On a warm summer evening, as the sun began to dip below the horizon on the southern shore of Gülper See (Lake Guelpe) young Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) perched precariously on a rusty wire, its tiny wings quivering with anticipation. The scene was alive with the twittering of swallows, but the juveniles all had a… Continue reading Young Barn Swallow begging for food on a wire
Tag: Spotted Redshank
Waders on migration on Malaysia´s West coast
2 Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) are waiting at the waterline in front of the Gold Coast Morib Resort. But even waders cannot cope with a rapidly rising tide. The flock of various species of shorebirds had already begun to gather and were being pushed closer to shore by the rising water level. Some small mangrove… Continue reading Waders on migration on Malaysia´s West coast
Das Bingenheimer Ried – ein Vogelparadies
Inmitten eines einzigartigen Naturraumes in Mittelhessen liegt der Auenverbund Wetterrau. 4 Flüsse, die alle vom Vogelsberg kommen, bilden die Aue. Die breiten Bänder der Flussauen der Wetter, der Horloff, der Nidder und der Nidda bilden den Auenverbund, der sich mit dem Fluss Nidda – bei Frankfurt in den Main entwässert. Mitten drin liegt in die… Continue reading Das Bingenheimer Ried – ein Vogelparadies
Sandy beaches on Sylt
Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica), Eurasian Curlews (Numenius arquata), Spotted Redshanks (Tringa erythropus), Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) and – maybe – even one Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) in the backlight of the evening. Some flocks of waders are flying in. Evening mood at the Lister Ellenbogen (elbow). You might think you are alone in the world.… Continue reading Sandy beaches on Sylt
Dunkler Wasserläufer in Schneegestöber
Es ist kalt in Lappland noch Mitte Mai. Schnee liegt am Straßenrand. Dann verdicken sich die Wolken und leise, langsam rieselt der Schnee. Der Schneeregen nimmt an Kraft zu, er entwickelt sich zu einem veritablen Schneefall und steigert sich zu einem Schneegestöber. Wenig später ist sogar ein richtiger Schneesturm zu vermelden. Ein Moorschneehuhn (Lagopus lagopus)… Continue reading Dunkler Wasserläufer in Schneegestöber
Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri, as a vagrant for the Western Palearctic
Terns in general are excellent fliers, which may, from time to time, appear as vagrants outside of their home range. Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri, are no exception in that. Only some days ago, a Forster’s Tern was found on the coast of Ireland. An adult winter Forster’s Tern could be observed at Corronroo along with… Continue reading Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri, as a vagrant for the Western Palearctic
Moorhen chases Snipe at Rieselfelder Munster
Migration season starts in Germany right now. One of the best places to see especially the early fall migrants – the waders – is the old sewage farm in the north of Muenster, called Rieselfelder Munster. Early morning, 6:30 am. Still dawn. Haze over the water and I am watching through a well located hide… Continue reading Moorhen chases Snipe at Rieselfelder Munster
Caspian Seashore & Volga delta in May
Bird richness on the northern shore of the Caspian Sea is amazing. Caspian Sea is counted the largest inland body of water in the world. More than 100 rivers provide inflow to the Caspian, with the Volga River being the largest. Pristine floodplain forests, flooded grasslands to the horizon, eagles on almost every tree. A… Continue reading Caspian Seashore & Volga delta in May
Keoladeo National Park, a paradise also for Western Palearctic birds
Is it possible to combine business and birding in India? The country is large, the distance too and most business is performed in a metropolitan area – New Delhi. Although supposedly in the area of New Delhi only 250,000 people live after the Indian census of 2011, but there are at least several million in… Continue reading Keoladeo National Park, a paradise also for Western Palearctic birds
Spoon-billed Sandpipers and other waders in Thailand on wintering grounds
The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is one of the big megas in the birding space – not only for twitchers, but Thailand in general is an excellent birding destination. During a trip to Thailand in January 2011 I was looking for wintering birds from the palearctic. The whole trip was a great success, seeing especially many waders… Continue reading Spoon-billed Sandpipers and other waders in Thailand on wintering grounds
Cranes on Happy Island, Chinas´s Helgoland, Part I
China’s Helgoland? Is there such a thing? Well, it depends on what you consider to be the specific characteristic of the “Shijiu Tuo Island” or “Bodhi Island” (in English simply “Happy Island”) mentioned island. Shijiu Tuo Island or simple Happy Island, about 3 hours drive from the seaside resort of Beidaihe located on the Yellow… Continue reading Cranes on Happy Island, Chinas´s Helgoland, Part I
Birds in autumn in the Comana Natural Park / Romania
Having seen a spectacular bird migration in the Macin Mountains and at the Black Sea Coast near Constanta we decided to look for birds on a different spot. Maybe not really an important migration hotspot but a wetland near the capital of Romania should be still good at the end of September. An excellent choice.… Continue reading Birds in autumn in the Comana Natural Park / Romania