Strolling through the countryside near Rheidt, Niederkassel, the crisp air carried a melody of birdsong, interwoven with the sharp, repetitive calls of a single bird only some days ago. It was the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). This rare vagrant has now not been observed for some time. Even thorough searches were unsuccessful, although the conditions… Continue reading Northern Mockingbird in the Countryside of Rheidt near Bonn
Category: Bird Behaviour
How birds behave, strange features, fighting, eating….
Pampas Meadowlark in San Blas/ Argentina
The Pampas Meadowlark (Leistes defilippii) sits on the meadow and look at the puddle in front of him. It is a hot day and he is really, really thirsty. When he see the water, he know he had to refresh himself. The Pampas Meadowlark flies off a pole and land on the water. He dip… Continue reading Pampas Meadowlark in San Blas/ Argentina
An unexpected visitor: first-year Long-Tailed Duck in Teltow-Flaeming/ Brandenburg
On a chilly winter day in Brandenburg, a small, seemingly inconspicuous pond became the setting for an extraordinary encounter. Among the usual array of waterfowl, a first-year Long-Tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) stood out—a rare visitor far from its typical Arctic and coastal haunts. Its presence, alongside more familiar duck species like Smew (Mergellus albellus), Gadwall… Continue reading An unexpected visitor: first-year Long-Tailed Duck in Teltow-Flaeming/ Brandenburg
The Thrill of Being in an Army Ant Swarm: Antbirds in Costa Rica’s Lowland Forests
Standing amidst an army ant swarm in the Sarapiquí region of caribian Costa Rica is both exhilarating and humbling. The air crackles with tension as predators and prey play out an ancient drama. The thrill is heightened by the cacophony of bird calls and the sharp rustling of ant legs over leaves. Witnessing the symbiosis… Continue reading The Thrill of Being in an Army Ant Swarm: Antbirds in Costa Rica’s Lowland Forests
A Winter Visitor: Western Cattle Egret in Brandenburg
It’s not every day that you come across a Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) in the heart of Brandenburg, especially during winter. On a crisp afternoon, around 1:00 PM, this striking white bird was spotted on the edge of a village, fearlessly searching for food among a flock of sheep. Unlike other migratory species, this… Continue reading A Winter Visitor: Western Cattle Egret in Brandenburg
A Rare Sight: Observing a Spotted Sandpiper at Caputher Gemünde – Potsdam
Birdwatching often rewards patience with fascinating glimpses of avian behavior. On behalf of a bird call on Ornitho.de I rushed to Caputher Gemünde at the outflow of the Schwielowsee. With many observers already waiting, I encountered a vagrant Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius), a species typically found in the Americas. Its unique foraging habits and adaptability… Continue reading A Rare Sight: Observing a Spotted Sandpiper at Caputher Gemünde – Potsdam
Eurasian Pygmy-Owl in Saxon Switzerland National Park south of Dresden
As the sun sinks behind the horizon and casts long shadows across the forest floor, the kingdom of owls in the “Saxon Switzerland” National Park should be visited. In the mysterious hours between dusk and dawn they come to life. With every step the forest shines into the observer to envelop a symphony of rustling… Continue reading Eurasian Pygmy-Owl in Saxon Switzerland National Park south of Dresden
A love-struck Red-crested Bustard in the bush
Clouds appear, but they dissipate inside Etosha dryness. They produce an impressive, constantly changing light. The mood is worth a hundred panoramic shots of the wide, dry plain, savanna light, a lonely one Zebra (Equus quagga burchellii) in the salt pan. Then suddenly there is movement between the thorny bushes. A courting male bustard who… Continue reading A love-struck Red-crested Bustard in the bush
Mouse-colored Tyrannulet panting on its nest
In a mesothermal valley with a well-established cactus vegetation in Bolivia, where the sun paints the sky in shades of orange and pink, a pair of Mouse-colored Tyrannulets (Phaeomyias murina) have found a remarkable breeding site. Nestled in the protective branches of a thorn bush, her tiny nest houses 5 eggs that will soon be… Continue reading Mouse-colored Tyrannulet panting on its nest
Yellow-browed Warblers as vagrants in Middle Europe again!
High-pitched calls shout from the bushes along the banks of an oxbow of the Havel River a little river in northern Brandenburg in Germany. In the willows you can quickly spot Goldcrests (Regulus regulus), scurrying through the bushes inconspicuously but in large numbers. But it’s worth taking a closer look. And really, in this case… Continue reading Yellow-browed Warblers as vagrants in Middle Europe again!
Dance of Dolphins and Seabirds
This time the off-shore waters of the west coast of Ireland with Blacksod Sea Safari is going on. On the trip to the Atlantic we pass the island of Inishkea. Eventually we are surrounded by the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.In the distance, I spot the distinctive white wings of Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) diving… Continue reading Dance of Dolphins and Seabirds
Flight Dynamics of Northern Atlantic Shearwaters: A Comparative Insight
We are on a pelagic trip, this is a seabird watching tour. This time a stretch of water off-shore the west coast of Ireland with Blacksod Sea Safari is approached. On the trip to the Atlantic we pass the island of Inishkea. Eventually we are surrounded by the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean. The sun… Continue reading Flight Dynamics of Northern Atlantic Shearwaters: A Comparative Insight