Bee-eaters and Orchids

I took part on our another guided walk in Bratislava surroundings. Our main targets were newly arrived Bee-eaters and orchids in bloom that can be found on the slopes of Devínska Kobyla, most southward part of the Small Carpathians.

I came to Devínska Nová Ves 2 hours sooner to take short walk across the bridge over Morava River to have glimpse on floodplain meadows and fields on Austrian side. I heard my first Corncrakes (Crex crex) and spotted first Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) of the year. This visit was worth of it because I have seen  not very common female Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus), pair of Gadwalls (Anas strepera) and heard few Greylag Geese (Anser anser). For geese and ducks it could be sign of breeding in the area.

At 9:00 I met with my watching.sk colleague Katka and together with participants we started our guided walk. We heard and spot our first Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster). Katka as a leading guide was talking about Bee-eaters's habits and habitat, apart of it showing various rare flowers and plants (e.g.: Adonis vernalis, Stipa ioannis, Globularia punctata or Scorzonera austriaca). Two Black Kites (Milvus migrans) flew over our heads.

Then we moved to the site where man could find several species of orchids. We found Burnt-tip Orchids (Neotinea ustulata) and purple, pink and white variety of Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio). Katka gave us short lecture on orchids and after that we slowly moved to Devín, where our guided walk ended.

Have a look on a pics of landscape, phonescoped animals and flowers. In the end you can find list of observed birds species in the area along Morava River and on the slopes of Devínska Kobyla.

bridge over Morava River

female White Stork on the nest

Corncrakes were calling from the floodplain meadows

rabbit on the field near Schlosshof

male Stork searching for food

Gadwall (Anas strepera)

observing our first Bee-eaters

land between Danube and Morava rivers is called Marchpfeld

a bit blurry phonescoped Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster)

Katka giving us short lecture on orchids

Burnt-tip Orchid (Neotinea ustulata)

Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio)

List of observed bird species:

Common Pheasant   ( Phasianus colchicus )
Greylag Goose   ( Anser anser )
Mute Swan   ( Cygnus olor )
Gadwall   ( Anas strepera )
Mallard   ( Anas platyrhynchos )
White Stork   ( Ciconia ciconia )
Grey Heron   ( Ardea cinerea )
Great Egret   ( Egretta alba )
Great Cormorant   ( Phalacrocorax carbo )
Black Kite   ( Milvus migrans )
Marsh Harrier   ( Circus aeruginosus )
Montagu's Harrier   ( Circus pygargus )
Common Kestrel   ( Falco tinnunculus )
Coot   ( Fulica atra )
Black-headed Gull   ( Chroicocephalus ridibundus )
Feral Pigeon   ( Columba livia f. domestica )
Wood Pigeon   ( Columba palumbus )
Collared Dove   ( Streptopelia decaocto )
Common Cuckoo   ( Cuculus canorus )
Common Swift   ( Apus apus )
Bee-eater   ( Merops apiaster )
Great Spotted Woodpecker   ( Dendrocopos major )
Black Woodpecker   ( Dryocopus martius )
Green Woodpecker   ( Picus viridis )
Golden Oriole   ( Oriolus oriolus )
Common Magpie   ( Pica pica )
Jackdaw   ( Coloeus monedula )
Hooded Crow   ( Corvus cornix )
Raven   ( Corvus corax )
Great Tit   ( Parus major )
Blue Tit   ( Cyanistes caeruleus )
Common Skylark   ( Alauda arvensis )
Barn Swallow   ( Hirundo rustica )
House Martin   ( Delichon urbicum )
Long-tailed Tit   ( Aegithalos caudatus )
Chiffchaff   ( Phylloscopus collybita )
Wood Warbler   ( Phylloscopus sibilatrix )
Sedge Warbler   ( Acrocephalus schoenobaenus )
Blackcap   ( Sylvia atricapilla )
Lesser Whitethroat   ( Sylvia curruca )
Common Starling   ( Sturnus vulgaris )
Blackbird   ( Turdus merula )
Common Nightingale   ( Luscinia megarhynchos )
Black Redstart   ( Phoenicurus ochruros )
House Sparrow   ( Passer domesticus )
Tree Sparrow   ( Passer montanus )
White Wagtail   ( Motacilla alba )
Chaffinch   ( Fringilla coelebs )
Serin   ( Serinus serinus )
Greenfinch   ( Carduelis chloris )
Goldfinch   ( Carduelis carduelis )
Yellowhammer   ( Emberiza citrinella )

Spring flowers at Devínska Kobyla

We had a walk this afternoon around Sandberg, Bratislava. We hoped to spot finally some spring flowers. It is a 4 weeks later than usually but the joy was even greater. Have a look!

Pheasant's Eye (Adonis vernalis)

meadow in bloom

Pheasant's Eye and Morava River

Mahaleb cherry in bloom (Cerasus mahaleb)

Ladybird (Coccinella sp.)

Iris pumila

typical Iris ring

Iris pumila

Iris pumila - purple variety

Iris pumila - blue variety

Iris pumila - yellow variety

Birdwatching at Devínska Nová Ves

Surroundings of Devínska Nová Ves, Bratislava is great birdwatching site in every season of the year. Man can spent here one hour or whole day. Spring should be already here, but gloves, cap and snow blanket were saying that winter doesn't want to retreat. Despite this I observed my first White Storks of the year. Luckily one of them is local and already on the nest waiting for its partner. I took a walk across the bridge to Austria and back. Later I met my colleague and went to check slopes of Devínska Kobyla for first spring flowers but we need to wait few more days as they are still under snow, very unusual for this time of year. I made a few photos:

male Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

one of  three Teals (Anas crecca)

Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) on Morava River

my first White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) of the year, check Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) under the nest

European Hares (Lepus europaeus) preparing for box fight

Sandberg - breeding site of Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster); first birds should arrive in a month

List of observed bird species:

Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
unidentified Goose (Anser sp.)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Garganey (Anas querquedula)
Teal (Anas crecca)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Coot (Fulica atra)
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
large Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
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)
Common Magpie (Pica pica)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Common Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)