bird almost effortless standing in the windy air on close distance. But also deafening screeching, biting fishy smell and occasionally a drop of bird droppings from the air. It is not a pure pleasure to photograph at the Heligoland bird cliffs.

But you can exploit a unique approach in aerial photography – at least for Germany. The most impressive birds are the Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus). Full-frame images are already possible with a 300 mm focal length lens. This focal length is even perfect for aerial photography. Only for shots of the nests with the seabirds, sometimes longer focal lengths are advised. During the breeding season from April to August, you have the best opportunities to get worthwhile shots. Herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and Common Murre (Uria aalge) also prefer to breed in the steep, inaccessible cliffs at this time.

In the breeding colonies of the bird cliffs of Heligoland there is a constant coming and going. To my surprise, however, the birds Continue reading Heligoland and its Northern Gannets →

Beste Beobachtungsgebiete für Vögel, Vögel der West Paläarktik

Helgoland, die Vogelinsel

Leave a comment
Basstölpel

Die Abendsonne intensiviert das Rot der Helgoländer Klippen. Basstölpel (Morus bassanus) sind vom Klippenrand oder auf einer der angebotenen Führungen gut zu beobachten und zu fotografieren. Formatfüllende Aufnahmen gelingen bereits mit einer 300 mm Brennweite. Diese Brennweite ist für Flugaufnahmen sogar perfekt geeignet. Nur um die Nester mit den Seevögeln groß genug abzubilden, sind manchmal längere Brennweiten angeraten. Während der Brutsaison von April bis August hat man die besten Möglichkeiten, um zu lohnenden Aufnahmen zu kommen. Silbermöwen (Larus argentatus) und Trottellummen (Uria aalge) brüten bevorzugt in den steilen, unzugänglichen Felswänden. Flugaufnahmen sind mit ein bisschen Glück direkt vom Weg oberhalb der Seevogelkolonie möglich.

Die beste Aussicht hat man am „Lummenfelsen“. Der ist mit ca. 1,1 Hektar das kleinste Naturschutzgebiet Deutschlands und außerdem der einzige deutsche Vogelfelsen.

Es ist schon ein besonderes Erlebnis, das Geschrei der vielen tausend Seevögel zu hören. Jedes Jahr im Frühjahr vollzieht sich die Wandlung vom einsamen Felsklotz in der Nordsee zur quirligen Großstadt der Seevögel. Im vergangenen Jahr zählte man rund viele tauschend Paare Dreizehenmöwen (Rissa tridactyla), fast 100 Eissturmvögel (Fulmarus glacialis) und einige wenige Tordalken (Alca torda) neben den bereits genannten Basstölpeln. Besonders bemerkenswert ist die innerhalb der letzten zwölf Jahre Continue reading Helgoland, die Vogelinsel →

Bird Behaviour, Birds of Western Palaearctic

Atlantic Puffin on Hornöya in Norway

Leave a comment

PapageitaucherA strong wind from the east drives the whitecaps over the sea. Even in spring, the wind lets the photographer freeze to the bone. The sky is overcast and the persistent strong wind whirls the sand up to the edge of the cliffs. First, it is a steep, narrow stairs to climb up to the lighthouse, which stands on a rock spur. When I get to the top, I find that many Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) duck into their nesting holes for protection from the wind. Atlantic Puffins are relatively small birds which stand its ground in a crowded bird colony by settling in self-dug burrows. These burrows are dug usually up to 4 feet below the surface. Like most other seabirds they are colonial breeders. Underground Puffins rear their offspring. With feet and beak a comfortable housing is created that is safe from attacks by larger birds as sea gulls. This does not seem to be a promising start for a photo session. I am crouching in a grassy hollow in the lee of the lighthouse and I already reproach myself that it was a stupid idea to drive to the small island and in the very end this trip would be a waste of time. Later, however, I am astonished to see an Atlantic Puffin rising in front of me and being lifted into the air by a Continue reading Atlantic Puffin on Hornöya in Norway →

Bird Behaviour, Birds of Western Palaearctic, Where to watch birds

Where to photograph seabirds in flight in the UK

Leave a comment

EissturmvogelIn the age of digital full-frame cameras with a very fast autofocus, flight-shot photography is possible that used to be (almost) unthinkable only some years ago. Ducks starting trembling over the water were (and are) still quite easy. But who managed to photograph a flying Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)? Other land birds were usually only photographed at take-off. Seabirds, on the other hand, provide the best conditions to make shoot excellent aerial images quite easy. These birds are numerous, they are tall and therefore do not move too fast. At hatching, they appear on land – albeit often on fairly inaccessible shores. Besides, they are not shy at all in flight and approach sometimes on short distances.

These are a lot of reasons why seabirds are still favored by bird photographers today. They are the Continue reading Where to photograph seabirds in flight in the UK →

Bird Migration, Rare Bird sightings

Stejneger’s Scoter at Alicante, Valencia

Leave a comment

Höckerschnabelente ssp. An adult male Stejneger’s Scoter (Melanitta deglandi stejnegeri) could be photographed at Pinet beach, La Marina Coast, Alicante.  This Asian White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi stejnegeri) is the second record for Spain and is a real MEGA .

The bird was seen at least from the 6th of December at La Marina together with Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan), Northern Gannets (Sula bassana), Shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and Razorbills (Alca torda).

The last Stejneger´s Scoter in Europe I heard from, was detected in Norway in Fauske, Nordland, where an adult drake was observerd at Røvika in July 2016 and a individual (maybe the same?) in June near Berlevåg, Finnmark.

The Stejneger´s Scoter is a relative to the White-winged Scoter of North America (Melanitta deglandi). This species is one of three species/subspecies of the Melanitta fusca – group. Theses Scoters are found throughout the Holarctic waters. The assemblage includes Melanitta deglandi stejnegeri of Eastern Asia, White-winged Scoter Continue reading Stejneger’s Scoter at Alicante, Valencia →

Bird Migration, Where to watch birds

Slettnes – Gambell-Seawatching: a photographers point of view

Leave a comment

EiderenteA Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) with a yellow bill might be not the only difference what you realize, if you are seabirding on different locations. Well, Somateria mollissima v-nigrum is breeding along the arctic coasts of north-east Siberia to Alaska and shows a yellow bill unlike its relatives from the northern part of Europe. But is this the only difference when seawatching? Along island or peninsula edges seabirds are living and migrating not only in the Palearctic but also in the Nearctic. Bird-lens.com managed trips now to 2 hotspot destinations in the high arctic. One location, Slettnes is on the northern tip of Norway, on the Nordkyn peninsula. This is the best location to spot the migration out to the Barents Sea.

On contrast, Gambell, a small village on the north-western tip of the remote St. Lawrence Island of Alaska, is an outstanding outpost not only for North American Birders to observe impressive bird migration along the shore of the island to the Bering Sea further north.

After having performed these trips, it is time to compare the chances and challenges in observation and photography of migrating pelagic Continue reading Slettnes – Gambell-Seawatching: a photographers point of view →

Bird Migration, Bird Trips (Pictures & Stories), Birds of Western Palaearctic

Red-throated Diver: Migration in May in front of Nordkyn/ Norway

Leave a comment

SterntaucherA moment ago it had rained. Now again, you are standing in the most beautiful sunshine. Well, that one is on the lee side of the lighthouse, because the east wind whistles pretty much. In a distance on the horizon you see migratory birds flying ahead against the heavy wind towards the Barents Sea.

In the distance, migrating Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata) can be discovered. They are not the only migratory birds. Other seabirds are on the trip as well. There are King Eider (Somateria spectabilis), Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis), Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra) and Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus), all can be seen on off-shore over the rough sea. Now – in early May – the passage of Red-throated Divers has reached its peak and Red-throated Divers make with the largest group of migrating birds. Again and again you can hear a strange cackle. After a while, normally you observe a Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) close to see at or above the lighthouse. But the main part of Red-throated Divers pulls over the open sea. Even from a long distance you can recognize them well due to their characteristic flight pattern. The feet Continue reading Red-throated Diver: Migration in May in front of Nordkyn/ Norway →

Bird Trips (Pictures & Stories), Birds of Western Palaearctic

Handa, a Scottish bird island

Leave a comment

SkuaSpray foam feet high. The air is impregnated to the saturation limit in puccinellia. Metre-high waves crash against the craggy, rocky shores that extend indomitable and majestic into the air. Just having left the small fishing port of Tarbet in County Lairg, Highland in a calm sea, a beautiful sound between a rocky coast and a rocky island enchants the visitor. The crossing to the bird island is short-lived. The landing site is an unaffected looking, lonely sandy beach. But this is the east side facing away from the Atlantic sea. On the west side, the world looks very different. Sun rays breaking through the cloud cover giving the wild scenery wrapped in warm colors a melancholy charm. The air is filled with the piercing cries of a countless multitude of seabirds. Despite cold, wind and water they have set their breeding colony on Scotland’s west coast.

The visitor is first simply overwhelmed when the first rays of the wild scenery of moss and rocks give off warm colors wrapped in melancholy charm. In the distance the Continue reading Handa, a Scottish bird island →

Bird Migration, Bird Trips (Pictures & Stories), Birds of Western Palaearctic

Seabird migration from a boat in Nordkyn/ Norway

1 Comment

PapageitaucherIt is hard to believe, but also on the northern edge of the WP (Western Palearctic) seabirds are living and migrating. To see them, bird-lens.com managed a trip in the beginning of May to the northern tip of Norway, to the Nordkyn peninsula. This is the best location to spot the migration out to the Barents Sea. The Nordkyn is the next peninsula west of Varanger, which might be more known.

After trips to the western edge of the WP to see and photograph migrating pelagic birds, now migrating seabirds with a strictly northern circle of migration could be observed from the land but also on an off-shore boat trip with Vidar Karlstad.

I went out on his boat to the excellent migrating grounds north of Continue reading Seabird migration from a boat in Nordkyn/ Norway →