Birdraces or Big Days are fun events to raise money for bird conservation. I have been a keen participant in the Austrian version of this ‚competition‘ in many years, fortunate enough to be on the …
Continue readingKategorie: Europe
Intersex Eurasian Teal
Intersex birds are usually females exhibiting male characteristics. This Eurasian Teal / Krickente (Anas crecca) was the first of its kind that I encountered. Intersex of this species seem to show a characteristic set of …
Continue readingRuff forgot to cut toenails
I have wondered for a long time, why Ruff / Kampfläufer (Calidris pugnax) seem to show leg injuries (much) more often than other shorebirds at Seewinkel, Austria. Is it just that Ruff appear in larger …
Continue readingComplete post-breeding moult of a Red-backed Shrike in Austria
An adult female Red-backed Shrike / Neuntöter (Lanius collurio) ringed on 10th August 2023 at St. Martins Lodge, Frauenkirchen/Austria showed advanced moult of remiges with corresponding greater coverts and tertials in both wings as well …
Continue readingBee-eaters and Golden Orioles bathing behaviour
On a hot evening on 13th May 2024 on the island of Pag, Croatia I observed European Bee-eaters / Bienenfresser (Merops apiaster) and Eurasian Golden Orioles / Pirole (Oriolus oriolus) bathing together at the same …
Continue readingPeregrine Falcon cuts off entire wing in collision with power line
A Peregrine Falcon / Wanderfalke (Falco peregrinus) that I had ringed in Graz, Austria as a chick in 2021 (female SJS/Viktoria), was recovered in the city of Maribor, Slovenia on 16th December 2024 (61 km …
Continue readingDifferent appearances of hybrids of Red-crested Pochards x Mallard
Photos of two different hybrids of Red-crested Pochard / Kolbenente (Netta rufina) x Mallard / Stockente (Anas platyrhynchos), taken in the same place (Rheindelta, Austria), 18 years apart in May 2005 and November 2023. This …
Continue readingPutative hybrid Red-crested Pochard x Tufted Duck
Photos of a what I believe to be a female hybrid Red-crested Pochard / Kolbenente (Netta rufina) x Tufted Duck / Reiherente (Aythya fuligula). The bird was associated with a spring flock of Red-crested Pochards …
Continue readingA very pale Hooded Crow
Seewinkel in eastern Austria lies in the area of Hooded Crow / Nebelkrähe (Corvus cornix) – but barely. While Carrion Crows / Rabenkrähen (C. corone) also do occur here, they are vastly outnumbered by Hooded …
Continue readingA Ruff with two leg colors
On 22nd April 2023 I saw this adult male Ruff / Kampfläufer (Calidris puganx) at Racó de l’Olla/Albufera de Valencia, Spain. It shows a different color on each leg. The color appeared not to be …
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