Forest Steppe In The Middle Of Alluvial Forests

[Saturday, March 17, 2012]

After finishing my counting on the seepage channel I decided to visit a place that nobody expects to find in the middle of the alluvial forests. Forest steppe of Protected Reserve "Ostrov Kopáč" (Kopáč island) developed on the alluvial sediments that are embraced by old River Danube's river arm named "Biskupické rameno". It lies only few hundred meters from the seepage channel. Let's see how the landscapes changes in just 1km.

Biskupické rameno - river arm

typical alluvial forest

mix of low trees and conifers

open landscape with solitaire conifers

shrub and heath of forest steppe

dry island in the middle of former alluvial plain

solitaire deciduos trees

back in the alluvial forest on the other side of protected reserve

great lesson of biodiversity in just 20 minutes

Winter waterbird census - March

[Saturday, March 17, 2012]

As usual, closest weekend to 15th day in a month is the date of winter waterbird census. I have visited my counting section for the 5th time this winter. We had first real spring days after frozen winter in western Slovakia. Indeed I started the day wearing sweater, softshell jacket and gloves on my hands as it was only 2°C in Hamuliakovo, but 2,5 hours later and 6km upstream of the seepage channel it was already 15°C so the upper parts of my clothes went to my backpack. I will mention the numbers of observed water birds on my counting section. Due to warm weather and the fact that several banks of were mowed of grass and its reed the numbers of birds were smaller than expected: Mute Swan 10, Mallard 56, Wigeon 8, Gadwall 20, Garganey 6, Tufted Duck 55, Pochard 1, Ferruginous Duck 1, Little Grebe 48, Coot 24, White Wagtail 8, Grey Wagtail 1, Reed Bunting 6, Muscovy Duck 1. Even though it was an amazing fieldwork day that was laced with valuable observations, weird headwrecker and lifer in the end. Let's check it!

Hooded Crow - Corvus cornix

 Sometimes your birdwatching starts already in the city.

Garganey - Anas querquedula

 First look in the start of my counting section brought new species into my yearlist.

Pair of Garganeys and Gadwall (Anas strepera).

Robin - Erithacus rubecula

Great view on Robin always makes me smile.

My route alongside the seepage channel.

Bicycle path on the top of the embankment of Hrušovská zdrž water dam. Dam is on left, seepage channel on right hand side.

Large surface of water dam. Despite calm water there were only few birds in good sight. Most of them were far or in bad counterlight.

Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus

Chirping mates in morning sun.

Calm water of seepage channel.

Guess who was passing by recently.

One of the day's highlights - Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber).

Few Wigeons (Anas penelope) found just a while later.

 I didn't remember this nest from my previous walks. It must be this year's work. Another species to my yearlist.

Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus.

Penduline Tit feeding near its nest.

I've spotted few Song Thrushes, Robin, immature Black Redstart and this lonesome Starling with beatiful glossy feathers.

Muscovy Duck - Cairina moschata

You need to be prepared for everything when you are in the field but this observation was kind of shocking for me. At first I thought that Great Cormorant in courtship plumage landed on the channel but when I checked it closer a found this weird looking bird. I was unable to make any ID, I thought it's some kind of hybrid. Later in the evening my friends helped me to solve this headwrecker. It's an escapee from some near lying farm. Muscovy Duck is kept on farms due to its size and large liver.

Another Garganey.

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

Flowers in bloom are sign that winter is over.

Yellow Star of Bethlehem - Gagea lutea

Two-leaf Squill - Scilla bifolia

Coltsfoot - Tussilago farfara

Great Grey Shrike - Lanius excubitor

After hearing my first Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) of the year I spotted Great Grey Shrike in the treetop. If you think that first Chiffchaff, Penduline Tit, Garganey of the season, great video of mostly night -active Beaver and weird headwrecker are enough for great day you're wrong.

Near the end of my counting section I found most elegant duck that can be found in Slovakia. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) is rare breeder in our country. Number of breeding pairs is estimated from only 5 to 20. Such great days use to bring some bonus reward. I found it in the small area of forest steppe that is embraced by old river arm of River Danube. In Protected Reserve "Ostrov Kopáč" I heard and saw my first ever Woodlark (Lullula arborea). You can find photos of this marvel area inside River Danube's alluvial forests here.

List of observed bird species during the day:

Common Pheasant    (Phasianus colchicus)
Mute Swan    (Cygnus olor)
Gadwall    (Anas strepera)
Wigeon    (Anas penelope)
Mallard    (Anas platyrhynchos)
Garganey    (Anas querquedula)
Pochard    (Aythya ferina)
Ferruginous Duck    (Aythya nyroca)
Tufted Duck    (Aythya fuligula)
Common Goldeneye    (Bucephala clangula)
Little Grebe    (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Great Crested Grebe    (Podiceps cristatus)
Great Cormorant    (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Sparrowhawk    (Accipiter nisus)
Common Buzzard    (Buteo buteo)
Common Kestrel    (Falco tinnunculus)
Coot    (Fulica atra)
Black-headed Gull    (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Feral Pigeon    (Columba livia f. domestica)
Wood Pigeon    (Columba palumbus)
Collared Dove    (Streptopelia decaocto)
Great Spotted Woodpecker    (Dendrocopos major)
Green Woodpecker    (Picus viridis)
Great Grey Shrike    (Lanius excubitor)
Jay    (Garrulus glandarius)
Common Magpie    (Pica pica)
Rook    (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow    (Corvus cornix)
Marsh Tit    (Poecile palustris)
Great Tit    (Parus major)
Blue Tit    (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Penduline Tit    (Remiz pendulinus)
Woodlark    (Lullula arborea) - Lifer!!!
Long-tailed Tit    (Aegithalos caudatus)
Chiffchaff    (Phylloscopus collybita)
Common Starling    (Sturnus vulgaris)
Blackbird    (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush    (Turdus philomelos)
Robin    (Erithacus rubecula)
Black Redstart    (Phoenicurus ochruros)
House Sparrow    (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow    (Passer montanus)
Grey Wagtail    (Motacilla cinerea)
White Wagtail    (Motacilla alba)
Chaffinch    (Fringilla coelebs)
Greenfinch    (Carduelis chloris)
Goldfinch    (Carduelis carduelis)
Linnet    (Carduelis cannabina)
Yellowhammer    (Emberiza citrinella)
Reed Bunting    (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Muscovy Duck  (Cairina moschata f. domestica) - escapee

Hike In Small Carpathians

[Saturday, March 10, 2012]

I had a call from my friend that he arranged a hike on Saturday with two other girls. I decided to join them even it meant for me an ugly waking up at 4:30 AM. It was probably the only bad thing of the day. Day started with observation of falling star on still dark sky while I was waiting for my tram. When I met my friends the sun had already risen up. We jumped on another tram and made a ride to Rača, part of Bratislava under eastern slopes of Small Carpathians (Malé Karpaty in slovak). We decided to cross the mountain from east to west walking through the typical beech forests. Rado just wanted to see some holes or small caves that are along the tourist route. I was just checking the forest to find something interesting to show to the others. They didn't know almost nothing about birds so even the common ones were pretty interesting. They were satisfied with Greenfinches, Nuthatches, Chaffinches or Tits. These birds we heard all the way. I resolved to show them at least one Woodpecker, but I was only partially succesful. Almost every time when we stopped to focus some bird in the spotting scope it flew away in a second. I don't remeber such a badluck. But never mind. Weather was pleasant, sky almost blue, we enjoyed our day outside. At least we had great observations of Robin, Common Buzzards, Hawfinch and pair of Blue Tits. I wanted to check old quarry for the presence of Wallcreeper but there wasn't enough time for accurate observation so I adapted to the rest of the group and moved along. While having lunch I spotted Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) in the grass. After tea session we moved to the forests again. Roads were little bit muddy. We decided to visit Pajštún castle that lies over Borinka. By the way we spotted several snowdrops.  Interesting day ended in Marianka with unbelievable beautiful sunset over the lowlands on Slovak-Austrian border.

To resume the day I need to say that all our route went through IBA Malé Karpaty. Our hike was 25km long. I saw my first Grey Wagtails (Motacilla cinerea) and Ravens (Corvus corax) of this year and got suspicion of  Saker Falcon but I was unable to make good ID. 

 5:26 AM, day starts before sunrise

 typical signs on marked tourist trails in Slovakia

memorial from late 19th century

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

the same Robin, but now in motion and singing 

we filled our bottles in spring called "Zbojnička"

 Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

 three Buzzards were hunting over this open area

small slade with a creek that is only few hundreds meters long

 bell tower in Medené Hámre

Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) - the only bird that stayed on its spot more than few seconds (if I don't count soaring Buzzards and that one singing Robin)

 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

 we had also tea time

typical look of beech forest before spring

 one of several areas with conifers in mainly beech forested Small Carpathians

 view northwards - in the background is Záhorská nížina lowland

vast beech forests

 entrance to Pajštún castle

 mascarons over its entrance

ruins of the castle

sunset over Marianka

When I was writing this I realized that I didn't make pictures on several places of our hike so please forgive me that the photo report is a little bit incomplete or it appears little bit inconsistent.

List of observed bird species during the hike:
Common Buzzard    (Buteo buteo)
Feral Pigeon    (Columba livia f. domestica)
Wood Pigeon    (Columba palumbus)
Collared Dove    (Streptopelia decaocto)
Great Spotted Woodpecker    (Dendrocopos major)
Jay    (Garrulus glandarius)
Common Magpie    (Pica pica)
Hooded Crow    (Corvus cornix)
Raven    (Corvus corax)
Great Tit    (Parus major)
Blue Tit    (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Nuthatch    (Sitta europaea)
Common Starling    (Sturnus vulgaris)
Blackbird    (Turdus merula)
Fieldfare    (Turdus pilaris)
Song Thrush    (Turdus philomelos)
Robin    (Erithacus rubecula)
House Sparrow    (Passer domesticus)
Grey Wagtail    (Motacilla cinerea)
Chaffinch    (Fringilla coelebs)
Greenfinch    (Carduelis chloris)
Goldfinch    (Carduelis carduelis)
Hawfinch    (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
unidentified Goose    (Anser sp.)
unidentified Falcon - Peregrine or Saker but I was not able to ID it

Treecreeper - The Real ID Headwrecker

[Thursday, March 8, 2012]

If you would ask a birder in Slovakia with which bird species he has most identification problems he would answer - Treecreeper. Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) and his mate Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) are very similar in look. Both kinds of Treecreepers can be found in western part of our country and in the southern tip of east Slovakia. The numbers of breeding pairs of the common one is 100 000-150 000. Short-toed Treecreeper is estimated to have 1000-3000 breeding pairs. Most usually you spot that common one but one never knows if he is the lucky one to spot the uncommon one. Very slight distinction in wing-bar pattern and length of its hindclaw makes it sometimes unable to identify. If you hear its song you can be sure which one it is but if not you can only guess or have brilliant photo or video documentation. As I'm not so good in bird song I used to write down just Certhia sp. into my list. Everybody can cheat a little. I have bird calls and songs in my phone and I'm using it as a hint to identification. It is interesting to see birds replying to your phone but man need to be careful not to tease the bird by repeating those fake calls of their buddies. Yesterday I was able to make the accurate ID according to their distinctive calls and I made this interesting videos. I observed or heard at least 5 birds on the spot. Those two photos are frame captures from the video. The location where I observed this bird is not more than 10 minutes of walk from the built-in area of Dúbravka, Bratislava.

Treecreeper - Certhia familiaris

wing-bar pattern and long hindclaw

Isn't it great what man can make with combination of smartphone and spotting scope?

Urban Birding in Bratislava

[Tuesday, March 6, 2012]

I had to go to downtown Bratislava. I put spotting scope into my backpack and hoped there will be enough afternoon light to visit some interesting place. I was close to green island in the centre of the town. It is composed of public garden next to the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University. Its name is "Medická záhrada".

Medická záhrada

Medická záhrada

The other part of that green island is old cemetery called "Ondrejský cintorín". Man can find there old trees, mixture of conifers and deciduous trees. It is real oasis for birds in the centre of Bratislava. 

Ondrejský cintorín

Ondrejský cintorín

Instead of words it is better to see what man can find in the lawns and trees of cemetery:

Greenfinch - Carduelis chloris

Greenfinch - Carduelis chloris

Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

Great Tit - Parus major

Green Woodpecker - Picus viridis

Green Woodpecker - Picus viridis

Syrian Woodpecker - Dendrocopos syriacus

Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos

Blackbird - Turdus merula

Blackbird - Turdus merula with signs of leucism

List of observed bird species in area of cemetery:

Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus)
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Common Magpie (Pica pica)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)