Birds of prey in urban areas of Bratislava 2013

I realized that I regularly observe Sparrowhawks, Kestrels and sometimes other birds of prey as I walk just down the streets of Bratislava. I will try to make a list of these observations and adding updates from time to time. May be I'll have interesting set of data in the end of the year. I will mention only those observations in which birds were observed in (or flying over) urban areas or in very close distance to urbanized areas.
Check the map:

• Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) - yellow pin
• Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - light blue pin
• Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) - red pin
• Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) - deep pink pin
• Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) - purple pin
• Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - green pin

View Birds of prey in Bratislava 2013 in a larger map

January 4
   Kestrel (c 8:15, Eurovea, BA I, flyover)
January 6
   Sparrowhawk (c 15:30, sport river harbor, BA II, flyover)
January 10
   Sparrowhawk (c 11:00, Ružinovská, BA II sitting on aerial)
January 14
   Sparrowhawk (14:05, Miletičova market, BA II flyover)
January 16
   Sparrowhawk (8:15, Sasinkova, BA I, flyover)
January 19
   Hen Harrier (morning, Devínska Nová Ves, BA IV, flying down the river, brown bird)
   Goshawk (afternoon, Devín castle, BA V, flyover)
January 23
   Common Buzzard (13:05, Rusovská cesta, BA V, flyover)
January 27
   Peregrine Falcon (11:18, flyover from Hviezdoslavovo nám. over Danube to Incheba tower with caught Feral Pigeon, BA I, BA V)
   Sparrowhawk (12:20, garden of presidential palace, BA I, flyover)
   Kestrel (16:00, Most SNP bridge, BA I, flyover)
January 31
   Sparrowhawk (c 12:00, Devínska Nová Ves - Na mýte, BA IV, flyover)

February 3
   Kestrel (12:00, SAV, BA I, flyover)
   Sparrowhawk (14:20, Ondrejský cintorín/cemetery/ - Ulica 29.augusta, BA I, flyover)
February 7
   Peregrine Falcon (14:48, Sad Janka Kráľa public park, BA V, flyover)
   Sparrowhawk (16:20, Štúrova, flyover)
February 11
   Sparrowhawk (c 13:00, Medická záhrada public garden, BA I, flyover)
February 14
   Kestrel (16:33, Stein old brewery, BA I, sitting on a chimney)
February 15
   Sparrowhawk (c 15:21, Koceľova, BA II, flyover)
February 16
   Sparrowhawk (c 12:30, Malé Pálenisko, BA II, roosting on tree)
February 17
   Sparrowhawk (14:40, ČOV Vlčie hrdlo, BA II, flyover)
   Sparrowhawk (16:35, Mariánska, BA I, flyover)
February 23
   Sparrowhawk (13:56, Moskovská, BA I, flyover)
   Sparrowhawk (14:39, Strážnická, BA I, flyover)
   Kestrel (14:38, Strážnická, BA I, flyover)
   Peregrine Falcon (16:14, Hlavné námestie, BA I, flyover)
February 28
   Kestrel (13:04, Štefanovičova, BA I, soaring over area)

March 3
   Sparrowhawk (17:00, Devínska Nová Ves - Na mýte, BA IV, flyover)
March 5
   Buteo sp. Buzzard (15:45 - 15:48, flying over Danube from port southwards, BA II, possible Buteo rufinus!)
March 7
   Kestrel (11:05, Čajkovského, BA I, flyover)
   Kestrel (11:13, Kýčerského, BA I, soaring over area, possibly the same bird in both occasions)
March 8
   Kestrel (16:55, Panská, BA I, flyover)
   Kestrel (17:13-17:15, 17:39-17:50, Stein old brewery, BA I, perching on aerial and chimney)
March 9
   Sparrowhawk (c 17:20, Malé Pálenisko, BA II, flyover)
March 10
   3 Kestrels (13:00-16:00, Devín castle rock, BA IV, flying around and perching on castle rock)
   Common Buzzard (15:30, Devín, BA IV, soaring over village)
   Kestrel (17:00, Panská, BA I, flyover)
March 11
   Kestrel (14:38, Stein old brewery, BA I, flyover)
March 13
   Kestrel (14:08, Americké námestie, BA I, soaring)
March 17
   Sparrowhawk (16:14, Krížna, BA I, flyover)
March 19
   Kestrel (17:52, Stein old brewery, BA I, perching on aerial)
March 29
   Kestrel (12:35-12:52, Stein old brewery, BA I, perching on aerial and roof)
March 30
   Kestrel (12:00, Legionárska, BA I, flyover)

April 1
   Sparrowhawk (c14:00, Rusovce, BA V, flyover)
April 7
   Kestrel (16:10, Hodžovo námestie, BA I, flyover)
April 8
   Kestrel (9:59, Krížna, BA I, flyover)
   Kestrel (18:30 - 18:31, Stein old brewery, BA I, 3 birds flyover, 2 of them soaring a while later)

Search for Waxwings - Redwing found

Waxwings occupy streets of Bratislava 8 weeks in row. My friend asked me to try to check wider centre of Bratislava to estimate number of wintering Waxwings. I decided to search in old town, Sad Janka Kráľa public park, castle hill,garden and squares behind presidential palace. My total number was 362 Waxwings. According to my friend's count and one other birder's we estimate their number around 4500 individuals in Bratislava area. We were shocked when we reached 1000 in December. Again two weeks ago when we counted 2000+ birds and today's count is simply breath-taking. I can't believe that I have seen my first ever Waxwings only two month ago and now I'm part of the team that tries to monitor them during the whole time of their stay in the city.

(In following days were photos from this count revised and one other birder's observation was added. Total number stands on 5112 Waxwings.)

But one can't forget also other birds. Yearlist tick Peregrine Falcon with caught Feral Pigeon. Fieldfares made my highest count today(800+). And in the flock of c700 Fieldfares and c100 Waxwings I have also found one Redwing (another yearlist tick). It was second time this winter that I spotted 4 different Turdus sp. thrushes in few minutes(Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Redwing).

Here are some photos from today:

Robin (Erithacus rubecula) always counts

hybrid Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) x Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)

Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)

Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris)

lonely Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) in Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) flock

my first Redwing (Turdus iliacus) of the year

Fieldfare in the snow

My First Long-eared Owl Of The Year

We decided to make another search for Long-eared Owls in Bratislava. Finally we found one bird in big coniferous tree in Petržalka. It was only one bird but still more than nothing. We also checked "Martinský cintorín" cemetery in Ružinov but with negative result.

We thought every "LEO-s" are in Serbia (read here) but today we found one in Bratislava as well.

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)

Waxwings - flock of "just" 1700 birds

Day started at Ružinov cemetery. We were searching for wintering Long-eared Owls, but we were unsuccessful. Coal Tit, Marsh Tit and couple of Treecreepers took up our mood. We were reported that there is a large flock of Waxwings on our way to city center. We estimated 600-800 birds in the flock. I made this video:

I took few frames and tried to count the birds in it.

Result is that our estimated number of individuals in the flock was absolutely wrong. According to the definition of the video I counted 1690 birds and overall revised count is somewhere around 1600-1800 birds.

Birding In River Port

I decided to visit Danube's river port. Low grey clouds, temperature below zero and my hands were freezing. I checked the calm waters of river port for water birds. At first I spotted flock of 25 Tufted Ducks. Apart of it I found 3 Great Crested Grebe and a Little Grebe. Mallards were swimming near the bank. I saw 2 large gulls (may be Caspian G.). After that I moved a few tens of meters towards main course of Danube. In the channel that connects port with river I have found 3 Pochards, 3 Coots, 4 Mallards and 2 Great Cormorants. 9 Common Goldeneyes were diving in the strong stream of Danube on the opposite side of the river. It is good to check this area from time to time. Earlier this winter we found here Black-throated Loon. Today's birds belong to common wintering species in the port and section of Danube below Stary most (Old bridge) but as one can see even industrial zones of Bratislava have their interesting bird inhabitants.

Pied Crow (Corvus albus) in Bratislava

Two weeks ago I heard that somebody took pictures of weird looking crow. I was told that it looks like a Magpie but it's Crow. I was heading home from winter waterbird census. I made short stop just to count birds at Kuchajda Lake. I was already packing my spotting scope when it landed just 30m from me. In a while it flew over my head. I had a bit of luck and made a video of it. Pictures are just cropped frames from video. Most probably the bird is an escapee from captivity but it was great feeling to see this exotic bird flying along Hooded Crows, Jackdaws and gulls. I don't even know how to list it...

Yearlist 2013

January 1, 2013
1. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
2. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
3. Coot (Fulica atra)
4. Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
5. Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
6. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
7. Blackbird (Turdus merula)
8. Great Tit (Parus major)
9. Common Magpie (Pica pica)
10. Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
11. Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
12. Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
13. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

January 2, 2013
14. Common Gull (Larus canus)
15. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
16. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

January 3, 2013
17. Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
18. Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
19. Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)
20. Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
21. Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)

January 4, 2013
22. Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
23. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
24. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
25. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
26. Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
27. Wigeon (Anas penelope)
28. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
29. Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)

January 5, 2013
30. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
31. Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
32. Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
33. Marsh Tit (Parus palustris)
34. Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
35. Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
36. Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

January 6, 2013
37. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
38. Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

January 7, 2013
39. Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus)
40. Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
41. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

January 10, 2013
42. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
43. Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

January 11, 2013
44. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
45. Great Egret (Egretta alba)
46. White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
47. Gadwall (Anas strepera)
48. Pochard (Aythya ferina)
49. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
50. White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
51. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
52. Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
53. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
54. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
55. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
56. Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
57. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

January 12, 2013
58. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
59. Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

January 16, 2013
60. Coal Tit (Parus ater)
61. Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)

January 19, 2013
62. Teal (Anas crecca)
63. Goosander (Mergus merganser)
64. Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
65. Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
66. Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
67. Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius)
68. Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
69. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
70. Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

January 23, 2013
71. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)

January 26, 2013
72. Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmeus)
73. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

January 27, 2013
74. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
75. Redwing (Turdus iliacus)

January 31, 2013
76. Stock Dove (Columba oenas)
77. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

February 10, 2013
78. Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
79. Merlin (Falco columbarius) - Lifer !!!
80. Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
81. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) - Lifer !!!

February 17, 2013
82. Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus) - Lifer !!!
83. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
84. Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus)

February 22, 2013
85. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor)

March 3, 2013
86. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
87. Smew (Mergellus albellus)
88. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
89. Common Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
90. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

March 3, 2013
91. Bean Goose (Anser fabalis)
92. Raven (Corvus corax)

March 5, 2013
93. Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)

March 9, 2013
94. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

March 10, 2013
95. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

March 14, 2013
96. Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

March 18, 2013
97. Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)
98. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

March 23, 2013
99. Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
100. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
101. Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
102. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
103. Redshank (Tringa totanus)
104. Garganey (Anas querquedula)

April 1, 2013
105. Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
106. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
107. Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)

April 4, 2013
108. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

April 6, 2013
109. Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

April 7, 2013
110. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

April 12, 2013
111. Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
112. Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

April 13, 2013
113. Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus)

April 14, 2013
114. House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
115. Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
116. Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
117. Wryneck (Jynx torquila)
118. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
119. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
120. Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
121. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
122. Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)

April 17, 2013
123. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
124. Common Swift (Apus apus)

April 18, 2013
125. Serin (Serinus serinus)

April 19, 2013
126. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
127. Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
128. Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
129. Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
130. Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
131. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
132. Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
133. Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
134. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
135. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
136. Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
137. Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
138. White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
139. Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
140. Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)
141. Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

April 20, 2013
142. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
143. Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
144. Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
145. Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
146. Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)

April 21, 2013
147. Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

April 27, 2013
148. Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)
149. Hobby (Falco subbuteo)
150. Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
151. Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
152. Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
153. Curlew (Numenius arquata)
154. Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
155. Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

May 5, 2013
156. Corncrake (Crex crex)
157. Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)

May 7, 2013
158. Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina)

May 17, 2013
159. Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

May 18, 2013
160. Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

May 26, 2013
161. Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)

June 1, 2013
162. Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
163. Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)
164. Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
165. Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria)
166. Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

June 2, 2013
167. Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

June 15, 2013
168. Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix)

June 29, 2013
169. Woodlark (Lullula arborea)

July 4, 2013
170. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

July 5, 2013
171. White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) - Lifer !!!

July 26, 2013
172. Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

August 13, 2013
173. Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

August 14, 2013
174. Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) - Lifer !!!

August 25, 2013
175. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

August 31, 2013
176. Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)

September 4, 2013
177. Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
178. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
179. Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) - Lifer !!!
180. Little Crake (Porzana parva) - Lifer !!!
181. Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)

September 5, 2013
182. Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

September 6, 2013
183. Red Knot (Calidris canutus) - Lifer !!!
184. Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

September 8, 2013
185. Sanderling (Calidris alba) - Lifer !!!
186. Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) - Lifer !!!

September 15, 2013
187. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
188. Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) - Lifer !!!

October 4, 2013
189. Common Crane (Grus grus)
190. Little Owl (Athene noctua)

October 17, 2013
191. Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix)

October 24, 2013
192. Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)

November 3, 2013
193. Black-throated Loon (Gavia arctica)

November 30, 2013
194. Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) - Lifer !!!

December 25, 2013
195. Siskin (Spinus spinus)
196. Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)

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??. Pied Crow (Corvus albus) - Lifer !!! (escapee)