To observe and photograph Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) at the bait in wintertime in good numbers – sometimes 8 individuals on one occasion. Is this possilbe right in the center of a heavy industrialized country like Germany? Yes, it is!
The valley of the river „Leine“ and the surrounding hills called “Leinebergland” is not famous of being one of Germany´s birding hot spots. But in wintertime the charming countryside between the cities of Hildesheim to the east and Hameln to the west is invaded by keen birdwatchers and bird photographers to shoot images of Common Buzzards and other excellent birds on a winter feeding site.
Having been spend one day on invitation of Wolf-Dieter Peest has been very productive – as you can see in the gallery. Wolf-Dieter offers Wildlife Workshops but also the chance to sit in one (or more) of his hides located on ponds, small streams or at the border of agricultural fields. The Leinebergland 30 km south of the city of Hannover, with its many gravel pits, is a paradise for nature photographers. In the early 70s many gravel mining pits were built along the line between Hanover and Göttingen. Having exploited these areas, the remaining ponds and lakes are now on the way back to nature again and offer a new habitat to a huge number of animal and plant species. Many of these ponds are real paradises for nature lovers and the nature- of course. A description of the locations written in german, you will find here!
Wolf-Dieter managed to lease a good number of attractive properties over the last 15 years. There are ideal conditions for a photographic passion to shoot images of wild birds on close distance.
Although Wolf-Dieter´s favorite bird is the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), in wintertime the chances to shot breath-taking images of Common Buzzards are unrivalled – at least in the western part of Germany. Here in that countryside the Buzzards find their bait for years already. It is said, that nowhere in Germany you will find a better location to shoot images of the Common Buzzard on close distance or fighting with each other. Within a few meters only the Common Buzzard exposes itself for feeding on a bait or perch right in front of the hide to relax. Excellent frame-filling shots in absolutely natural landscape are guaranteed
Here you will find some more pictures shot of other birds on one day in that area.
If in winter conditions, the natural resources of these raptors are scarce, they find themselves on a regular basis to several long established bitch places where you can observe their behavior and shoot images . It is always a fascinating experience when you hear the buzzards calling first before they suddenly arrive on the site. What is also superb is the combination of silence, solitude and action in that nice countryside. The only sad thing was, that the Red Kite (Milvus milvus) which was seen on previous days, did not show up. Ok, next time…………
At this point I would like to thank Wolf-Dieter Peest who made these shots possible by its preparation work.
To cope with the growing demand for top shots of the rarer species of the Palearctic Bird-Lens is keen to enrich the range of pictures of birds you can find in the western palearctic. Trips to remote places or to common – but underestimated locations as described above – to capture images of rare birds of western palearctic were very successful. The nice images you find in the gallery are only a first impression, what you will find in the gallery in the “Pictures Shop” very soon. Just give me a message, if I could serve you with an image needed before the new pictures are online.
If you are interested to see the birdlist of Western Palearctic and want to be connected to other successful shootings of birds of the Western Palearctic you will see here more……