Band-backed Wren / Tigerzaunkönig (Campylorhynchus zonatus) is a large wren distributed from Mexico to Ecuador where it also frequents high altitudes up to 3000 m. It breeds cooperatively, which means that breeding pairs get help …
Continue readingNest-building Plumbeous Kites
While on a visit at Finca La Gracia on Guatemala’s Pacific slope, I had the chance to watch the starting nest-building of a pair of Plumbeous Kites / Schwebeweih (Ictinia plumbea), a small raptor of …
Continue readingBlack-winged Stilts overwinter successfully in Austria for the first time
The first attempt of Black-winged Stilt / Stelzenläufer to overwinter in Austria.
Continue readingPale Rock Martins Nesting On Pure Salt in Iran
In one of the salt caves of Qeshm island, Iran, Martin Suanjak and me found Pale Rock Martins / Steinschwalben (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) nesting on pure salt. At least one pair was building a nest on …
Continue readingPeregrine Falcon hunting Kingfisher
This Peregrine falcon / Wanderfalke (Falco peregrinus) was hunting from a power pylon which was standing in a reservoir in Ptuj/Slovenia. Instead of the many available ducks, the falcon was going after Common kingfishers / …
Continue readingHow fast is a White-tailed Eagle in active flight?
When I drove through Seewinkel recently, an immature White-tailed Eagle / Seeadler (Haliaeetus albicilla) took off on a field, right next to the road. As it continued its active, powerful flight low over the ground, …
Continue readingA Whimbrel with (somewhat) barred rump on Fuerteventura
I came across this Whimbrel / Regenbrachvogel (Numenius phaeopus) during a trip to Fuerteventura/Canary Islands, in March 2019. Its barred rump and upper tail coverts let me think of the Nearctic race „Hudsonian“ Whimbrel (Numenius …
Continue readingFemale Red-backed Shrike with one male tail feather
Every once in a while, I think back about a bird that I encountered in June/July 2013 in Seewinkel. This female Red-backed Shrike / Neuntöter (Lanius collurio) was paired to a male. Her special feature …
Continue readingKleptoparasitism by a Goosander
Edit 2024: This observation turned into this short note. While shooting a new episode of the #gobirdingvlog at the Gralla reservoir, Austria in December 2019, I encountered a male Goosander / Gänsesäger (Mergus merganser) aggressively …
Continue readingAn Oriole in December in Iran
On 16 December 2019 I encountered this (juvenile) Oriole / Pirol (Oriolus sp.) with Martin Suanjak on Qeshm island, Iran. The bird was in short-term company of six Dark-throated Thrushes / Schwarzkehldrosseln (Turdus atrogularis). We …
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