2012 might become a good year for the Eurasian Spoonbill , Platalea leucorodia, in Germay – and a good year for the birdwatcher to observe one far away from the coasts. Right now, you can see up to 8 individuals at the “Große Flutmulde” on the Bislicher Insel near Wesel/ Lower rhine valley. Another location… Continue reading Eurasian Spoonbill in Germany
Author: Jonas Kleinschmidt
Robin attack on Cuckoo´s head
The European Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, has always been a miraculous bird. His loud and simple song and his arrival as a migrant in Europe signaling spring time made him one of the best-known birds in Europe. Quite recently his migration made the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) track Cuckoos via attached satellite-tracking devices to… Continue reading Robin attack on Cuckoo´s head
Syrian Woodpecker and Fall webworm moth
The Fall webworm moth (Hyphantria cunea) seems to like the Bazilescu Park, a small park near the home of Cristian Mihai in Bucharest. During the last weeks beginning in May he saw maybe hundreds of individuals from this species, most of them entirely white, only a few showing a variable number of black dots (see… Continue reading Syrian Woodpecker and Fall webworm moth
A Greenish Warbler in the middle of Germany
The Greenish Warbler – or Grünlaubsänger in german – could be observed in the little town of Hilchenbach (427 asl) in the Siegerland on the edge of the state of North-Rhine Westfalia. The Greenish Warbler has established as a breeding bird in South Finland and at the coast of the eastern Baltic sea quite recently.… Continue reading A Greenish Warbler in the middle of Germany
An Imperial Eagle in Romania: an unexpected surprise
May is Migration and early breeding time in Romania´s Black Sea coast. Thus it is prime birdwatching time. After having seen many of the speciality birds like Pelicans, Black-necked and Red-necked Grebes, Glossy Ibises, Spoonbills in the Danube Delta, a small group of bird photographers went for the Dobrudgea– organized by Sakertours. A big surprise… Continue reading An Imperial Eagle in Romania: an unexpected surprise
Parrots in Papua New Guinea
New Guinea is an island located just south of the equator. New Guinea is home to 46 species of parrots (s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrots_of_New_Guinea), which makes it the third most diverse biogeographic region in parrot diversity, after the continent of South America which harbours about 100 species and Australia which has 57 species. New Guinea on the… Continue reading Parrots in Papua New Guinea
Iberian Chiffchaff on Fuerteventura
Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus (or P. brehmii as it is called, too) is mainly found on the Iberian peninsula in Spain and Portugal but migrates to the south in fall. This chiffchaff is brighter, greener on the rump, and yellower below than Phylloscopus collybita. This species is a long-distance migrant, occurring every year on the… Continue reading Iberian Chiffchaff on Fuerteventura
Common Snipe in courtship flight
Common Snipes, Gallinago gallinago, are always a prime birdwatchter´s and bird photographers target bird. A beautiful patterned wader that stays hidden normally in the grass, but is seen sometimes in the open; even allowing approach at short distance. If the snipe is startled it will burst out from its cover and fly in a zig-zag… Continue reading Common Snipe in courtship flight
Pratincole in Oman´s deserts
These pictures are from Dawkah Farm on 10th of march 2012. Migration time in the desert could be very rewarding as surprises could arise everywhere. So happens with this pratincole with a wine-red underwing. First I thought of course of a. But looking at the photos I did not find the white trailing edge on… Continue reading Pratincole in Oman´s deserts
Young Pale Crag-Martin in flight over Oman
Pale Crag-Martin over the Oman Desert. Early spring in the desert could be very rewarding as surprises could arise everywhere. The birder has a chance to see birds in migration and to see the first birds breeding. A surprise was this Pale Crag-Martin, Hirundo obsolete or Ptyonoprogne obsolete patrolling over the little nice oasis of… Continue reading Young Pale Crag-Martin in flight over Oman
A Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis: From Eye to Eye
Most pictures of Steppe Eagle you find in the internet are from falconry or zoos. But the keen birdwatchter want the right stuff. Here you can see Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis, in the wild. Photographed in the desert environment of Dhofar/Oman near the city of Salalah. To cope with the growing demand for top shots… Continue reading A Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis: From Eye to Eye
Nearctic specialities on Bird-Lens
Each year, especially in fall, there is a high influx of birds from Northern American. Just have a look at the EUROTWITCH-BIRDLINE with rare bird alerts for Europe and Western Palaearctic under http://www.surfbird.de/eurotwitch. The birdline managed by our friend on the islands to the west of the continent is full with top birding observations as… Continue reading Nearctic specialities on Bird-Lens