Bike birding on floodplains of Morava

I guided another watching.sk bike birding trip. We have visited floodplain along Morava River. Full of meadows, wetlands and dead river-arms. Best sightings were 2 Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), 10+ Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta), 2 adult and 2 juvenile White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). You can read more about the observed species here.

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

bike birders

meadow near dead river-arm

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

First Barn Swallow of the year

This year I was the lucky one. Very probably I made first record of a Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) in Slovakia this year. Nice reward for the time spent outside in the field. This great observation was accompanied with other yearlist ticks: heard my first Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita); there was one Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) in flock of White Wagtails; nice flock of 6 Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) was silenty floating on a dead river-arm of River Morava; 3 Redshanks (Tringa totanus) made short stop on the bank and 3 Garganeys (Anas querquedula) were in the flock of 40+ Teals (Anas crecca).

Barn Swallow catching insects low over the flooded meadow:

Flock of 6 Whooper Swans:

Two male Garganeys out of three observed:

Great Cormorant in courtship plumage is a beautiful bird:

List of recorded species during the walk:

Common Pheasant   (Phasianus colchicus)
Greylag Goose   (Anser anser)
White-fronted Goose   (Anser albifrons)
Mute Swan   (Cygnus olor)
Whooper Swan   (Cygnus cygnus)
Mallard   (Anas platyrhynchos)
Garganey   (Anas querquedula)
Teal   (Anas crecca)
Grey Heron   (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret   (Egretta alba)
Great Cormorant   (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Red Kite   (Milvus milvus)
Marsh Harrier   (Circus aeruginosus)
Hen Harrier   (Circus cyaneus)
Sparrowhawk   (Accipiter nisus)
Common Buzzard   (Buteo buteo)
Eastern Imperial Eagle   (Aquila heliaca)
Coot   (Fulica atra)
Lapwing   (Vanellus vanellus)
Common Redshank   (Tringa totanus)
Black-headed Gull   (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
large Gull   (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
Wood Pigeon   (Columba palumbus)
Great Spotted Woodpecker   (Dendrocopos major)
Black Woodpecker   (Dryocopus martius)
Green Woodpecker   (Picus viridis)
Hooded Crow   (Corvus cornix)
Raven   (Corvus corax)
Great Tit   (Parus major)
Blue Tit   (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Barn Swallow   (Hirundo rustica)
Chiffchaff   (Phylloscopus collybita)
Common Starling   (Sturnus vulgaris)
Blackbird   (Turdus merula)
Fieldfare   (Turdus pilaris)
Song Thrush   (Turdus philomelos)
Robin   (Erithacus rubecula)
Black Redstart   (Phoenicurus ochruros)
European Stonechat   (Saxicola rubicola)
House Sparrow   (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow   (Passer montanus)
Yellow Wagtail   (Motacilla flava)
White Wagtail   (Motacilla alba)
Chaffinch   (Fringilla coelebs)
Greenfinch   (Carduelis chloris)
Goldfinch   (Carduelis carduelis)
Yellowhammer   (Emberiza citrinella)
Reed Bunting   (Emberiza schoeniclus)

July Walks in Bratislava Surroundings

[Monday, July 23, 2012]

I know that I didn't post nothing in last few months, but I'll do my best to change it. The best way how to literally taste the nature is to go outside. I don't want to write too much, just enjoy few videos from my walks in surroundings of Bratislava.

Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) in the forest over Dúbravka: European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the forest over Dúbravka: Small flock of feeding Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) in the floodplain meadows near River Morava: Another day, another Roe Deer. Adult male European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the floodplain meadows of River Morava: Just a glimpse of Black Stork (Ciconia nigra): Let's see what happens if you hesitate over your food:

Early Spring Floods on Morava River - pt. 2

[Saturday, March 3, 2012]

After spotting my first White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) of the season and trio of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) I moved on. There was handful of great landscape views ahead.

 My walk continued along Malina river. Plenty of Tits were singing in the trees and reeds.

 I was passing by flooded areas.

 Another wading was ahead. The reward came with 4 Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) and at least 7 Great Egrets (Egretta alba). Unfortunately without any usable photo.

 At this point water stopped me again. Herons and Egrets were behind that reed.

Fieldfares were feeding on the unflooded parts of meadow.

Few tens of meters further I had this great detailed observation of another Fieldfare.

After Wagtail I found another sign of spring. European Common Brown Frog (Rana temporaria) was almost without any sign of action. It is typical early spring behavior.

Another view on floodplains.

Back to the Morava river. One of the last Goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) of this winter. In the following days and weeks they will fly due north to their breeding sites.

Water is reaching the cycle path.

Typical sighting of Cormorants perching on dried trees along Morava.

Solitaire trees - perfect for Buzzards (Buteo buteo) and Red Kites (Milvus milvus).

Red Kite flying over the Austrian bank.

 Railway crosses the floodplain area of Morava river on Marchegg viaduct.

 Oxbow lake in the northern side of viaduct.

 The wetland from northern side continues also in southern side of viaduct.

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) on the slope of viaduct means that spring is definitely here.

 Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix) were feeding in the field. In the background you can see the western end of Carpathians in Slovakia. Its name is Devínska Kobyla.

The mountain is getting closer. Bus stop is only 25 minutes away.

I thought this would be the end of birdwatching on Saturday but I was wrong. Friend called me that he needs some photos of sandy habitats with coniferous trees so I joined him to make a short stop near Plavecký Štvrtok. While he was taking pictures I spotted 3 Mistle Thrushes (Turdus viscivorus). As he came back he just asked me if I have ever seen the Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus). I answered no. He said me to try to use voice record that I have in my phone. Immediately one Crested Tit landed on the top of pine and started to sing. I could have not believed how it is possible to collect a lifelist tick on demand in a while. This was the last common Tit that I missed in my lifelist. Only very rare Azure Tit (Cyanistes cyanus) remains unchecked. After this great experience I knew that I had a perfect early spring day.

List of observed species during the day:

Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) H
Greylag Goose (Anser anser) 1000 (all Geese together)
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 10
Wigeon (Anas penelope) 1, male
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 7, 2m+5f
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) 12
Great Egret (Egretta alba) 15
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) 25
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) 3
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) 2
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) 8
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 1
Coot (Fulica atra) 1
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

large Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis) 2
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) 2
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 7
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) 5
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) 1, H
Jay (Garrulus glandarius) 3
Common Magpie (Pica pica) 6
Jackdaw (Coloelus monedula) 1
Rook (Corvus frugilegus) 15
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) 1
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) 20
Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) 3
Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) 1; Lifer!!!
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) 12
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) H
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 40
Blackbird (Turdus merula) 4
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) 8
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) 3
Robin (Erithacus rubecula) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) 1
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) 1
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) H

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) H
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) 1
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) 15
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) 3

number of individuals is mentioned only if we were able to count them or make an estimation; "H" means that we heard it

Early Spring Floods on Morava River - pt. 1

[Saturday, March 3, 2012]

There was very fine forecast for the weekend, so I decided to try get up early and catch my morning train. I wanted to visit on of my favourite sites near Morava river. Morava creates borderline between Slovakia and Austria. This interesting area of well preserved floodplains is part of IBA Morava. There is a bunch of images so I will split this photoreport into two parts.

 

 Five minutes before arrival of my train on Bratislava-Lamač train station.

 

Just 20 minutes later I got off the train in Devínske Jazero. Finally new train - day has fine start.

View on meadows called Hoferské lúky. That tree line in the background shows Morava river banks. I love these early mornings here. You know that you have full day ahead and you are already "in action".

Here is the real end of the city. Northernmost settlement of Bratislava ends with "Old Bicycle Buffet" - popular point of interest for cyclists. Later in afternoon I've met already few of them.

Great sighting of Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) illuminated in the morning sun.

In this place river Malina pours into Morava.

Just compare it to conditions that were exactly 3 weeks earlier. River Malina was completely frozen and Morava was full of floating ice

Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) are resident here.

But Wood Pigeons (Columba palumbus) are here just few days...

...and Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) as well.

 I was counting with obstacles in form of high water so I put on my gum-boots. There were only 5cm of height of my boots left but my feet remained dry.

Meadows were flooded. Now you know why they are called floodplains.

Water was slowly creeping on. Here can river overflow onto the meadows more than 3km away from its usual river-basin.

Oxbow lakes are getting fresh water. I spotted few Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), male Wigeon (Anas penelope) and tens of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) was perching on the tree. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) was perching nearby but it flew away just a moment before this shot.

Hundreds of Greylag Geese (Anser anser) and White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) were landing nearby.

This was the end of my walk this way. The water level was too high beyond this line.

I turned back, wade 30 metres again and decided to continue my walk along Malina river. The rest of the day you can find in part 2.