Wonderful Late February Birdwatching

[Saturday, February 25, 2012]

The weather has changed. After big frosts it was predicted around 10°C for area around Bratislava. It was pretty sunny in the morning so I decided to visit Hrušovská zdrž water dam that lies on River Danube apr. 20km southward from Bratislava. It lies in IBA Dunajské luhy. There are lots of pictures and videos today so I will try to write something between them. 

 I have started in Čunovo. It is a part of Bratislava, it lies near tripoint border with Hungary and Austria.

 Man could find last remnants of ice near the banks of the dam.

 Smews (Mergellus albellus) were the first winter guests I have met today.

Here you can see the overview of the whole waterworks.

In this area was the old Danube river-basin dammed. This solution is a part of larger Gabčíkovo waterworks and energy plant. Below dam man can find calm water almost all-year round. Fine place for ducks.

But today's kings were White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla).

 Pygmy Cormorants (Microcarbo pygmeus) were hiding on the right side.

Some Gadwalls (Anas strepera)(on upper picture) and Wigeons (Anas penelope) were feeding and roosting there too.

 Then I walked the body of the dam towards Danubiana gallery.

 I looked north. Some 20 km away lies Bratislava.

 Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)


 Most probably it was Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) but one never knows.

 

Danubiana - gallery of contemporary art is built on artificial cape.

 The beginning of Danube's artificial channel. View NW direction.

The beginning of Danube's artificial channel. View SE direction. I was looking for Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) and Long-tail Duck (Clangula hyemalis) that were reported here earlier this week. I did not see them. Only more Pygmy Cormorants, Smews, Goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) and Goosanders (Mergus merganser).

 Tea time!!! It was Lu Xue Ya - Green Snow.

 I turned back via Čunovo. I went to check small peninsula below the dam.

The nest of Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus)- most probably from last year's breeding.

 I found there large group of Great Cormorants in courtship plumage. This is the time of year when these ordinary birds look really great.

 And some Gulls nearby - mixture of Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Common Gulls (Larus canus)

 Another Grey Heron.

 And then came the surprise of the day. A Pintail (Anas acuta). While I was shooting short video I have spotted two waders. Ruffs (Philomachus pugnax) in February are really bombastic!!! Both, Ruff and Pintail, were my first sightings of these bird species in 2012. 

I took a glimpse on the area below dam and I realized that large frozen part is gone. 

 

Nature in motion.

 I passed alongside the seepage channel. Little Grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) were hiding under the bridge.

 I walked through the fields near Čunovo.

 The land here is really flat.

 Roe-deer were roosting in the afternoon sun.

 Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) sitting on the tree on the roadside.

 I was hoping to spot some Great Bustards (Otis tarda), but the country roads were busy.

Fantastic day ended with the song of my first Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) of this year. Spring is already behind the door.

List of observed bird species:

Common Pheasant  (Phasianus colchicus)  1 

Mute Swan  (Cygnus olor)  20 
Gadwall  (Anas strepera)  25 
Wigeon  (Anas penelope)  10 
Mallard  (Anas platyrhynchos)   
Pintail  (Anas acuta)  1  male
Pochard  (Aythya ferina)   
Tufted Duck  (Aythya fuligula)   
Greater Scaup  (Aythya marila)  3  all males
Common Goldeneye  (Bucephala clangula)   
Smew  (Mergellus albellus)  16 
Goosander  (Mergus merganser)  4  3m+1f
Little Grebe  (Tachybaptus ruficollis)  5 
Great Crested Grebe  (Podiceps cristatus)  7 
Grey Heron  (Ardea cinerea)  10 
Great Egret  (Egretta alba)  3 
Pygmy Cormorant  (Microcarbo pygmeus)  30 
Great Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax carbo)   
White-tailed Eagle  (Haliaeetus albicilla)  2 
Common Buzzard  (Buteo buteo)  4 
Common Kestrel  (Falco tinnunculus)  1 
Moorhen  (Gallinula chloropus)  1 
Coot  (Fulica atra)   
Ruff  (Philomachus pugnax) 2
Black-headed Gull  (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)   
Common Gull  (Larus canus)   
Large Gull  (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)  20 
Feral Pigeon  (Columba livia f. domestica)   
Collared Dove  (Streptopelia decaocto)    H
Common Magpie  (Pica pica)    H
Rook  (Corvus frugilegus)  10 
Hooded Crow  (Corvus cornix)  6 
Great Tit  (Parus major)   
Crested Lark  (Galerida cristata)    H
Common Skylark  (Alauda arvensis)  3 
Blackbird  (Turdus merula)  1 
Fieldfare  (Turdus pilaris)  15 
House Sparrow  (Passer domesticus)  3 
Tree Sparrow  (Passer montanus)  5 
Goldfinch  (Carduelis carduelis)    H
Yellowhammer  (Emberiza citrinella)  6 
number of individuals is mentioned only if we were able to count them or make an estimation; "H" means that we heard it

Walk on Danube's right bank

[Monday, February 20, 2012]

I had spare time around noon, so I decided to make a walk to the right bank of Danube. Man can find 3 bridges in downtowns Bratislava. I crossed river walking the Old bridge. Tens of Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) were swimming on Danube. I have spotted two Little Grebes (Tachybaptus rufficolis) and few Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo). In the grove under the Old bridge I saw some Tits - Great Tit (Parus major), Marsh Tit (Parus palustris), Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) and heard Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius). Then I walked into the park "Sad Janka Kráľa", where man can spot some woodpeckers and passerines that like large canopies of old trees. I saw my first Green woodpecker (Picus viridis) of the year. In the tree-tops were hiding Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorius), Jackdaws (Coloelus monedula), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) and 4 Greenfinches (Carduelis chloris). I was checking also the undergrowth for same Wrens or Robins, but I found a surprise. Male Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) was hopping and feeding on the ground. I realised immediately that I've found a lifer right in the center of the city. It persuaded me to be not afraid to explore the places that man thinks he already knows. Here are few photos and videos from that walk and in the end you can find the full list of observed bird species.

Bratislava - Šafárikovo námestie

Nový most - New bridge

Danube

Danube - right bank

grove along Danube

Apollo bridge

river port

in the park

in the park

Hawfinch - Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Hawfinch - Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Jackdaw - Coloelus monedula

Green Woodpecker - Picus viridis

Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus

Black-headed Gull - (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

 

List of observed bird species:
Mallard  (Anas platyrhynchos)
Pochard  (Aythya ferina)
Tufted Duck  (Aythya fuligula)
Common Goldeneye  (Bucephala clangula)
Goosander  (Mergus merganser)
Little Grebe  (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Great Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Black-headed Gull  (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Feral Pigeon  (Columba livia f. domestica)
Collared Dove  (Streptopelia decaocto)
Great Spotted Woodpecker  (Dendrocopos major)
Black Woodpecker  (Dryocopus martius)
Green Woodpecker  (Picus viridis)
Common Magpie  (Pica pica)
Jackdaw  (Coloelus monedula)
Rook  (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow  (Corvus cornix)
Marsh Tit  (Poecile palustris)
Great Tit  (Parus major)
Blue Tit  (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Long-tailed Tit  (Aegithalos caudatus)
Nuthatch  (Sitta europaea)
Blackbird  (Turdus merula)
Mistle Thrush  (Turdus viscivorus)
House Sparrow  (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow  (Passer montanus)
Chaffinch  (Fringilla coelebs)
Brambling  (Fringilla montifringilla)
Greenfinch  (Carduelis chloris)
Goldfinch  (Carduelis carduelis)
Hawfinch  (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

Winter waterbird census - February

[Saturday, February 18, 2012]

Can you imagine that cloudy day you walk the damp grass, muddy roads with scarce snow and ice can be perfect day of birdwatching? After the two weeks of strong frosts came few days with snow and rain and terrain changed its face to that you don't like. I started my usual counting section in Hamuliakovo. I took few looks on the surface of Hrušovská zdrž water dam. After mentioned frosts it is fully covered with ice with few exceptional places of unfrozen water. I found group of Smews (Mergellus albellus), few Goosanders (Mergus merganser), bunch of Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) and Common Goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula). And as bonus a pair of Pygmy Cormorants (Microcarbo pygmeus) and pair of Great Scaups (Aythya marila). Pretty fine for just 20 minutes.

Smew - Mergellus albellus

Pygmy Cormorant - Microcarbo pygmeus

Wigeons, Gadwall and Coots

Then I moved to the seepage channel that I came to count. I spotted few Gadwalls (Anas strepera) and this surprise lasted on all 12,5 km long counting section as I finished by number 42 - my largest ever count of Gadwalls in one day. I've added plenty of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Ducks and Pochards (Aythya ferina). 19 Wigeons (Anas penelope) made me smile along with my first sighting of Pygmy Cormorant on this counting section. Surprisingly (may be the result of the frosts) the largest counts were not made by Little Grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis) - only 86, but by Coots (Fulica atra) - 583. In the final part of seepage channel I found  Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) with yellow neckband ("19CK"). I wrote an e-mail to guy that is in contact with all-european ringers and he informed me that Swan was ringed in Poland but we need to wait for further information.

seepage channell

frozen dam

frozen dam

Numbers of observed birds on the counting section: Mute Swan 121, Mallard 219, Gadwall 42, Wigeon 19, Tufted Duck 228, Pochard 105, Little Grebe 86, Grey Heron 2, Great Cormorant 1, Pygmy Cormorant 2, Moorhen 3, Coot 583.

Mute Swan with neckband

In addition I have got very good sighting of Jay (Garrulus glandarius) and Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius). Even though I needed to hurry to catch my bus back home  it was a beautiful day of birdwatching with my largest number of observed bird species in one day this year with total 42 species.

List of observed bird species:

Common Pheasant  (Phasianus colchicus) 3
Mute Swan  (Cygnus olor) 140
Gadwall  (Anas strepera) 42
Wigeon  (Anas penelope) 19
Mallard  (Anas platyrhynchos) 250
Pochard  (Aythya ferina) 120
Tufted Duck  (Aythya fuligula) 250
Greater Scaup  (Aythya marila) 2
Common Goldeneye  (Bucephala clangula) 100
Smew  (Mergellus albellus) 8
Goosander  (Mergus merganser) 6
Little Grebe  (Tachybaptus ruficollis) 86
Great Crested Grebe  (Podiceps cristatus) 1
Grey Heron  (Ardea cinerea) 2
Pygmy Cormorant  (Microcarbo pygmeus) 4
Great Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax carbo) 3
Common Buzzard  (Buteo buteo) 4
Common Kestrel  (Falco tinnunculus) 1
Moorhen  (Gallinula chloropus) 3
Coot  (Fulica atra) 600
Black-headed Gull  (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
large Gull  (Larus cachinnans/michahellis) 20
Feral Pigeon  (Columba livia f. domestica)
Collared Dove  (Streptopelia decaocto) 15
Great Spotted Woodpecker  (Dendrocopos major) 3, H - drumming
Black Woodpecker  (Dryocopus martius) 1
Jay  (Garrulus glandarius) 1
Common Magpie  (Pica pica) 4
Rook  (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow  (Corvus cornix) 3
Great Tit  (Parus major)
Blue Tit  (Cyanistes caeruleus) 1
Long-tailed Tit  (Aegithalos caudatus) 3
Wren  (Troglodytes troglodytes) 1
Blackbird  (Turdus merula) 6
Fieldfare  (Turdus pilaris) 30
Robin  (Erithacus rubecula) 1, H
House Sparrow  (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow  (Passer montanus)
Goldfinch  (Carduelis carduelis) 5
Yellowhammer  (Emberiza citrinella) 3
unidentified Goose  (Anser sp.)
number of individuals is mentioned only if we were able to count them or make an estimation; "H" means that we heard it