Short afternoon walk

I had a short walk in Sad Janka Kráľa public park and I checked the Peregrine. Have a look:

From left to right: Aupark tower, Incheba tower (red arrow), Most SNP bridge

Incheba building - Peregrine Falcon wintering site

Falcon was there

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Sad Janka Kráľa public park

unknown feather

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) in winter plumage

From port to park

I made another walk in urban areas of Bratislava. Started home, walked through old Ružinov where I found 130 Waxwings roosting in the tree. Then I checked the basins of port on Danube. I spotted just one Coot, male Pochard, male Mallard and Great Cormorant flew along. I crossed the river and walked on the embankment upstream to the Sad Janka Kráľa public park. There was European Hare pair running across thin strip of floodplain forest that lies between the Danube and embankment. At first I just heard some knocking on the wood, then I found fresh holes in the tree and male Black Woodpecker appeared in the moment. Great Spotted Woodpecker sat on the top of dry tree. The park showed its usual  inhabitants and seasonal guests: Great Tit, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon and few others. Squirrel was hiding just two meters from the park sidewalk.

Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)

Danube river port

Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)

Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)

Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Great Tit (Parus major)

Nuthatch (Sitta europea)

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

Squirrel

List of observed bird species:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Coot (Fulica atra)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Common Gull (Larus canus)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Magpie (Pica pica)
Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

Corvids in Sad Janka Kráľa public park.

Large flocks of Rooks and Jackdaws are using eastern side of public park as gathering site before they move on to their night roost site below Bratislava. It is great opportunity to compare these overlooked birds. Man can spot here Rooks (Corvus frugilegus), Jackdaws (Coloeus monedula), Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix), if lucky its western brother Carrion Crow (Corvus corone). In addition Magpie (Pica pica) and even Jay (Garrulus glandarius) can be found near this eastern side of park. That makes 6 different Corvids in small area during the winter months. Another reason to explore Sad Janka Kráľa public park that lies on opposite side of Danube just next to the city center. (all photos were made yesterday afternoon)

Rook (Corvus frugilegus)

Rook (Corvus frugilegus)

Rook (Corvus frugilegus) and two Jackdaws (Coloeus monedula)

Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix)

Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix) and Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)

mixed flock of Rooks and Hooded Crows

mostly Hooded Crows

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)

Waxwing galore continues

Three days ago I have spotted my first ever flock of Waxwings. We estimated total of 100 birds. Day later it was around 250 birds and today after careful counting of dots on a photo their number have arisen to 700 birds. As we visited site yesterday we found Black-throated Diver on Danube. I took the spotting scope and wanted to make some video of it but it was gone. There was only one Great Cormorant left.

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

I turned back to the parking place near Arena theatre, the site of Waxwings presence in last days. It was again beautiful time as I observed them more than hour. I tried to make some photos and videos again. I have only smartphone so I'm combining it with the optics of the spotting scope. Here are the results - photos were cropped with little bit enhance of brightness and contrast.

Detailed videos are made the same "digiscoping" way.

List of observed birds this afternoon:
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Common Gull (Larus canus)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius)
Jackdaw (Coloelus monedula)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

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)