It is dawn when I have circled the Cildir Gölü, the Cildir Lake halfway. Not far from the border with Georgia I am driving. At the sign for Akçakale I drive into a sleepy town and pass a tourist restaurant with a few seagulls and above all 2 young – probably tame – Dalmatian Pelicans… Continue reading Visiting eastern Turkey: Bird migration at Cildir Lake
Tag: Red-backed Shrike
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
Junger Neuntöter mit Wespe vom Apfelkompott
Ein junger Neuntöter (Lanius collurio) hat sich eine Wespe geschnappt und hält sie vor dem Verzehr im Schnabel. Während der Aufnahmen machte der juvenile Neuntöter keine Anstalten, die Beute nach Manier vieler anderer insektenfressender Vögel wie dem Bienenfresser (Merops apiaster) gegen einen Ast zu schlagen, um den Stachel aus dem Insektenkörper zu treiben. Der Neuntöter… Continue reading Junger Neuntöter mit Wespe vom Apfelkompott
Photographing Red-backed Shrikes in Germany
The male of the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) sits exposed on an Elderberry branch (Sambucus nigra) protruding from the hedge. For years, this small shrike has been found in the midst of a wet forest meadow landscape during the breeding season. In the North German Plain the Red-backed Shrike is still widespread, but the population… Continue reading Photographing Red-backed Shrikes in Germany
Ring Ouzel at the reservoir for snow cannons in Palandöken Ski resort in eastern Turkey
A water retention basin for the ski canons is surrounded by a chain link fence and some willow trees. I park the car half hidden by a willow bush on the bank. The early morning dawns. The stony shore seems to be a very good bird attraction here in the barren landscape. I can quickly… Continue reading Ring Ouzel at the reservoir for snow cannons in Palandöken Ski resort in eastern Turkey
Eurasian Hobby on the migration along the Black Sea coast of Türkiye
After the thick cloud cover has broken up a bit and the sea is no longer too stormy, I can take really good pictures of a low-flying Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) in the early morning lights. It’s already the second of its kind. The first was so fast that it simply passes. But the second… Continue reading Eurasian Hobby on the migration along the Black Sea coast of Türkiye
Red-backed Shrike in the Nuthe-Nieplitz region
Forest edges and small trees – especially small ones – are the habitat of the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio). A male, clearly visible, secures the half-open habitat. From time to time he calls out his unspectacular call, jumps to the ground and then flies back with or without prey on his favorite perch with a… Continue reading Red-backed Shrike in the Nuthe-Nieplitz region
Red-backed Shrike with a wasp in its beak
A young, rain-soaked Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) has taken advantage of the rain to snag a stunted wasp and proudly display it to the photographer. During the recording, the juvenile red-backed shrike made no attempt to smack the prey against a branch in the manner of many other insectivorous birds – just to mention the… Continue reading Red-backed Shrike with a wasp in its beak
Cuckoos in aggressive territorial fights
The pure aggressiveness is written all over the faces of the rivals, you almost think you can see the hate glistening in their eyes. Again and again the cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) call from the edge of a bush and then fly over the pulpit with conspicuous, slow wing beats and then land in elder bushes.… Continue reading Cuckoos in aggressive territorial fights
Leucism in the Red-backed Shrike
During a search of a known migratory birding spot in north-west Cyprus, a “white” shrike was observed on the outskirts of the area used as a camping site, which was only sparsely park-like and which at first glance could not be a Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor) despite the light color. The smaller size and… Continue reading Leucism in the Red-backed Shrike
Radde’s Accentor in Turkish Ski resort in eastern Turkey
A spring, well hidden by willow bushes, seems to be a very good bird attraction here in the barren landscape. Again and again dripping wet birds come out of a thicket of willows, shake their feathers and dry themselves. So they bathe in the hiding place of the willow. A Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) is… Continue reading Radde’s Accentor in Turkish Ski resort in eastern Turkey
Songbird migration at Cildir Lake in eastern Turkey
The planted pine grove is surprisingly productive. In the car, I patrol the edge of the forest, which is now in the morning sunlight. This draws out the resting migratory birds in masses. I patiently park my car a short distance from the pines and just wait. Several (5) Spotted Flycatchers (Muscicapa striata), a Willow… Continue reading Songbird migration at Cildir Lake in eastern Turkey