From its nest in an African Mahagony (Thaya senegallensis) a European Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia turtur) flies over our heads to an acacia tree. There she obviously finds dead small, fine twigs and stalks. When it flies back practically the same way for the third time – this time with a fine twig in its beak –… Continue reading Turtle dove carrying nesting material in Abu Simbel
Tag: European Turtle-Dove
European Bee-eater: life in Germany
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) lead a short, eventful life in Germany. The iridescent birds only arrive in our latitudes in the second half of May, and in August they migrate back to the south. In between, they have just enough time to raise their young and prepare them for the long way to the winter… Continue reading European Bee-eater: life in Germany
European Bee-eater: life in Germany
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) lead a short, eventful life in Germany. The iridescent birds only arrive in our latitudes in the second half of May, and in August they migrate back to the south. In between, they have just enough time to raise their young and prepare them for the long way to the winter… Continue reading European Bee-eater: life in Germany
Pirol in Obstbaumspitze
Ein leuchtendes Gelb ist aus einer Baumkrone im ersten Licht zu erkennen. Ein goldgelber Pirol (Oriolus oriolus) sitzt auf einem flechtenüberzogenen, spärlich belaubten Ast. Natürlich kann man einen Pirol auch in Deutschland entdecken. Denn in den warmen Sommermonaten, zwischen Anfang Mai und Ende August, leben und nisten sie fast überall. Doch häufig hört man nur… Continue reading Pirol in Obstbaumspitze
Starker Bestandseinbruch bei der Turteltaube
Die neueste britische Brutvogelumfrage, Breeding Bird Survey, (BBS) hat gezeigt, dass die Brutzahlen der Turteltaube (Streptopelia turtur) einen neuen Tiefpunkt erreicht haben. Wie zu erwarten, nehmen auch die Bestände zahlreicher anderer Vogelarten der Feldflur weiterhin deutlich ab. Neben der Turteltaube nehmen auch andere Arten wie das Rebhuhn (Perdix perdix) oder die Feldlerche (Alauda arvensis) teilweise… Continue reading Starker Bestandseinbruch bei der Turteltaube
Kiskunsag Nationalpark im zeitigen Frühjahr
Der Winter hinterläßt ein grau-braunes Landschaftskleid. Im zeitigen Frühjahr werden jedoch große Bereiche der Niederung überflutet, und die ausgedehnten Flachwasserbereiche stellen ein Eldorado für durchziehende Wat- und Wasservögel dar. Hauptsächlich sind es Uferschnepfen (Limosa limosa), Kampfläufer (Calidris pugnax) und andere langbeinige Limikolen, die sich neben diversen Entenarten in riesigen Schwärmen einfinden. Mit Glück sieht man… Continue reading Kiskunsag Nationalpark im zeitigen Frühjahr
Eurasian Wryneck and other birds in Bulgaria
I am now back from a trip to Bulgaria for quite a while. As I wrote already in the Bee-eater-Blog, the main purpose was to photograph European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster). But as I mentioned in the recent blog, Bulgaria is full of wildlife which could be found relatively easy. As most of the mornings were… Continue reading Eurasian Wryneck and other birds in Bulgaria
Hide Photography in Bulgaria in July; Images from the Dobruja
The north-eastern countryside of Bulgaria called Dobruja or in Bulgarian Dobrudzha or in romanian Dobrogea was not famous of being one of Bulgaria´s birding hot spots for bird-lens before. But a trip to the Romanian Dobrogea in may 2012 was already very productive. Thus maybe an excursion to that thinly populated area south of the… Continue reading Hide Photography in Bulgaria in July; Images from the Dobruja
All 4 Sylvia – Warblers in Weilbacher Kiesgrube near Frankfurt
This morning all 4 species of Sylvia-Warblers which regularly occur in Germany could be seen. First the male of a Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) showed up in the first light of this chilly but sunny morning. Then a beautiful singing individual of a Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) could be seen very near to a observation tower… Continue reading All 4 Sylvia – Warblers in Weilbacher Kiesgrube near Frankfurt
Birding around Frankfurt Airport – Schwanheimer Duene
There are not too many foreign birdwatchers coming to the middle of Germany for just birding. But Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is the gateway to continental Europe. Many airlines use the Airport as a hub for connecting flights all over the world. If you have spare time between two flight and you are a birdwatcher, you… Continue reading Birding around Frankfurt Airport – Schwanheimer Duene
Fall migration at the Black Sea Coast/ Romania
Spectacular numbers of Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus, and Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus, were the highlight of the first day. Having spent 3 days in May north of Constanta at Romania´s Black Sea coast, it was decided to try our luck with birds again in the area around the village of Vadu. The target was, to… Continue reading Fall migration at the Black Sea Coast/ Romania
Migration of raptors over the Macin Mountains National Park
Because Macin Mountains is famous as an important migration hotspot for raptors in autumn, we decided to visit this site after a visit in May again at the end of September. An excellent choice. Arriving only at around 11:00h the activity of the “normal” birds were low. But the highlight, we were looking for, was… Continue reading Migration of raptors over the Macin Mountains National Park