Annual Census of Wintering White-tailed Eagles

[Saturday, January 28, 2012]

On last Saturday in January I took part on annual census of wintering White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) on Slovak section of River Danube. My counting post was on the bank of old river-basin on River kilometer 1821, near inn restaurant "Hullámcsárda". Man can find it in cadastre of Gabčíkovo, county Dunajská Streda on the Slovak - Hungarian border. Monitored area is part of IBA Dunajské luhy. The counting itself lasted from 9:00 to 14:00. It was pretty sunny weather with little wind and -4°C. I have seen White-tailed Eagles on 5 occasions in the following numbers 1ex., 2ex., 2ex., 1ex., 1ex. All were juvenile and immature birds. It was beautiful to observe these magnificient birds of prey soaring, roosting and even hunting. One of them was several times attacked by large Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis) but the highlight of the day was succesful hunt of a fish. Unfortunate bird lost as it fell down to the forest after few seconds of flight. In the time when White-tailed Eagles were out of sight I checked the visible area of River Danube. I spotted males of Smews (Mergellus albellus) finally as I have seen this winter only few females. I counted 5 males and 9 females. I would like to mention several sightings of Great Egrets (Egretta alba) and Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea). Valuable observations include 3 Gadwalls (Anas strepera) and 1 female Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina). It was beautiful day of winter birdwatching that couldn't be compared to last year's census which was drowned in thick fog.

 

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)

 

Great Egret (Egretta alba)

my counting point

River Danube - old river-basin

Hullámcsárda inn restaurant

roosting White-tailed Eagle

List of observed bird species:

Mute Swan  (Cygnus olor)  25
Gadwall  (Anas strepera)  3, 1m+2f
Mallard  (Anas platyrhynchos)  250
Teal  (Anas crecca)  1 m
Red-crested Pochard  (Netta rufina)  1 f
Pochard  (Aythya ferina)  1 m
Tufted Duck  (Aythya fuligula)  50
Common Goldeneye  (Bucephala clangula) 50
Smew  (Mergellus albellus)  14, 5m+9f
Goosander  (Mergus merganser)  4, 2m+2f
Little Grebe  (Tachybaptus ruficollis)  2
Grey Heron  (Ardea cinerea)  9
Great Egret  (Egretta alba)  14
Great Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax carbo)  100
White-tailed Eagle  (Haliaeetus albicilla)  2, juv.
Common Buzzard  (Buteo buteo)  3
Coot  (Fulica atra)  6
Great Spotted Woodpecker  (Dendrocopos major)  4
Great Grey Shrike  (Lanius excubitor)  1
Rook  (Corvus frugilegus)  5
Hooded Crow  (Corvus cornix)  2
Great Tit  (Parus major)  5
Wren  (Troglodytes troglodytes)  1
Blackbird  (Turdus merula)  2
Fieldfare  (Turdus pilaris)  3
Robin  (Erithacus rubecula)  1
Yellowhammer  (Emberiza citrinella)  12

large Gull  (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)  3