Small Austrian circuit

Few free hours between two bike delivery stints in Bratislava. Why not to have a ride to nearby Austrian fields. When you are in Bratislava you needn't go into the Small Carpathians, along the Danube or visit Morava floodplain. Even the flat landscape to the south from Bratislava offers fine opportunities for a bike ride and even a birder can have an interesting sightings. My route went through Kittsee across Pama to Gattendorf. Then I turned to the southeast direction along Leitha River to Zurndorf and then another 90° turn towards Deutsch Jahrndorf. From Deutsch Jahrndorf I rode back to Pama and have reached Bratislava across Kittsee and Petržalka. It's approximately only 50 km all together with the start and end in the Bratislava city center. Bike trails in Austria are well marked so it's easy to find your way.

My main intention was to find out if there are any flooded fields or meadows after the winter. These wet habitats are attracting wader bird species during the spring migration. And sometimes even flocks of gulls or ducks. I had a nice spring feeling while I was riding between Kittsee and Pama. Skylarks and Crested Larks were singing in the skies, European Hares were running all around. I was hoping to observe my first Marsh Harrier of the season, but only few Kestrels and Common Buzzards appeared. Next to the Zurndorf I turned my eyes up to the sky and spotted 3 White-tailed Eagles soaring really really high. On the road to Deutsch Jahrndorf I finally found some flooded fields. Few hundreds of Lapwings accompanied by Starlings were enjoying these pools of water. I observed my first Eurasian Teal of the year that was swimming in the flooded field with Mallard couple. I moved towards Deutsch Jahrndorf and another flooded fields and meadows appeared. Three hunting Great Egrets, another flocks of Lapwings, resting gulls but unfortunately Lapwings remained the only wader species to be observed that day. I was running out of the time because of my afternoon bike delivery job, but I managed to spot Red Kite flying over the fields close to Pama.

it is easy to follow the signs

soaring Common Buzzards

Crested Lark next to the highway

fields between Kittsee and Pama

European Hare running for cover

Leitha River near Zurndorf

flooded fields

flooded fields

Northern Lapwing

Lapwing in flight

couple of Mallards followed by a male Eurasian Teal

fields and meadows between Zurndorf and Deutsch Jahrndorf

another flooded area

another flock of Lapwings

Red Kite near Pama

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

First Barn Swallow of the year

This year I was the lucky one. Very probably I made first record of a Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) in Slovakia this year. Nice reward for the time spent outside in the field. This great observation was accompanied with other yearlist ticks: heard my first Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita); there was one Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) in flock of White Wagtails; nice flock of 6 Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) was silenty floating on a dead river-arm of River Morava; 3 Redshanks (Tringa totanus) made short stop on the bank and 3 Garganeys (Anas querquedula) were in the flock of 40+ Teals (Anas crecca).

Barn Swallow catching insects low over the flooded meadow:

Flock of 6 Whooper Swans:

Two male Garganeys out of three observed:

Great Cormorant in courtship plumage is a beautiful bird:

List of recorded species during the walk:

Common Pheasant   (Phasianus colchicus)
Greylag Goose   (Anser anser)
White-fronted Goose   (Anser albifrons)
Mute Swan   (Cygnus olor)
Whooper Swan   (Cygnus cygnus)
Mallard   (Anas platyrhynchos)
Garganey   (Anas querquedula)
Teal   (Anas crecca)
Grey Heron   (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret   (Egretta alba)
Great Cormorant   (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Red Kite   (Milvus milvus)
Marsh Harrier   (Circus aeruginosus)
Hen Harrier   (Circus cyaneus)
Sparrowhawk   (Accipiter nisus)
Common Buzzard   (Buteo buteo)
Eastern Imperial Eagle   (Aquila heliaca)
Coot   (Fulica atra)
Lapwing   (Vanellus vanellus)
Common Redshank   (Tringa totanus)
Black-headed Gull   (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
large Gull   (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
Wood Pigeon   (Columba palumbus)
Great Spotted Woodpecker   (Dendrocopos major)
Black Woodpecker   (Dryocopus martius)
Green Woodpecker   (Picus viridis)
Hooded Crow   (Corvus cornix)
Raven   (Corvus corax)
Great Tit   (Parus major)
Blue Tit   (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Barn Swallow   (Hirundo rustica)
Chiffchaff   (Phylloscopus collybita)
Common Starling   (Sturnus vulgaris)
Blackbird   (Turdus merula)
Fieldfare   (Turdus pilaris)
Song Thrush   (Turdus philomelos)
Robin   (Erithacus rubecula)
Black Redstart   (Phoenicurus ochruros)
European Stonechat   (Saxicola rubicola)
House Sparrow   (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow   (Passer montanus)
Yellow Wagtail   (Motacilla flava)
White Wagtail   (Motacilla alba)
Chaffinch   (Fringilla coelebs)
Greenfinch   (Carduelis chloris)
Goldfinch   (Carduelis carduelis)
Yellowhammer   (Emberiza citrinella)
Reed Bunting   (Emberiza schoeniclus)

"S" for Spring

Spring started to show its signs and I was still missing couple of wintering birds in my yearlist. As a coincidence my today's target species begin with "S" - Scaup and Smew. I didn't want to wait till late November to spot them so I decided to take 18km long birdwalk along Danube from Dobrohošť to Čunovo. This part of Danube is wintering site for both species. 

Small flock of c15 Waxwings appeared just minute after I left home. On my way to bus station I found Snowdrops ("S" as coincidence). I took bus to Dobrohošť. As I was approaching Danube shipping channel I spotted flock of c130 birds. They were Starlings ("S" again) and Fieldfares. Just a while later my first spring Skylark (what about "S"?) was flying up from Danube's channel embankment and tried to sing with shy voice. I was scanning flocks of Tufted Ducks and Common Goldeneyes for my targets. After 1,5 hour I found  male Scaup and few whiles later 3 females too. The bird that was identified as male Scaup was hybrid of Pochard and Tufted Duck. 3 female Scaup remained in the list. First target species was ticked. Meanwhile I spotted Pygmy Cormorants, Goosanders, Gadwalls, Buzzards and Sparrowhawk. I was thankful for gloves and cap as wind was blowing in my face all the way. 12 kilometres against the wind were in my legs as day's goal was fulfilled. I found Smew pair (species with "S" once more). Yearlist jumped to number 90. I continued along Danubiana gallery. Two dozens of Pochards appeared and another large flock of Goldeneyes. As I was checking this part of water surface I registered panic among waterfowl and cormorants. I was looking for White-tailed Eagles but I didn't see any. Few minutes later I spotted a pair of them soaring high in the sky over gallery. 

Here is a bunch of phonescoped record shots from today:

filling channel of old river-arm system

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Great Egret (Egretta alba)

Pygmy Cormorants (Microcarbo pygmeus)

male Scaup (Aythya marila) left, female Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) right

male Scaup (Aythya marila) hybrid Pochard x Tufted Duck right, male Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) left

Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

vast water surface of Danube's channel

male Goosander (Mergus merganser) up, Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) down

Gadwalls (Anas strepera)

literally record shot of Smews (Mergellus albellus)

Pochards (Aythya ferina)

Danubiana gallery

Tea time! (Mao Jian)

Pygmy Cormorants

site where Pygmy Cormorants were sitting

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

List of observed species during the day in Bratislava and along Danube:
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
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)
Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmeus)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Coot (Fulica atra)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
large Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Stock Dove (Columba oenas)
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Common Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)