Sunny March Afternoon

Just few photos from today's walk in quiet corners of Bratislava:

Danube's blind riverarm

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) and Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Danube below Prístavný most

Great Tits (Parus major)

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)

Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) from behind

Saturday birdwatching on Danube

After several visits in the northern outskirts of Bratislava near River Morava I decided to change my direction and went to check Danube. Hrušovská zdrž water reservoir is an important migration and wintering spot in Central Europe. I took spotting scope and my binoculars and went out to check if there are already first autumn guests or not. I found 3 different dabbling duck species beside Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) - 7 Gadwall (Anas strepera), 6 Wigeon (Anas penelope), 15 Teal (Anas crecca). I've spotted one female Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), 5 female Goosander (Mergus merganser) and first few hundreds of Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochards (Aythya ferina) that used to winter in this area. There were plenty of White Wagtails (Motacilla alba) and one Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea). It might be there more of them, but I spotted only one. I haven't seen any waders nor Pygmy Cormorants. May be there will be some of them in later weeks. 

I think this is enough writing. It's better to check photos, videos and list of observed birds on Hrušovská zdrž water dam and Čunovo surroundings. Photos and videos of birds are digiscoped using my HTC Desire S smartphone.

Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)

Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)

juvenile Yellow-legged or Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)

River Danube below Danubiana

female Goosanders (Mergus merganser)

River Danube below dam

posing Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

sleeping Teals (Anas crecca)

upper parts of water reservoir

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Great Egret (Egretta alba)

List of observed bird species:
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Teal (Anas crecca)
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Goosander (Mergus merganser)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Egretta alba)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Coot (Fulica atra)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Magpie (Pica pica)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

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. 1

[Saturday, March 3, 2012]

There was very fine forecast for the weekend, so I decided to try get up early and catch my morning train. I wanted to visit on of my favourite sites near Morava river. Morava creates borderline between Slovakia and Austria. This interesting area of well preserved floodplains is part of IBA Morava. There is a bunch of images so I will split this photoreport into two parts.

 

 Five minutes before arrival of my train on Bratislava-Lamač train station.

 

Just 20 minutes later I got off the train in Devínske Jazero. Finally new train - day has fine start.

View on meadows called Hoferské lúky. That tree line in the background shows Morava river banks. I love these early mornings here. You know that you have full day ahead and you are already "in action".

Here is the real end of the city. Northernmost settlement of Bratislava ends with "Old Bicycle Buffet" - popular point of interest for cyclists. Later in afternoon I've met already few of them.

Great sighting of Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) illuminated in the morning sun.

In this place river Malina pours into Morava.

Just compare it to conditions that were exactly 3 weeks earlier. River Malina was completely frozen and Morava was full of floating ice

Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) are resident here.

But Wood Pigeons (Columba palumbus) are here just few days...

...and Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) as well.

 I was counting with obstacles in form of high water so I put on my gum-boots. There were only 5cm of height of my boots left but my feet remained dry.

Meadows were flooded. Now you know why they are called floodplains.

Water was slowly creeping on. Here can river overflow onto the meadows more than 3km away from its usual river-basin.

Oxbow lakes are getting fresh water. I spotted few Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), male Wigeon (Anas penelope) and tens of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) was perching on the tree. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) was perching nearby but it flew away just a moment before this shot.

Hundreds of Greylag Geese (Anser anser) and White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) were landing nearby.

This was the end of my walk this way. The water level was too high beyond this line.

I turned back, wade 30 metres again and decided to continue my walk along Malina river. The rest of the day you can find in part 2.