Perched on the wild and rugged coastline of County Mayo, Downpatrick Head offers bird enthusiasts a front-row seat to one of nature’s most captivating spectacles. Whether you’re drawn to the thrill of seabird colonies in summer or the dynamic migration activity in autumn, this iconic location promises a rewarding experience. During the summer months, the… Continue reading Birdwatching at Downpatrick Head: A Seabird Spectacle in Ireland
Tag: Sandwich Tern
Juvenile meadow pipit in the morning dew of Ireland
In the early morning hours, when the meadows are still covered in dew, meadow pipits (Anthus pratensis) are particularly active. The dew protects their food – mostly small insects and spiders – from drying out, making them easier to find. The coolness of the morning means they are still quite damp. Meadow pipits move skilfully… Continue reading Juvenile meadow pipit in the morning dew of Ireland
Arctic Tern with caught fish on return flight
I recently had the incredible opportunity to observe and photograph a male Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) during its return flight with a caught fish on the southern coast of Ireland. Witnessing this elegant bird in action was a truly remarkable experience. We positioned ourselves in an area known for Arctic Tern activity, hoping to capture… Continue reading Arctic Tern with caught fish on return flight
Roseate Terns at Lady’s Island in southern Ireland
Imagine walking along the tranquil shores of the Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean, the rhythmic waves gently touching the sand. Suddenly a delicate bird catches your eye – its slender shape and graceful flight are a testament to nature’s elegance. This is the Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii), a very bright, graceful seabird that occasionally displays… Continue reading Roseate Terns at Lady’s Island in southern Ireland
AZERBAIJAN – a birding trip in late migration time
INTRODUCTION The goal was to use 4 days off and a public holiday to go on another birding trip to a distant country after the corona pandemic had ended. This was also a reconnaissance trip to investigate birding destinations in western Asia. We didn’t want to linger long with stopovers at any airport. So the… Continue reading AZERBAIJAN – a birding trip in late migration time
Lachseeschwalbe mit Schnabeldefekt am Kaspischen Meer
Auf dem weiten Sandstrand hatte ich mich schon eine Weile der Fotografie dutzender Zwergmöwen (Hydrocoloeus minutus) vor dem weiten, sich überwältigend erstreckenden Meer und einem fernen, dunkelgrauen Horizont gewidmet Dann ist auch eine Seeschwalben-Art zu sehen. Ich habe zuerst Probleme mit der Identifikation. Der Schnabel erscheint mir so kurz und teils gebogen so das ich… Continue reading Lachseeschwalbe mit Schnabeldefekt am Kaspischen Meer
A late migrant at the Caspian Sea: a Gull-billed Tern with beak defect
On the wide sandy beach I have been photographing dozens of Little Gulls (Hydrocoloeus minutus) for a while against the vast, overwhelmingly expansive sea and a distant dark gray horizon. Then there is also a species of terns. First I have problems with the identification. The beak seems so short and partly curved that I… Continue reading A late migrant at the Caspian Sea: a Gull-billed Tern with beak defect
Fall migration at the Black Sea Coast/ Romania
Spectacular numbers of Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus, and Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus, were the highlight of the first day. Having spent 3 days in May north of Constanta at Romania´s Black Sea coast, it was decided to try our luck with birds again in the area around the village of Vadu. The target was, to… Continue reading Fall migration at the Black Sea Coast/ Romania
An early Common Gull, Larus canus on Romania´s Black Sea coast
September is fall migration time in Romania´s Black Sea coast. After having seen the spectacular mass migration of Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus, in an area south of the Danube Delta with its wide stretch of a sandy shoreline with shallow lagoons we arrived at the sandy beach near the little town of Vadu. The shoreline… Continue reading An early Common Gull, Larus canus on Romania´s Black Sea coast