Michael´s Third Year

[michael-ibk]

227/E102.) Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) / Brachpieper

 

Probably the only LBJ which is the star of a movie - Wiki tells me in 1944 there was a movie called "Tawny Pipit" about the rare event of two Tawny Pipits trying to breed in England.

 

[michael-ibk]

228/E103.) Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) / Brandgans

 

I had good sightings of this bird this year in Austria as well but not as close as in Dobruja.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

229/E104.) Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) / Braunkehlchen

 

Getting rarer and rarer in Austria, I´ve seen none so far. Very common in the rural Delta areas.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

230/E105.) Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula) / Dohle

 

Very common both in villages and the countryside.

 

[michael-ibk]

-/E106.) Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) / Dorngrasmücke

 

Already seen in Zakouma. Only one sighting in Romania.

 

[michael-ibk]

231/E106.) Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) / Gartenrotschwanz

 

Romania is a very Catholic country, and obviously so are the birds here. Photo taken in Bucarest.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

-/E107.) Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) / Fitis

 

The Chiffchaff twin. Another duplicate from Zakouma.

 

[michael-ibk]

232/E108.) Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) / Grauschnäpper

 

Only one sigthing. Should be able to get a better one later this year, they are breeding in my mother´s garden even.

 

Edited June 14, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

-/E109.) Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) / Grünschenkel

 

And again, already seen in Zakouma. But showed much better in Romania. "Common" Greenshank because apparently there is also a "Nordmann´s Greenshank", occurring in Eastern Asia. A job for @Kitsafari to show us that one!

 

[michael-ibk]

233/E110.) Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) / Gelbspötter

 

A master imitator of other birds´ songs.

 

[michael-ibk]

234/E111.) Woodlark (Lullula arborea) / Heidelerche

 

A completely new Lark for me, and I did not even realize when taking the photo, thought it was a Skylark. (And so did the guide.) But the subtle black & white pattern on the wing´s edge clearly says Woodlark.

 

[michael-ibk]

Enough birds for today, finishing with one of everbody´s favourites:

 

235/E112.) Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) / Eisvogel

 

 

A male.

 

 

And his lady, note the red bill.

 

Both of these were taken from the boat. I also had a very nice sighting earlier in the year in Greece, and am actually almost prouder of that one because I managed to sneak up to Ms. Kingfisher here on foot, using some boulders as cover.

 

[TonyQ]

Lovely additions and really racing forward now!

[michael-ibk]

236/E114.) Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabella) / Isabellsteinschmätzer

 

I´ve seen this bird in Africa before (Kenya to be accurate) but this was my first ones in Europe. BTW, I jumped from E112 to E114 because I have two E106s.

 

[michael-ibk]

237/E115.) Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra) / Kalanderlerche

 

A proper Ebc again. Blew this one, it was just too fast for me. They are apparently much easier early in the year when the grass is still low everywhere but in May they are virtually invisible.

 

[michael-ibk]

238/E116.) Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) / Kampfläufer

 

One of the most common waders to pass through Austria in migration. It was interesting to see them almost in proper mating mode.

 

 

A few from earlier in the year in Seewinkel.

 

[michael-ibk]

239/E117.) Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) / Kuckuck

 

A very difficult bird to see back home but they were numerous in the Delta. In Austria we see if you have coins in your pocket when you hear a Cuckoo for the very first time it will be a lucky year. Poor me never has any money there which explains why my life is so miserable.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

240/E118.) Greater Short-Toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) / Kurzzehenlerche

 

Only seen on one specific gravel road where they were quite numerous. Apparently this has been the place to find them for years but our guide had no explanation what exactly it it they like so much there.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

241/E119.) Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) / Löffler

 

One of my European favourites, such a stunning bird.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

242/E120.) Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum) / Mehlschwalbe

 

Still common in Europe but declining - it´s becoming harder and harder for them to find suitable nesting places on modern buildings. Easily IDed by their white rump.

 

 

 

And a Barn Swallow since it was posing so nicely.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

243/E121.) Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) / Moorente

 

Seen quite regularly but shy - like all Ducks in the Delta.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

244/E122.) Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) / Nebelkrähe

 

Probably the most common bird in the Delta but I did not take a single photo there - this one is from Bucarest.

 

[michael-ibk]

245/E123.) Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) / Nonnensteinschmätzer

 

More an Asian bird, Eastern Romania (where they are rare) is the most Western area of their distribution, in Europe they are only found here, in North-East Bulgaria, Eastern Ukraine and Russia.

 

[michael-ibk]

246/E124.) Red-Necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) / Odinshühnchen

 

I actually did not really see this bird in Romania. A "sighting" at home in front of the PC - I was just deleting superflouus Stint pics when I discovered, hey, there´s another (far rarer) bird hidden there. (Look at the centre of the picture)

 

[michael-ibk]

247/E125.) Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana) / Ortolan

 

Another new one for me. Very rare in Austria, and sadly, they officially went extinct just last year in my province.