Common snipes on fall migration in Brandenburg

As soon as I arrived at the wetland at dawn, 6 Common Snipes (Gallinago gallinago) suddenly flew up. It takes about half an hour until the first one flies in fluttering and then stands quietly, relying on the camouflage of its plumage, between dead grass and willow branches. A little later the next Common Snipe… Continue reading Common snipes on fall migration in Brandenburg

Common Snipe: Air transport in case of danger

Still completely disheveled and barely freed from the eggshell, the tiny Common Snipe chick (Gallinago gallinago) sets off to explore the surrounding area of a peat bog. With every step the little precocious bird becomes safer and braver. A little too brave, supose its mother. Because the little one steps out into the open meadow.… Continue reading Common Snipe: Air transport in case of danger

Große Rosin: Northern Shoveler after heavy hailstorm

A hailstorm sweeps across the countryside. Just after the thunderstorm ceased a male Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) flies particularly beautifully in front of us on the watch tower. From the observation tower it can be admired in flight at eye level with its bright blue and green wings and the brown belly. Although it is… Continue reading Große Rosin: Northern Shoveler after heavy hailstorm

Snipes: Courtship in the air

A flooded area in the middle of the swampy lowland of the Nuthe, south of the Fläming in southern Brandenburg only 30 km south of Berlin. As soon as I arrive at the wetland at dawn, snipes (Gallinago gallinago) start flying. The area was heavily flooded in the winter. Now the highest water levels have… Continue reading Snipes: Courtship in the air

Photography from the camouflage tent: Common Snipe

A flooded area in the middle of the slightly hilly, agricultural area of the Niederer (Lower) Fläming. As soon as I arrive at the wetland at dawn, Common Snipes (Gallinago gallinago) start flying. The area was heavily flooded during thunderstorms and rain in the wet summer. Now the highest water levels have already receded, revealing… Continue reading Photography from the camouflage tent: Common Snipe

Bekassine auf dem Zug im Fläming

Schon als ich in der Morgendämmerung an der Feuchtfläche ankomme, fliegen rätschend gut 6 Bekassinen (Gallinago gallinago) auf. Es dauert ungefähr eine halbe Stunde bis die erste flatternd einfliegt und dann still, auf die Tarnung des Gefieders vertrauend, zwischen abgestorbenen Gräsern und Weidenzweigen steht. Wenig später kommt die nächste Bekassine angeflogen, die auch prompt vom… Continue reading Bekassine auf dem Zug im Fläming

Red-footed falcon on migration in the Flaeming south of Berlin

It’s migration time again. Six Common Snipes (Gallinago gallinago) fly up from the wetland in the middle of the agricultural steppe. The reason seems unclear to me until I see 2 small raptors circling over the area. A raptor, the one with a gray upperside, looks like a sparrowhawk; not much larger or the same… Continue reading Red-footed falcon on migration in the Flaeming south of Berlin

Löffenten in heftigem Sommerschauer

Ein Hagelschauer geht über den Teichen von Stangenhagen nieder. Hatten viele Wat- und Wasservögel bisher noch stoisch auf oder am See gestanden, kommt jetzt Bewegung in die Vogelmassen, die sich hier im Spätsommer zur Mauser und zur ersten Rast auf dem Weg in die Winterquartiere treffen. Zuerst fliegen die Kiebitze (Vanellus vanellus) in einem dichten… Continue reading Löffenten in heftigem Sommerschauer

Whiskered terns and waterfowl at estuary on the Caspian Sea of southern Azerbaijan

The view of the shallow bay is just great. We are en route to explore the lagoons and coastal habitats between Liman, Narimanabad and Baliqcilar in southern Azerbaijan. The huge bay of Kizil Agach (another spelling: Qizilagach or Ghizil-Agaj) is the largest wetland in Transcaucasia. It is easily accessible from the causeway between Liman and… Continue reading Whiskered terns and waterfowl at estuary on the Caspian Sea of southern Azerbaijan

Northern Shoveler in heavy hailstorm

A hailstorm falls over the ponds of Stangenhagen. While many wading and waterfowl used to stand stoically by the lake, the masses of birds that meet here in late summer to moult and rest for the first time on their way to their winter quarters are now beginning to move. First, the Northern Lapwings (Vanellus… Continue reading Northern Shoveler in heavy hailstorm

American Painted-snipe at the Rio de la Plata in the Estancia Palenque

An American Painted-snipe (Rostratula semicollaris) poking in the moist soil in the most beautiful morning light in early March 2000. What a picture. It looks much smaller than the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). The Painted-Snipe is foraging in shallow water at the edge of a sedge stand, picking up prey with the semicircular movement of… Continue reading American Painted-snipe at the Rio de la Plata in the Estancia Palenque

Weißfedern-Goldschnepfe bei Buenos Aires/ Argentinien

Eine Weißfedern-Goldschnepfe (Rostratula semicollaris) stochert im feuchten Boden im schönsten Morgenlicht Anfang März 2000. Was für ein Bild. Sie wirkt deutlich kleiner als die heimische Bekassine (Gallinago gallinago). Die Nahrungssuche findet im flachen Wasser am Rand eines Seggenstands statt, wobei sie die Beute mit Hilfe der halbkreisförmigen Bewegung des Schnabels aufnimmt. Man hat den Eindruck,… Continue reading Weißfedern-Goldschnepfe bei Buenos Aires/ Argentinien