Short walk in Medická záhrada public garden

fraction of c400 Waxwings

one Fieldfare joined the Waxwing flock

House Sparrows in the snow

Chaffinch was hungry too

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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)

Search for Waxwings - Redwing found

Waxwings occupy streets of Bratislava 8 weeks in row. My friend asked me to try to check wider centre of Bratislava to estimate number of wintering Waxwings. I decided to search in old town, Sad Janka Kráľa public park, castle hill,garden and squares behind presidential palace. My total number was 362 Waxwings. According to my friend's count and one other birder's we estimate their number around 4500 individuals in Bratislava area. We were shocked when we reached 1000 in December. Again two weeks ago when we counted 2000+ birds and today's count is simply breath-taking. I can't believe that I have seen my first ever Waxwings only two month ago and now I'm part of the team that tries to monitor them during the whole time of their stay in the city.

(In following days were photos from this count revised and one other birder's observation was added. Total number stands on 5112 Waxwings.)

But one can't forget also other birds. Yearlist tick Peregrine Falcon with caught Feral Pigeon. Fieldfares made my highest count today(800+). And in the flock of c700 Fieldfares and c100 Waxwings I have also found one Redwing (another yearlist tick). It was second time this winter that I spotted 4 different Turdus sp. thrushes in few minutes(Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Redwing).

Here are some photos from today:

Robin (Erithacus rubecula) always counts

hybrid Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) x Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)

Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)

Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris)

lonely Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) in Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) flock

my first Redwing (Turdus iliacus) of the year

Fieldfare in the snow

Waxwings - flock of "just" 1700 birds

Day started at Ružinov cemetery. We were searching for wintering Long-eared Owls, but we were unsuccessful. Coal Tit, Marsh Tit and couple of Treecreepers took up our mood. We were reported that there is a large flock of Waxwings on our way to city center. We estimated 600-800 birds in the flock. I made this video:

I took few frames and tried to count the birds in it.

Result is that our estimated number of individuals in the flock was absolutely wrong. According to the definition of the video I counted 1690 birds and overall revised count is somewhere around 1600-1800 birds.

Waxwings - day 2

I begin to understand why is observation of Waxwings so addictive. Today's weather was much better - no snow, only few raindrops. I spent almost an hour with Waxwings. I found them on the opposite bank of River Danube as yesterday. They were feeding, roosting, some of them were drinking water from small puddle. All of this accompanied by their characteristic voice. I made few photos and videos using my phone and spotting scope. Enjoy!

Ok! Ok! Ok! There were beside 100+ Waxwings other birds too: 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, 8 Blackbird, 3 Mistle Thrush, 3 Hooded Crow, Carrion Crow, 30 Jackdaw, 5 Black-headed Gull, Great Cormorant, Kestrel.