Tag Archives: Spotted Sandpiper

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

Birding at Ponta do Albernaz on Flores

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KiebitzregenpfeiferIn the north of the island of Flores, there are two top birding locations, distanced only about 3km from each other. The one is the village Ponta Delgada to the east, a small site with less than 400 inhabitants, and the lighthouse on the edge of Ponta do Albernaz on the western edge. The lighthouse at Ponta do Albernaz is the most powerful lighthouse of the Azores.

The view is breathtaking, with the neighboring island of Corvo in the background. The lighthouse is accessed via an isolated roadway that extends to the western edge of Flores.

Here is the first point of arrival of the migratory birds to the island of Flores in fall. But Ponta Delgada is equally important for breeding seabirds. In Ponta Delgada, the small port and the old soccer field should be visited. The small port was productive and is always worth a view:

  • Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia),
  • Red Knot (Calidris canutus) and
  • Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

were really good birds besides the 1 – 3 individuals of Ruddy Continue reading Birding at Ponta do Albernaz on Flores →

Seltenheiten, Vögel der West Paläarktik, Vogelreisen

Ein Gürtelfischer auf Corvo/ Azoren

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GürtelfischerNachdem wir die 6 km-Wanderung vom Kraterrand hinter uns gebracht haben, statten wir dem Alten Hafen, dem Porto Antigo von Corvo einen Besuch ab. Der Porto Antigo ist leicht zu finden. Direkt unterhalb von 3 alten Windmühlen befindet sich die betonierte Rampe ins Meer. Dicke Wellen mit ihrer Gischt hüllen den Hafen in eine salzige Feuchtigkeit. Die Wellen rollen von Süden an und stoßen damit direkt auf die Einfahrt des Hafens. Gestern waren hier Weißstirnregenpfeifer (Charadrius semipalmatus), Drosseluferläufer (Actitis macularia) und der Gürtelfischer (Megaceryle alcyon) gesichtet worden. Vor allem der im portugiesischen  Guarda-rios-cintado genannte Gürtelfischer hatte es mir angetan. Der fehlte noch auf meiner WP-Liste. Wir stellen uns auf die weiße Mauer mit Blick von oben auf den Hafen und genießen erst mal den Blick. In der Ferne grüßt schon wieder Flores. Es ist auffallend schwül-warm. Die Luftfeuchtigkeit ist hoch und – insbesondere – im Vergleich zu der Kühle im Nebel oberhalb der Caldeira ist es richtig warm hier unten. Auf einmal fliegt ein grauer Vogel ein. Er fliegt einen Vulkanfelsen an, wird von einer schäumenden Welle überrascht und fliegt wieder hoch. Anschließend rüttelt er über dem weißen Schaum. Super, das ist der Continue reading Ein Gürtelfischer auf Corvo/ Azoren →

Bird Migration, Birds of Western Palaearctic, Rare Bird sightings

Azores: birding in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

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KappensturmtaucherThe Azores are well-known among ornithologists mainly for the fact that many American bird species occur, mainly in fall. Although this group of islands is part of the Western Palearctic (even Europe) on some islands, more Nearctic than Palearctic species have been found. In addition, several endemic taxa breed on the archipelago. The island group is particularly important for seabirds, which breed partially in large numbers. Migration of Seabirds in fall is another highlight. A sighting of a Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) is guaranteed.

Before an offshore (pelagic) tour, however, you might save some time to visit the famous coastal areas of the different islands. An example is the wetland area in Cabo da Praia on the island of Terceira. From the beginning of September till end of October, the Nearctic waders are piling up: Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca),  Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia), Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) and Dowitchers (Limnodromus sp.) you might see searching for food in the shallow waters of the bay. In addition, preferentially in the ports of the island, Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) can be found. The species has its most important breeding ground in the world in the Azores. However, a Continue reading Azores: birding in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean →

Bird Behaviour, Bird Migration, Birds of Pantanal

Remarks to wintering Solitary Sandpipers (Tringa solitaria) in the Pantanal

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EinsiedelwasserläuferDuring scientific research in the northern Pantanal between the 20th of December 2012 and the 10th of January 2013 I often observe Solitary Sandpipers along the muddy ditches on a farm. Of the two subspecies of the solitary sandpiper recognized the subspecies present probably was Tringa solitaria solitaria which usually has a more well-defined streak between the eye and the bill which are clearly visible on the images shot. On the other hand Tringa solitaria cinnamomea typically lacks these streaks, being more finely spotted and speckled instead. First I saw the Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) on the muddy fringes of small pools, where you could see them from wooden bridges crossing these waters. There were no more but 3 individuals which you could see at one time. In between 10 days the water level rose by about half a meter. After that you only saw Solitary Sandpipers on muddy pieces of grassland between leaves of grass. These patches were characterized by highly degraded grassland, where cattle used to feed on quite recently.

The Solitary Sandpipers were never numerous and obviously preferred the open muddy shores of various types of pools. In „Birds of Brazil, The Pantanal & Cerrado of Central Brazil“ von J. Gwynne, Continue reading Remarks to wintering Solitary Sandpipers (Tringa solitaria) in the Pantanal →