After several visits in the northern outskirts of Bratislava near River Morava I decided to change my direction and went to check Danube. Hrušovská zdrž water reservoir is an important migration and wintering spot in Central Europe. I took spotting scope and my binoculars and went out to check if there are already first autumn guests or not. I found 3 different dabbling duck species beside Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) - 7 Gadwall (Anas strepera), 6 Wigeon (Anas penelope), 15 Teal (Anas crecca). I've spotted one female Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), 5 female Goosander (Mergus merganser) and first few hundreds of Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochards (Aythya ferina) that used to winter in this area. There were plenty of White Wagtails (Motacilla alba) and one Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea). It might be there more of them, but I spotted only one. I haven't seen any waders nor Pygmy Cormorants. May be there will be some of them in later weeks.
I think this is enough writing. It's better to check photos, videos and list of observed birds on Hrušovská zdrž water dam and Čunovo surroundings. Photos and videos of birds are digiscoped using my HTC Desire S smartphone.
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| Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) |
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| Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged or Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis) |
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| River Danube below Danubiana |
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| female Goosanders (Mergus merganser) |
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| River Danube below dam |
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| posing Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) |
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| sleeping Teals (Anas crecca) |
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| upper parts of water reservoir |
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| Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) |
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| Great Egret (Egretta alba) |
List of observed bird species:
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Teal (Anas crecca)
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Goosander (Mergus merganser)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Egretta alba)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Coot (Fulica atra)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Magpie (Pica pica)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
