The Taxonomic Split of Cory’s Shearwater: What It Means for Your Bird Life List

Birdwatching is an endlessly rewarding hobby, especially when you manage to tick off a new species on your Life List. But what happens when one species becomes two? That’s exactly what happened with Cory’s Shearwater, a bird many of us have enjoyed spotting over the open ocean. Recently, a significant taxonomic split occurred, dividing Cory’s… Continue reading The Taxonomic Split of Cory’s Shearwater: What It Means for Your Bird Life List

Taxonomische Trennung des Gelbschnabel-Sturmtauchers

Vogelbeobachtung ist ein sehr lohnendes Hobby, besonders wenn man es schafft, eine neue Art auf seiner Lebensliste abzuhaken. Aber was passiert, wenn aus einer Art zwei werden? Genau das ist beim Gelbschnabel-Sturmtaucher passiert, einem Vogel, den viele mitteleuropäische Birder wohl schon über dem offenen Meer beobachten konnten. Vor kurzem kam es zu einer bedeutenden taxonomischen… Continue reading Taxonomische Trennung des Gelbschnabel-Sturmtauchers

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

Test of Canon RF 200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM for photography of Pelagic Birds of the Atlantic Part II

Now the experiences with the Canon RF 200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM. I have to say I was pretty impressed after the first shots. If the camera could catch the bird, the reliabiltity of tracking the eyes with the autofocus was excellent. There the Canon EOS R5 Mark II could beat it predecessor. Image quality, autofocus… Continue reading Test of Canon RF 200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM for photography of Pelagic Birds of the Atlantic Part II

Test of Canon RF 200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM for photography of Pelagic Birds of the Atlantic

For Seabird Photography I personally have been using a consistent set-up for the last years. This includes the professional flagship Canon “sports & journalism” camera recently the EOS 1 D X Mark III with a Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM lens. This in most cases without a teleconverter (TC). If using a teleconverter,… Continue reading Test of Canon RF 200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM for photography of Pelagic Birds of the Atlantic

Exploring the Pelagic Birds of the Atlantic: A Glimpse at Leach’s Storm-Petrel

We are on a seabird watching tour west of Ireland with Blacksod Sea Safari. On the trip to the Atlantic we pass the island of Inishkea, which my skipper, Toby, highly recommends to me because of the many breeding birds – probably also Storm Petrels – in summer. But I’m not in the mood for… Continue reading Exploring the Pelagic Birds of the Atlantic: A Glimpse at Leach’s Storm-Petrel

Hochseevögel im Herbst auf Helgoland

Gestern ist ein Dunkler Sturmtaucher gesichtet worden und in den Tagen vorher gab es einen Balearensturmtaucher zu sehen. Während der Eissturmvogel (Fulmarus glacialis) in wenigen Paaren auf Helgoland brütet, kommen Gelbschnabel-Sturmtaucher (Calonectris diomedea) bzw. Sepiasturmtaucher, Kappen-Sturmtaucher (Puffinus gravis), Dunkler Sturmtaucher (Puffinus griseus), Schwarzschnabel-Sturmtaucher (Puffinus puffinus) bzw. Atlantiksturmtaucher, Balearensturmtaucher (Puffinus mauretanicus) und Sturmschwalben (Hydrobates pelagicus) und… Continue reading Hochseevögel im Herbst auf Helgoland

Birding at Ponta do Albernaz on Flores

In 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… Continue reading Birding at Ponta do Albernaz on Flores

Ausflug nach Corvo/ Azoren

Um 9:00 sind wir auf dem Parkplatz oberhalb des Walfang-Museums in Santa Cruz, der alten Fabrica da Baleia do Boqueirao. Die Fahrt startet am Porto do Boqueirao. Unten wartet schon Carlos auf uns, der – trotz Nebensaison – sogar das ganze Boot für diesen Trip voll bekommt. Ok, ein Samstag bei schönem Wetter. Bei nicht… Continue reading Ausflug nach Corvo/ Azoren

Common Moorhen at Ribeira do Ferreiro/ Fajã Grande

The general area of Fajã Grande has a great potential for Birdwatching. Die different habitats include lagoons, streams, woods, coastal areas, small pastures, agricultural fields and 1 little lake. This is a place of magnificent beauty. Take the parking spot on the road between 2 bridges and walk from the main road up to the… Continue reading Common Moorhen at Ribeira do Ferreiro/ Fajã Grande

Azores: birding in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

The 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… Continue reading Azores: birding in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean