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Michael´s Second Year


michael-ibk

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375/E148.) Alpine aka Yellow-Billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) / Alpendohle

 

Karwendelgrube, Mittenwald, 23/8/17. A very easy bird to get up in the mountains in several places, they are very bold around people. In winter they are coming down into the city.

 

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376/E149.) Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) / Alpenschneehuhn - NEW

 

Karwendelgrube, Mittenwald, 23/8/17.  I specifically went there (2,300 m above sea level) to get this high alpine species, and I was delighted it worked out. A very shy bird which is only sensible of them as they still are hunted even though they are declining in Austria.

 

Their camouflage is very effective, they are a challenge to spot (there are two in the photo btw):

 

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To make it a bit easier:

 

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Some chamois with young were also (fairly) close by:

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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  • 3 weeks later...

377/E150.) Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) / Fischadler

 

Seewinkel, 10/9/2017. A raptor that occurs all over the world, only the Peregrine Falcon is more widespread. But it had been eradicated from most of Middle Europe in the last century, and therefore it still only is seen when migrating through here in Austria.

 

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We also enjoyed a lot of good sightings of Kestrels.

 

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And I was delighted to get my first picture of a Sparrowhawk in Austria (well, technically it was in Hungary, but 200 metres next to the border, so it does count. :))

 

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378/E151.) Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) / Goldregenpfeifer - NEW

 

Seewinkel, 10/9/2017. An extreme ebc of this bird, a rarity to get. Unfortunately the Seewinkel area was extremely dry this year, all the soda lakes were completely waterless, and so even at the few remaining photo spots birds were too far from the hide to get reasonable pictures. (Still, this was the same place the Osprey flew by - and on top of that we were in the excellent company of our friends @xelas and Zvezda which more than made up for the slightly disappointing conditions.)

 

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And on the other side of the distance spectrum we - and every other birder in Seewinkel that weekend - enjoyed this incredibly patient Knot (also a very good bird to get here in Austria). I lay down only a few metres away from this guy and he did not mind one bit - a real celebrity.

 

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-/E152.) Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) / Dunkler Wasserläufer

 

Seewinkel, 8/9/2017. Already seen in Ethiopia. One of the most attractive waders IMO. They are almost completely black in breeding plumage.

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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379/E153.) European Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) / Uferschwalbe

 

Seewinkel, 10/9/2017. The smallest Swallow found in Europe.

 

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In the same place we also saw several Black Terns, looking like a completely different bird now in autumn.

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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-/E154.) Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) / Sandregenpfeifer

 

Seewinkel, 9/9/2017. Already seen in Ethiopia.

 

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A rarer bird than its cousin, the Little Ringed Plover, which is more common in Austria, and which we saw at the same place. (Note the yellow eye ring, the longer bill and the more pointed face mask.)

 

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And even our third Plover was here - the Kentish, which is a super-rare bird in Austria, only a couple of breeding pairs in the area - according to the bird books it shouldn´t be here at all. (Lighter, darker legs, and no closed breast band)

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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And some birds from the spring visit to Seewinkel - I had hoped to get better shots on this recent second visit but no luck.

 

380/155.) Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) / Zwergseeschwalbe - NEW

 

Seewinkel, 28/5/2017. A species which excited a lot of birders this spring - this is the rarest Tern in Middle Europe, and very few of them are ever seen in Austria. Apparently they have even bred successfully this year. :)

 

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Here with a Common Tern to show the size difference:

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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-/E156.) Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) / Wiedehopf

 

Seewinkel, 27/5/2017. My favourite bird, and we had three sightings of them in Seewinkel in spring, and I also was very excited when I spotted one in Carinthia in March - unfortunately never got a good shot. At one time we were in a hide and suddenly a Hoopoe flew away from the roof of the hide, less than five metres away, but I was too slow.

 

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If you love Hoopoes like I do, you should watch this - it´s a most excellent and charming documentary on this wonderful bird.

 

 

Edited by michael-ibk
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381/E157.) Rook (Corvus frugilegus) / Saatkrähe

 

Seewinkel, 26/5/2017. Only occurring in the lowlands of Austria, they are not found in the Alps. Pretty common birds but surprisingly difficult to get a photo - they are wary and clever.

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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382/E158.) Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra) / Grauammer

 

Seewinkel, 26/5/2017. The third of Austria´s regular Buntings after Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting.

 

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A juvenile

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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383/E159.) Marsh Warbler ( Acrocephalus palustris ) / Sumpfrohrsänger

 

Seewinkel, 27/5/2017. Looking almost identical to the Reed Warbler, but found in different habitats (not as water dependent) and the song is very different - so I´m quite sure about this ID.

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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384/E160.) Alpine Accentor ( Prunella collaris ) / Alpenbraunelle

 

Geraer Hütte, Tirol, 5/8/17. Switching areas now - this is a high alpine bird and one of our "specials" here in the mountains.

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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385/E161.) Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) / Bergpieper

 

Valser Tal, 5/8/17. A frustrating bird - they are very, very common high up in the mountains but not very approachable, and I have totally failed this year in getting a decent photo.

 

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Tuxer Joch, 22/7

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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386/E162.) Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) / Ringdrossel

 

Westfalenhaus, Lüsental, 26/8/2017. Another alpine specialty. A juvenile here, and the only one I´ve found this year of this species.

 

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And a pair of Siskins just because I really liked that pose.

 

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Edited by michael-ibk
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387/E163.) Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) / Steinadler - NEW

 

Pinnistal, 19/7/2017. Our most impressive raptor, a huge Eagle - one normally only ever sees them high, high up soaring in the sky. But even an ebc Golden Eagle is better than no Golden Eagle. :)

 

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388/E164.) White-Throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) / Wasseramsel

 

Stausee Reißeck, Carinthia, 4/6/2017. A favourite of mine - it can walk under water. I had seen them flying to the dam earlier in the year and suspected they could be nesting there - I was delighted to be right.

 

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"What do you think, shall we take the boat to get out of here?"

 

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And some more babies - a Tufted Duck family from Stausee Reißeck.

 

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389/E165.) Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) / Haubenlerche

 

Seewinkel, 10/9/2017. Back to last weekend - eagle-eyed Alex spotted this one while driving and of course immediately stopped with smoking brakes on the middle of the main road - that´s what a proper birder does. B)

 

Like so many other grassland birds this species has become a rare sight in Middle Europe. Their population has decreased 98 % (!) since 1980.

 

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Some other Seewinkel stuff from the weekend:

 

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Starlings are abundant at this time of the year.

 

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Interestingly we saw several Pied Flycatchers, a pretty rare bird, but apparently lots of them are migrating through right now.

 

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Some non-birds. :)

 

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I think this is the first wild baby Hare I´ve ever seen:

 

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Pheasant - a common sight:

 

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Mute Swan - an extremely common bird but I could not resist this BIF opportunity.

 

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Not common at all in Austria - a Little Egret:

 

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390/E166.) Curlew (Numenius arquata) / Großer Brachvogel

 

Seewinkel, 9/9/2017. The largest wader in our area.

 

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391/E167.) Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) / Löffler

 

Seewinkel, 9/9/2017. The last entry from the weekend. I was very happy to get them this close, certainly the best sighting so far for me. Seewinkel is the only place in Austria where they can be found.

 

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2 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

eagle-eyed Alex spotted this one while driving and of course immediately stopped with smoking brakes on the middle of the main road - that´s what a proper birder does. B)

 

OK, I do acknowledge the fact that I am eagle-eyed (at least with my glasses on B)) but smoking brakes :huh:?! Those were smoking tires, @michael-ibk :D!! Indeed the road was main but the traffic was slow, and my brake lights worked :lol:.

 

Great selection of excellent photos. Being in a company of two friends and exquisite birders like Michael and Andreas was the highlight of this trip! Thank you for ID the birds, You have made my job much easier ;).

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@michael-ibk

A great selection - getting close to the magic 400! It sounds like an wonderful trip to Seewinkel with excellent companions.

I really like the Dipper sequence - babies as well.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well, the migratory birds are all but gone now, and with them my hope of getting better shots of them. My only consolation is I will follow them in 1 1/2 weeks! :)

 

392/E168.) Water Rail (Rallus Aquaticus) / Wasserralle - NEW

 

Vasche di Maccarese, Rome, 4/3/2017. A great place close to the airport, unfortunately the weather was not cooperating. The same place where I also saw the Spotted Crake (already posted).

 

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393/E169.) Common Snipe (Gallinago gallingao) / Bekassine

 

Vasche di Maccarese, Rome, 4/3/2017. Also saw a few in Seewinkel this September but too far away.

 

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