MONTENEGRO – a birding trip to the south-western Balkan in May

INTRODUCTION The main goal was to carry out the first vacation in post-Corona times. For this purpose, we were looking for a country that is rather relaxed when it comes to entering the country. Also in the foreground is to relax and to photograph the Rock Partridge or a few good eastern European Warblers and… Continue reading MONTENEGRO – a birding trip to the south-western Balkan in May

White-backed Woodpeckers in Durmitor National Park/ Montenegro

For some time we had fought our way up the hiking trail, interrupted again and again by ankle-deep fields of snow. Then, at about 1,650 m above sea level, a woodpecker squeaking can be clearly heard. That can only be the White-backed Woodpeckers (Dendrocopus leucotos)? I play the calls and the drumming from the tape.… Continue reading White-backed Woodpeckers in Durmitor National Park/ Montenegro

Woodpeckers as indicators of natural forest ecosystems

Central Europe is an old cultural landscape in which practically no area has been able to preserve its natural state. The far-reaching anthropogenic changes also affect the remaining type of forest strongly, that it is not known exactly what they look like under natural conditions. Largely unchanged forests can only be found on small remaining… Continue reading Woodpeckers as indicators of natural forest ecosystems

Lammergeier at Mount Olymp/ Macedonia

The rush of wind through feathers is the only sound to break the silence as a huge bird glided by just a few meters from a crack high in the mountains around Mount Olymp. A Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) soars above the mountains, scavenging for a meal. It is the only species of… Continue reading Lammergeier at Mount Olymp/ Macedonia

Weißrückenspecht in Park in Estland

Nach einem erfolgreichen Foto-Shooting der Doppelschnepfe (Gallinago media) will ich mich zum Abschluß dem Gutspark des Haeska Manor House widmen. Der zur Pension umgebauten Gutshof weist einen weitläufigen Park mit vielen alten Bäumen auf. Neben einen paar schönen alten Eichen gibt es auch alte Linden. In alten Parkanlagen soll – wie mir einheimische Naturschützer sagten… Continue reading Weißrückenspecht in Park in Estland

White-backed Woodpecker in the Croatian Karst Mountains

Soft contact calls reveal a woodpecker nearby. A view through binoculars: clearly a White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos). The white ribbons on the folded wings can be seen very well. He looks more like a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor). Only bigger. A short “giggle”. I realize that there are 2 birds. One is only a… Continue reading White-backed Woodpecker in the Croatian Karst Mountains

Habichtkauz in den Urwäldern von Kocevje/ Slowenien

Ein Habichtskauz (Strix uralensis) ist einer der meistgesuchten Eulen. Und das will was heißen. Die große Ausgabe des Waldkauz (Strix aluco) ist zwar inzwischen wieder Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald heimisch, nachdem nach seiner Wiedereinbürgerung 1989 die erste erfolgreiche Naturbrut stattfand. Doch die meisten Vogel-Fotografen versuchen den Habichtskauz auf einem Skandinavientrip in Schweden oder Finnland mit Hilfe… Continue reading Habichtkauz in den Urwäldern von Kocevje/ Slowenien

White-backed Woodpeckers in Strandzha Nature Park/ Bulgaria

White-backed Woodpeckers (Dendrocopus leucotos) are always high on WP-birdwatcher´s lists. But the subspecies lilfordi is even a better mega bird. After having seen birds of the lowlands, I wanted to make the next day the big day for woodpeckers. Starting off very early, we noticed that the weather was however very misty with some little… Continue reading White-backed Woodpeckers in Strandzha Nature Park/ Bulgaria