November bike trip to Austria

Weather prediction showed no rain, no strong wind and temperature up to 10°C. Simply ideal conditions for having a bike ride in November. In group of four cyclists - Carolina, Lina, Martin and me we made approximately 60km long bike ride. We started in Bratislava, went under Devín castle, across Morava River to Schlosshof. Then we were crossing the fields and Danube to Hainburg and finished again in Bratislava.

morning in Bratislava - fog over Danube

next to the confluence of Danube and Morava Rivers

under the Devín castle

"Bike bridge of freedom", or better known as "Chuck Norris bridge"

one wheel in Slovakia, another already in Austria

crossing the line

in front of Schlosshof

I decided to celebrate it with a bikelift

our next direction

"empty" frame

rest time next to Engelhartstetten

we followed the upper bike trail

man can't be lost in Austria

medieval gate in Hainburg (photo by Carolina)

riding in to the fog (between Hainburg and Wolfsthal)

approaching border crossing between Berg and Bratislava

Marchfeld bike ride

Neighbouring Austria is always worth of a visit, especially if you are a bike tourist. On Saturday I crossed 3 bridges over 2 major rivers of the region - Danube and Morava. I rode few kilometres to the west along Marchfeldkanal bike trail and then turned back. In southeast direction I reached Stopfenreuth where I connected to the Danube bike trail and followed its path to Bratislava. First half was sunlit but the other one changed into the run ahead of the storm approaching from the west. 

Here are few pictures from the Saturday's afternoon:

Devín castle

bridge over Morava (Slovakia left, Austria right side)

in front of SchlossHof (palace Hof)

first metres of Marchfeldkanal bike route

Devínska Kobyla from different angle

small bridge over Russbach

picturesque Marchfeld region

plenty of information panels along the route

nearby storm

bridge over Danube near Hainburg

it is pretty hard to be lost

upstream Danube in Hainburg - storm is still approaching

back in Bratislava - Lafranconi bridge over Danube

Note for birders: I spotted my first Grey Partridges of the year. Just few metres from the road. Marchfeldkanal bike route goes along Great Bustard LIFE+ project protected area. It is estimated that in border region of Austria, Slovakia and Hungary there could be wintering more than 400 birds. I will check this site later in the autumn.

Useful information: Marchfeldkanal bike trail map

Bikebirding in Morava floodplain

Ordinary afternoon bikebirding trip was targeted on Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria), that I still miss in my yearlist. I didn't find it but instead I was lucky to spot some other great birds. To be honest I didn't await to spot Grasshopper Warbler or Little Bittern. But it must have been some kind of reward for time spent outdoors. Beside it I will mention just few highlights: adult Eastern Imperial Eagle, 6 Red Kite, 5+ Black Stork, Great Egret, 3 Turtle Dove, Savi's Warbler or Spotted Flycatcher. Full list of observed birds can be found after the photos.

floodplain meadows

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

meadows where Black Storks were roosting

Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)

singing male Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia)

List of recorded bird species:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia )
Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
Common Swift (Apus apus)
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)
Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Northern Raven (Corvus corax)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)
Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina)
Common Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia)
Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)
Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Common Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
European Serin (Serinus serinus)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Bike trip to the White Stork colony in Marchegg

Flat areas of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) are perfect for various bike tours. Bike & pedestrian bridge over Morava River made it easy to access this region from Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. Less than 30 km away lies Marchegg. It is known as "Stork town" as you can find the largest White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) tree colony in Central Europe just behind the embankment in the floodplain forest of Morava River. It usually consists of 50-75 active nests in the canopies of the floodplain forest. Beside the colony of White Storks I observed colonies of two other bird species - European Bee-Eaters (Merops apiaster) breed at Sandberg in Devínska Nová Ves and Sand Martins (Riparia riparia) breed on the banks of gravel pit westwards from Marchegg-bahnhof. This time of the year is also perfect for birds of prey. I've spotted Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), pair of White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Black Kite (Milvus migrans) from the observation tower in the colony. Male Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) flew over my head near Schlosshof, Red Kite (Milvus milvus) was soaring over the Morava River and I've spotted several hunting Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo). I was lucky enough to spot Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) or Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur). Beside the birds I've seen young Roe Deer, several European Hares and a European Pond Turtle. Full list of observed bird species can be found in the end of this post.

Few photos from my bike trip from Bratislava to Marchegg:

confluence of Danube (left) and Morava (right)

colony of European Bee-eaters is hidden in the lower slopes of Sandberg

bike and pedestrian bridge over Morava River

meadows and river-arms on the Austrian side of the river

late spring can be colourful

approaching Marchegg - the Stork town

path to the observation tower

panoramic view of the colony from the observation tower

around 20 White Stork nests can be seen from the tower

...somebody lost his head

distribution of White Storks - breeding-red, winter-yellow

below the tower, some of the nesting trees are really close

floodplain forest near the colony

nearby lake, European Pond Turtles can be spotted here

colony of Sand Martins is on the opposite bank of the gravel pit

List of observed bird species:
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
large Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia )
Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
Common Swift (Apus apus)
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)
Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Common Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
European Serin (Serinus serinus)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)