Neusiedler See NP in February

February in the area of Lake Neusiedler See and nearby Seewinkel region is great for geese and birds of prey. Both groups brought a lifer for me today. 

On our way from Bratislava to Neusiedler See - Seewinkel National Park we were "forced" to stop behind Gattendorf as unknown large raptor was sitting on a branch. In short time we realized that it is a juvenile Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). Weather just started to get worse but it didn't any matter to us as we had great birdwatching start. This great entrée was followed by Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) near Illmitz - Hölle. Male Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) was gliding over Hochstätten. We stopped to check the geese flock in the field and another Sparrowhawk just flew around. I tried to find it but I spotted "only" Merlin (Falco columbarius). Finally connected with this small falcon. My first lifer of the year. Another stop was in the hide next to the national park information centre in Illmitz. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) was soaring over the reeds. Another bird of prey was slowly gliding over the reeds around Zicklacke but it was not usual Hen Harrier. It was female Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) that is much rarer in winter in the area. As I was scanning the flock of Greylag and White-fronted Geese in Sandeck - Lange Luss I spotted my only one Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) of the day in Austria.

Several thousands of geese are wintering in the flatland of Seewinkel. Flocks mostly consist from Greylag Geese (Anser anser) and White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons). I hoped to tick Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) from my yearlist but I need to try again. I  read reports of some Barnacle (Branta leucopsis) and Red-breasted Geese (Branta ruficollis) in the area. Search for these species is sometimes harder than looking for a needle in a haystack. We were satisfied with 7 different birds of prey and plenty of geese, some of them only few meters from the road. On our way back, as we were approaching Podersdorf I spotted small flock of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) in the field. I realized that there was Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) reported in such small flock next this village. I asked for another quick birding stop. I checked that flock and it there it was - my another yearlist tick, and lifelist of course. Beautiful Canada Goose with 5 Mute Swans.

How can you name the day that you start with Imperial Eagle and end with Canada Goose? Small birdwatcher's heaven?

Illmitz - Zicklacke

Greylag (Anser anser) and White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) at Illmitz - Lange Luss

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) - another not very usual winter inhabitant of the area

lifer Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) in Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) flock

List of observed bird species during the day in Austria:
Common Pheasant  (Phasianus colchicus)
Greylag Goose  (Anser anser)
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 1 Podersdorf - Zeiselfeld
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Gadwall (Anas strepera) 10+ Illmitz - Zicklacke
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Great Egret (Egretta alba) 1 near Berg
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) 2f; 1 Illmitz - Zicklacke, 1 reed belt on the road to Illmitz - Seebad
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) 1m Hochstätten
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) 2; 1 Illmitz - Hölle, 1 Untere Luss
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) 1 Illmitz - Zicklacke
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) 1juv between Gattendorf and Neudorf
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 1 Sandeck - Lange Luss
Merlin (Falco columbarius) 1 Untere Luss
unidentified Gull (Laridae sp.)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
unidentified Woodpecker (Dendrocopos sp.)
Rook  (Corvus frugilegus)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Great Tit (Parus major) 1 Sandeck - Lange Luss
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) 3 reed belt on the road to Illmitz - Seebad
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) 1 Illmitz - Hölle
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) 1 Illmitz - Kirchsee
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) 2m, Darscho

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.