Morning walk at Devínska Kobyla

The Small Carpathians just over Bratislava provide a perfect place for a walk. The length and difficulty is completely upon yourself. I try to prove why it's worth of it to have a walk across the forests and meadows of Small Carpathians. This is what I observed during Sunday morning walk.

BIRDS:

Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius)

FLOWERS:

Yellow Pheasant's Eye (Adonis vernalis)

Greater Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla grandis)

 INSECTS:

Oil Beetle (Meloe sp.)

 MAMMALS:

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

LANDSCAPES:

Devín castle over the confluence of rivers Danube and Morava

Convolvulus Hawk-moth caterpillar

As I was riding my bike to check one of my favourite birding sites on Danube below Bratislava I found this caterpillar. With the help of Twitter community (#teammoth) I identified it as a Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli).

Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli)

Sunday on Danube

Sunday's morning walk was oriented again on Danube. I visited Hrušovská zdrž water reservoir near Čunovo. I had several interesting sightings including lifer Wheatear or my first ever Slovak sightings of Grey Plover or Canada Goose. Despite higher water level Danube brought another wader species. Two Ospreys and young White-tailed Eagle flew over. Another reason why I need better camera than my smartphone and spotting scope used as a lens.

Probably Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans). It can be Yellow-legged Gull as well. They are so similar.

Not very shy Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). Bird was reported in the area since late June after the large flood on Danube.

Juvenile Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina). There were 5 youngsters.

There was colour-ringed Mute Swan (Cygnus olor). It was ringed in Hungary.

I tried to take the picture of my lifer Wheatear, but it didn't appear again. Only this juvenile Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros).

Record shot of Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago).

Three Grey Plovers (Pluvialis squatarola) and couple of Curlews (Numenius arquata)

Fire-bellied toad (Bombina sp.).

While photographing Fire-bellied Toad this bug landed on my tripod. Black and Red Bug (Lygaeus equestris).