Bei der Beobachtung eines Brutpaares von Steinröteln (Monticola saxatilis) oberhalb von Anras, Osttirol gelang ein interessanter Einblick zur Rolle der Bergeidechse (Zootoca vivipara) als Nestlingsnahrung dieses Fliegenschäpperverwandten. Original-Publikation: ÖGH-Aktuell 56, 2021
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Great Tit mimicking calls of Siberian Chiffchaff
While Great Tit / Kohlmeise (Parus major) rather frequently imitates the calls of Common Chiffchaff / Zilpzalp (Phylloscopus collybita collybita) – see recordings here – I’ve not heard it giving a (to my ears) rather …
Continue readingRed-backed Shrike bathing
Red-backed Shrike / Neuntöter (Lanius collurio) is a species that’s less often seen bathing or drinking compared to many other passerines in Central Europe. Here are two photos of a juvenile taking a bath on …
Continue readingCarrion Crow kills adult Reeve
While Carrion Crows / Aaskrähen (Corvus corone) – as picture-book generalists – are known to feed on a wide variety of things, this was the first time that I witnessed a crow preying on an …
Continue readingA male-like female Reed Bunting
Some female Common Reed Buntings / Rohrammern (Emberiza schoeniclus) approach the visual appearance of males. This is one such bird that initially caused some confusion. But its head is blackish-brown, not black as in males …
Continue readingPlumage variation in female Red-backed Shrikes
Females of Red-backed Shrike / Neuntöter (Lanius collurio) show some variety of plumage features. While the „typical“ female has a brown head and nape with a slight grey tinge and medium (reddish) brown ear coverts, …
Continue readingCommon Moorhens mating
When Common Moorhens / Teichhühner (Gallinula chloropus) mate, the female lies down on her tarsi and arches her neck, looking down to the ground. If the copulation happens in shallow water, this leads to the …
Continue readingOne fish is not enough to take a break
After this Osprey / Fischadler (Pandion haliaetus) had caught a medium-sized fish, it didn’t fly off to eat it. Instead, it repositioned over the water again and continued to hover. In the meantime, the fish …
Continue readingRedshank catching flying insects
Some photos of a special Common Redshank / Rotschenkel (Tringa totanus), catching flying insects by jumping in the air. This individual was ringed in September 2015 in Comacchio, Italy and returned to Seewinkel to breed …
Continue reading„Brown“ Black-winged Stilt in Bulgaria
While volunteering at the Poda Nature Conservation Centre near Burgas/Bulgaria in summer 2008, an aberrant Black-winged Stilt / Stelzenläufer (Himantopus himantopus) was among the most striking birds around. According to the nomenclature of van Grouw, …
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