Is this spring?

After the weekend that was full of duties I made regular walk along seepage channel of Danube's Hrušovská zdrž water reservoir to count the wintering waterbirds. Weather forecast looked bad but I had no other option. First 2 hours it was only cold and windy and after 8:30 it began to snow. I spotted my first Stonechats (Saxicola torquata) and Grey Wagtails (Motacilla cinerea) of the year. Snowdrops started to bloom two weeks ago, now Two-leaf Squills (Scila bifolia) appeared. I was lucky to observe Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) and was able to shoot short video of an Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber). The second half of my walk was covered under snow blanket. Pretty weird to see flowers under snow. I spotted also one Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and three Roedeer (Capreolus capreolus) Fortunately the rain came in late afternoon so the only problem was snow on my spotting scope and freezing hands.

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) and Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

happy Beaver (Castor fiber)

Two-leaf Squill (Scila bifolia)

road along seepage channel covered with snow

not very typical photo from spring birdwatching walk

Two-leaf Squill under snow

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)

Bear's Garlic (Allium ursinum)

Bear's Garlic meadow under snow blanket

I found these feathers: upper two are from Wood Pigeon, undermost is from Pheasant

First bike birding of this year

I've brought my bike finally to my new flat. Weather forecast for today was very pleasant: temperature around 10°C, no rain and light wind. All this resulted into my short distance bike birding trip to the areas near Danube below Bratislava. I hoped for some waders but I didn't see any. My yearlist got an update: 94. Lesser Black-backed Gull (possibly ssp. graellsii). Other highlights from today: adult White-tailed Eagle, Raven, 2 Gadwalls (m+f) , 2 female Goosanders, 8 Smews (1m+7f), 3 Bearded Reedlings, 2 White Wagtails, Black Woodpecker (several calls heard), 15 Waxwings. Complete list of observed species you can find below photos.

Kalinkovská zátoka - small bay next to the Danube

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

record shot of LBB Gull (in the middle), can you spot 2 Great Cormorants, Mallard and Tufted Duck?

floodplain forest is now covered with carpets of Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)

bike birding

one of my favourite birding spots near Danube

tea birding

List of recorded bird species during the day:
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Goosander (Mergus merganser)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Egretta alba)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
large Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
Green Woodpecker  (Picus viridis)
unidentified Woodpecker (Dendrocopos sp.)
Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Magpie (Pica pica)
Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Raven (Corvus corax)
Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Bearded Reeding (Panurus biarmicus)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

 

Winter waterbird census - March

[Saturday, March 17, 2012]

As usual, closest weekend to 15th day in a month is the date of winter waterbird census. I have visited my counting section for the 5th time this winter. We had first real spring days after frozen winter in western Slovakia. Indeed I started the day wearing sweater, softshell jacket and gloves on my hands as it was only 2°C in Hamuliakovo, but 2,5 hours later and 6km upstream of the seepage channel it was already 15°C so the upper parts of my clothes went to my backpack. I will mention the numbers of observed water birds on my counting section. Due to warm weather and the fact that several banks of were mowed of grass and its reed the numbers of birds were smaller than expected: Mute Swan 10, Mallard 56, Wigeon 8, Gadwall 20, Garganey 6, Tufted Duck 55, Pochard 1, Ferruginous Duck 1, Little Grebe 48, Coot 24, White Wagtail 8, Grey Wagtail 1, Reed Bunting 6, Muscovy Duck 1. Even though it was an amazing fieldwork day that was laced with valuable observations, weird headwrecker and lifer in the end. Let's check it!

Hooded Crow - Corvus cornix

 Sometimes your birdwatching starts already in the city.

Garganey - Anas querquedula

 First look in the start of my counting section brought new species into my yearlist.

Pair of Garganeys and Gadwall (Anas strepera).

Robin - Erithacus rubecula

Great view on Robin always makes me smile.

My route alongside the seepage channel.

Bicycle path on the top of the embankment of Hrušovská zdrž water dam. Dam is on left, seepage channel on right hand side.

Large surface of water dam. Despite calm water there were only few birds in good sight. Most of them were far or in bad counterlight.

Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus

Chirping mates in morning sun.

Calm water of seepage channel.

Guess who was passing by recently.

One of the day's highlights - Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber).

Few Wigeons (Anas penelope) found just a while later.

 I didn't remember this nest from my previous walks. It must be this year's work. Another species to my yearlist.

Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus.

Penduline Tit feeding near its nest.

I've spotted few Song Thrushes, Robin, immature Black Redstart and this lonesome Starling with beatiful glossy feathers.

Muscovy Duck - Cairina moschata

You need to be prepared for everything when you are in the field but this observation was kind of shocking for me. At first I thought that Great Cormorant in courtship plumage landed on the channel but when I checked it closer a found this weird looking bird. I was unable to make any ID, I thought it's some kind of hybrid. Later in the evening my friends helped me to solve this headwrecker. It's an escapee from some near lying farm. Muscovy Duck is kept on farms due to its size and large liver.

Another Garganey.

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

Flowers in bloom are sign that winter is over.

Yellow Star of Bethlehem - Gagea lutea

Two-leaf Squill - Scilla bifolia

Coltsfoot - Tussilago farfara

Great Grey Shrike - Lanius excubitor

After hearing my first Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) of the year I spotted Great Grey Shrike in the treetop. If you think that first Chiffchaff, Penduline Tit, Garganey of the season, great video of mostly night -active Beaver and weird headwrecker are enough for great day you're wrong.

Near the end of my counting section I found most elegant duck that can be found in Slovakia. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) is rare breeder in our country. Number of breeding pairs is estimated from only 5 to 20. Such great days use to bring some bonus reward. I found it in the small area of forest steppe that is embraced by old river arm of River Danube. In Protected Reserve "Ostrov Kopáč" I heard and saw my first ever Woodlark (Lullula arborea). You can find photos of this marvel area inside River Danube's alluvial forests here.

List of observed bird species during the day:

Common Pheasant    (Phasianus colchicus)
Mute Swan    (Cygnus olor)
Gadwall    (Anas strepera)
Wigeon    (Anas penelope)
Mallard    (Anas platyrhynchos)
Garganey    (Anas querquedula)
Pochard    (Aythya ferina)
Ferruginous Duck    (Aythya nyroca)
Tufted Duck    (Aythya fuligula)
Common Goldeneye    (Bucephala clangula)
Little Grebe    (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Great Crested Grebe    (Podiceps cristatus)
Great Cormorant    (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Sparrowhawk    (Accipiter nisus)
Common Buzzard    (Buteo buteo)
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)
Great Spotted Woodpecker    (Dendrocopos major)
Green Woodpecker    (Picus viridis)
Great Grey Shrike    (Lanius excubitor)
Jay    (Garrulus glandarius)
Common Magpie    (Pica pica)
Rook    (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow    (Corvus cornix)
Marsh Tit    (Poecile palustris)
Great Tit    (Parus major)
Blue Tit    (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Penduline Tit    (Remiz pendulinus)
Woodlark    (Lullula arborea) - Lifer!!!
Long-tailed Tit    (Aegithalos caudatus)
Chiffchaff    (Phylloscopus collybita)
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)
White Wagtail    (Motacilla alba)
Chaffinch    (Fringilla coelebs)
Greenfinch    (Carduelis chloris)
Goldfinch    (Carduelis carduelis)
Linnet    (Carduelis cannabina)
Yellowhammer    (Emberiza citrinella)
Reed Bunting    (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Muscovy Duck  (Cairina moschata f. domestica) - escapee

Early Spring Floods on Morava River - pt. 2

[Saturday, March 3, 2012]

After spotting my first White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) of the season and trio of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) I moved on. There was handful of great landscape views ahead.

 My walk continued along Malina river. Plenty of Tits were singing in the trees and reeds.

 I was passing by flooded areas.

 Another wading was ahead. The reward came with 4 Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) and at least 7 Great Egrets (Egretta alba). Unfortunately without any usable photo.

 At this point water stopped me again. Herons and Egrets were behind that reed.

Fieldfares were feeding on the unflooded parts of meadow.

Few tens of meters further I had this great detailed observation of another Fieldfare.

After Wagtail I found another sign of spring. European Common Brown Frog (Rana temporaria) was almost without any sign of action. It is typical early spring behavior.

Another view on floodplains.

Back to the Morava river. One of the last Goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) of this winter. In the following days and weeks they will fly due north to their breeding sites.

Water is reaching the cycle path.

Typical sighting of Cormorants perching on dried trees along Morava.

Solitaire trees - perfect for Buzzards (Buteo buteo) and Red Kites (Milvus milvus).

Red Kite flying over the Austrian bank.

 Railway crosses the floodplain area of Morava river on Marchegg viaduct.

 Oxbow lake in the northern side of viaduct.

 The wetland from northern side continues also in southern side of viaduct.

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) on the slope of viaduct means that spring is definitely here.

 Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix) were feeding in the field. In the background you can see the western end of Carpathians in Slovakia. Its name is Devínska Kobyla.

The mountain is getting closer. Bus stop is only 25 minutes away.

I thought this would be the end of birdwatching on Saturday but I was wrong. Friend called me that he needs some photos of sandy habitats with coniferous trees so I joined him to make a short stop near Plavecký Štvrtok. While he was taking pictures I spotted 3 Mistle Thrushes (Turdus viscivorus). As he came back he just asked me if I have ever seen the Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus). I answered no. He said me to try to use voice record that I have in my phone. Immediately one Crested Tit landed on the top of pine and started to sing. I could have not believed how it is possible to collect a lifelist tick on demand in a while. This was the last common Tit that I missed in my lifelist. Only very rare Azure Tit (Cyanistes cyanus) remains unchecked. After this great experience I knew that I had a perfect early spring day.

List of observed species during the day:

Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) H
Greylag Goose (Anser anser) 1000 (all Geese together)
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 10
Wigeon (Anas penelope) 1, male
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 7, 2m+5f
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) 12
Great Egret (Egretta alba) 15
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) 25
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) 3
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) 2
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) 8
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 1
Coot (Fulica atra) 1
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

large Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis) 2
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) 2
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 7
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) 5
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) 1, H
Jay (Garrulus glandarius) 3
Common Magpie (Pica pica) 6
Jackdaw (Coloelus monedula) 1
Rook (Corvus frugilegus) 15
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) 1
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) 20
Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) 3
Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) 1; Lifer!!!
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) 12
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) H
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 40
Blackbird (Turdus merula) 4
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) 8
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) 3
Robin (Erithacus rubecula) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) 1
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) 1
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) H

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) H
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) 1
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) 15
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) 3

number of individuals is mentioned only if we were able to count them or make an estimation; "H" means that we heard it