Woodpeckers in the forest over Dúbravka

I was supposed to work at home and write a trip report from our weekend birdwatching tour in Hortobágy National Park (Hungary), but I was unable to create anything. I packed bottle of water and bird guide, took spotting scope and went out to the forest that lies over Dúbravka, Bratislava. Autumn already began, but most of the trees are still green and man needs a little bit luck to spot something up in the trees. I found 3 species of woodpeckers - Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis), Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius). I made these videos:

List of observed bird species:
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Common Magpie (Pica pica)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

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)

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)