Early February in Morava Floodplain

After the lifeticks earlier in the week I decided to make a birding walk in Morava floodplain NW from Bratislava. Area offers good habitats for birds of prey. I hoped to spot at least Red Kites or White-tailed Eagles. Near the waste dumping site I found at least 9 Red Kites. I observed short flyover of male Hen Harrier over the embankment. Pair of White-tailed Eagles was roosting in the meadow. After spotting my first Great Grey Shrike of the year I was already satisfied with the walk. I didn't know that I will have an opportunity to spot pair of Eastern Imperial Eagles and as I will walk to railway stop back home I'll find Water Pipit and Green Sandpiper feeding on the gravel bank of Morava River.

Check the photos and list of observed bird species during the day.

morning in Lamač

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

floodplain meadows

Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

Goosander (Mergus merganser)

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

White-tailed Eagles well hidden in the grass

Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)

tea birding as usual - Bao Zhong oolong from Taiwan

List of observed bird species:
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Goosander (Mergus merganser)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Egretta alba)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Common Gull (Larus canus)
large Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
Common Magpie (Pica pica)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

Beast from the East

On Tuesday I received good news from my colleague that two other Slovak birdwatchers want to see reported White-billed Diver (Gavia adamsii) in Vienna and we could join them. Our small twitching expedition started after 13:00 from Bratislava and in an hour we were in the southeastern outskirts of Vienna. During our ride we spotted two White-tailed Eagles soaring near the bridge in Hainburg. It was a good sign. We parked near Neue Donau canal and had a short walk to the nearest bridge. At first it gave us only short glimpses as the bird was diving for a pretty long time and could swim long distances under the water. For a short while the only birds I found were Goosanders and a Coot. I was the last from the group who had the luck to spot this "Beast from the East" in full beauty. Bird decided to clear its feathers so we were able to observe it on the water surface. I couldn't compare it to anything as my only Diver species observed before was Black-throated Diver and this bird was simply huge and incredible. Its bill was really frightening, like a pair of extreme sharp scissors. Then the bird started to dive again but for a several times it emerged not more than 30-40 meters from us. This bird was a lifer for all members of our small expedition. There is only one record of White-billed Diver in Slovakia in modern era. One bird spent few weeks in Bratislava in January and February 1994. Now almost everybody can understand that such a rarity found in Vienna is simply irresistible for any of Slovak birders living close to Vienna. After horrible time on Saturday that I spent counting White-tailed Eagles in wind, freezing rain and cold I mentioned that I wish to have some interesting bird observation in return in following months. I didn't thought that I will observe three Whooper Swans and one Bewick's Swan on Tuesday and amazing White-billed Diver on Wednesday. Two arctic lifelist ticks in just two days in Central Europe between Vienna and Bratislava are simply unbelievable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Swan species in my spotting scope

While having a walk at Kuchajda Lake in Bratislava to check if the Canada Goose is still in the flock of Mute Swans I received a message. My colleague wrote me that White-billed Diver was seen in Vienna. Immediately as I came home I checked the web for the rare bird sightings in Austria. I discovered that beside mentioned Diver there are 3 Whooper Swans and Bewick's Swan just few kilometres from Bratislava. As I knew that it would be impossible to connect with White-billed Diver in Vienna on Tuesday I decided to have a walk and try to find those Swans.

 I crossed Morava River in Devinska Nova Ves.

I spotted Goosanders, Mallards, Teal, Wigeons, Great Cormorants or Great Egrets on the river and its banks.

Two young Hen Harriers were hunting over the meadows on the Austrian side.

I reached the site, where the Swans were observed. I met with an Austrian birdwatcher and had a little talk. We counted 69 Swans in the flock, that was grazing in the field.

Three of them were Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) and they were accompanied by one Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus). This small Tundra Swan was an incredible lifer for me. Despite the distance I had great opportunity to compare all three European species of Swans without moving the spotting scope

New flat, new (old) patch

Just a week ago I moved to another flat in Bratislava. Now it's in Dlhé Diely. It gives me an opportunity to have walks in the forests over Karlova Ves and Dúbravka, that I visited regularly during my stay in Dúbravka. Today's short walk brought new bird to my yearlist. Black Woodpecker became 74th species in my yearlist. Beside it I found Middle Spotted Woodpecker, few Great Spotted Woodpeckers, pair of Treecreepers or Common Buzzard. After a year in the city center it is great feeling I can reach the forest in less than 10 minutes of walk.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

#Greenlist

Thanks to my twitter friend Gert (@Gertatron) I decided to compile another birdlist. Those birders who love to make lists and are true nature lovers will certainly love it. It's "Green list" (twitter hashtag: #greenlist). In this list you can count all the birds you have seen on your birding adventures without using any other means of transportation than your own feet. Birds seen during your bike rides count as well :) 

Please, spread the word and do your own #greenlist!  

No chance to dip the Dipper!

Today I made first birding walk in this year. During 2,5 hours outdoors in my hometown Rožňava I found only 18 species, but I had few great sightings. Despite fog and drizzle the flocks of 100+ Hawfinches, 70+ Siskin, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Dippers were worth of going outside.

Yearlist 2014

January 1, 2014
1. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
2. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
3. Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
4. Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
5. Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)
6. Great Tit (Parus major)
7. Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
8. Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
9. Blackbird (Turdus merula)
10. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
11. Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
12. Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
13. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
14. Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
15. Siskin (Spinus spinus)
16. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
17. Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
18. Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
19. Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

January 2, 2014
20. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
21. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
22. White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos)
23. Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
24. Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
25. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
26. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
27. Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus)
28. Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
29. Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)
30. Magpie (Pica pica)
31. Raven (Corvus corax)
32. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
33. Linnet (Linaria cannabina)

January 3, 2014
34. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
35. Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
36. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
37. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

January 4, 2014
38. Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
39. Stock Dove (Columba oenas)
40. Dunnock (Prunella modularis)

January 5, 2014
41. Great Egret (Egretta alba)
42. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
43. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
44. Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
45. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

January 6, 2014
46. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
47. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
48. Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmeus)
49. Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
50. Pochard (Aythya ferina)
51. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
52. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
53. Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
54. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
55. Smew (Mergellus albellus)
56. Goosander (Mergus merganser)
57. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
58. Coot (Fulica atra)
59. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
60. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
61. Common Gull (Larus canus)
62. Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
63. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
64. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
65. Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)

January 9, 2014
66. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
67. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
68. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)

January 11, 2014
69. Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
70. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
71. Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius)

January 12, 2014
72. White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
73. Wigeon (Anas penelope)

January 14, 2014
74. Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)

January 18, 2014
75. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
76. Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

January 19, 2014
77. Gadwall (Anas strepera)
78. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
79. Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
80. White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)

January 26, 2014
81. Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

February 3, 2014
82. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

February 4, 2014
83. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
84. Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus) - Lifer!!!
85. Teal (Anas crecca)

February 5, 2014
86. White-billed Diver (Gavia adamsii) - Lifer!!!

February 8, 2014
87. Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
88. Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
89. Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
90. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
91. Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

February 14, 2014
92. Pintail (Anas acuta)
93. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

February 19, 2014
94. Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
95. Great Bustard (Otis tarda)

February 20, 2014
96. Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus)

February 22, 2014
97. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
98. Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

February 24, 2014
99. Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

February 25, 2014
100. Bean Goose (Anser fabalis)
101. Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis)

February 27, 2014
102. Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) - Lifer!!!
103. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

March 1, 2014
104. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

March 2, 2014
105. Common Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
106. Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
107. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
108. Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)

March 8, 2014
109. Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
110. Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
111. Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
112. Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

March 9, 2014
113. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor)

March 12, 2014
114. Garganey (Anas querquedula)

March 22, 2014
115. European Serin (Serinus serinus)
116. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
117. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
118. Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
119. Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus)
120. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
121. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
122. Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
123. Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
124. Woodlark (Lullula arborea)
125. Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)

March 23, 2014
126. Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

March 29, 2014
127. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
128. Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)

March 30, 2014
129. Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
130. Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

April 11, 2014
131. Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
132. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
133. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
134. Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix)
135. Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
136. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
137. Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
138. Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
139. Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)

April 12, 2014
140. Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
141. Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)

April 13, 2014
142. Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)
143. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
144. Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
145. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

April 16, 2014
146. Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)

April 17, 2014
147. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) - Lifer!!!

April 18, 2014
148. Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) - Lifer!!!
149. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) - Lifer!!!
150. Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) - Lifer!!!

April 19, 2014
151. Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) - Lifer!!!
152. Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) - Lifer!!!
153. Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) - Lifer!!!
154. European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) - Lifer!!!

April 21, 2014
155. Common Swift (Apus apus)
156. House Martin (Delichon urbica)

April 23, 2014
157. Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)

April 25, 2014
158. Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)

April 26, 2014
159. Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)

April 28, 2014
160. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
161. European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

May 1, 2014
162. Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)
163. Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
164. White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
165. Dunlin(Calidris alpina)
166. Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
167. Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
168. Corncrake (Crex crex)

May 6, 2014
169. Eurasian Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus)

May 17, 2014
170. Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

May 17, 2014
171. Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina)
172. European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)

May 25, 2014
173. Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)

June 1, 2014
174. Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
175. Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)

June 3, 2014
176. Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
177. Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus)
178. Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) - Lifer!!!

June 5, 2014
179. Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

June 7, 2014
180. Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
181. Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
182. Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

June 16, 2014
183. Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)

June 21, 2014
184. Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)

June 27, 2014
185. Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
186. Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) - Lifer!!!
187. Lesser Spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina)

July 3, 2014
188. Common Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia)
189. Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

July 6, 2014
190. River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis)

July 12, 2014
191. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
192. Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)

August 9, 2014
193. Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix)

August 17, 2014
194. Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)

August 23, 2014
195. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

September 4, 2014
196. Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)

September 6, 2014
197. Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
198. Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
199. Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)

September 15, 2014
200. Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

September 24, 2014
201. Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)

October 25, 2014
202. Common Crane (Grus grus)
203. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
204. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
205. Little Owl (Athene noctua)
206. Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)

November 16, 2014
207. Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus)

December 14, 2014
208. Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
209. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)

December 23, 2014
210. Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

December 28, 2014
211. Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes)
212. Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)