Hike in Veľká Fatra

I have spent few last days in the vicinity of Veľká Fatra National Park. Small festival took place in Mošovce. I decided to have a hike on Friday. I had only my smartphone and binoculars so I didn't take any bird photo. I will just mention sightings of soaring Lesser Spotted Eagle, glimpse of lifer Hazel Grouse or singing Tree Pipit and Wood Warbler. Have a look what I have spotted on my hike to Drieňok (alt. 1268m) and Blatnická dolina valley.

summit of Drieňok

Dianthus sp.

below the summit

Red Helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra)

Common Cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium)

Common Cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium)

Green Snaketail (Ophiogomphus cecilia)

Green Snaketail (Ophiogomphus cecilia)

Broomrape (Orobanche sp.)

Tree Sparrows predated by Magpie

Tree Sparrows that I found in March are breeding again. First breeding seems to be successful as 4 juvenile birds are hanging around. Parents are bringing food to the cavity and taking away fecal sacs. It took an attention of a Magpie, that was trying to predate the chicks. I hope this breeding will be successful as well.

position of nesting cavity

one of the parents

looking out of the cavity

obtrusive Magpie

Friday afternoon at Danube

Few images from Friday afternoon walk:

juvenile Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

juvenile Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus)

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

mating bugs (unknown species)

nest of Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus)

Bike trip to the White Stork colony in Marchegg

Flat areas of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) are perfect for various bike tours. Bike & pedestrian bridge over Morava River made it easy to access this region from Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. Less than 30 km away lies Marchegg. It is known as "Stork town" as you can find the largest White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) tree colony in Central Europe just behind the embankment in the floodplain forest of Morava River. It usually consists of 50-75 active nests in the canopies of the floodplain forest. Beside the colony of White Storks I observed colonies of two other bird species - European Bee-Eaters (Merops apiaster) breed at Sandberg in Devínska Nová Ves and Sand Martins (Riparia riparia) breed on the banks of gravel pit westwards from Marchegg-bahnhof. This time of the year is also perfect for birds of prey. I've spotted Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), pair of White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Black Kite (Milvus migrans) from the observation tower in the colony. Male Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) flew over my head near Schlosshof, Red Kite (Milvus milvus) was soaring over the Morava River and I've spotted several hunting Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo). I was lucky enough to spot Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) or Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur). Beside the birds I've seen young Roe Deer, several European Hares and a European Pond Turtle. Full list of observed bird species can be found in the end of this post.

Few photos from my bike trip from Bratislava to Marchegg:

confluence of Danube (left) and Morava (right)

colony of European Bee-eaters is hidden in the lower slopes of Sandberg

bike and pedestrian bridge over Morava River

meadows and river-arms on the Austrian side of the river

late spring can be colourful

approaching Marchegg - the Stork town

path to the observation tower

panoramic view of the colony from the observation tower

around 20 White Stork nests can be seen from the tower

...somebody lost his head

distribution of White Storks - breeding-red, winter-yellow

below the tower, some of the nesting trees are really close

floodplain forest near the colony

nearby lake, European Pond Turtles can be spotted here

colony of Sand Martins is on the opposite bank of the gravel pit

List of observed bird species:
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
large Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia )
Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
Common Swift (Apus apus)
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)
Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Common Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
European Serin (Serinus serinus)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)