Michael´s Third Year

[michael-ibk]

248/E126.) Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) / Pirol

 

One of the hardest birds to get (at least for me), often heard but very shy and they usually stay up high in the trees.

 

[michael-ibk]

249/E127.) Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) / Purpurreiher

 

Our most beautiful European Heron IMO.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

-/E128.) Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) / Rallenreiher

 

Already seen in Zakouma. Abundant in the Delta. Still a very rare bird in Austria but more and more are seen each year and the experts think that soon they could become a new breeding bird (like the Pygmy Cormorant, another newcomer).

 

[michael-ibk]

250/E129.) Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) / Raubseeschwalbe

 

Only one distant sighting. The largest Tern.

 

[michael-ibk]

251/E130.) Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) / Rebhuhn

 

A signature bird for the problems of the "habitat" meadow in Middle Europe - they have totally crashed,  a decline of more than 80 % in the last 20 years in Austria.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

252/E131.) Savi´s Warbler (Locustella luscinioides) / Rohrschwirl

 

Tricky to identify by apperance but their somewhat insect-like song makes it much easier.

 

[michael-ibk]

-/132.) Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrolatus) / Rosapelikan

 

2018 has been a good Pelican year for me, great sightings of this magnificent bird both in Zakouma and in Romania.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

253/E133.) Red-Footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) / Rotfußfalke

 

Incredibly common in the rural areas, impossible to miss in Dobruja.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

254/E134.) Red-Necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegna) / Rothalstaucher

 

Like their cousins, the Great Crested Grebes, they build swimming nests.

 

[michael-ibk]

255/E135.) Red-Throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) / Rotkehlpieper

 

Heavy crop. I´ve seen lots of this one in Ethiopia last year but this was the first time in Europe and the first time when they were actually Red-Throated (they lose the red when out of breeding plumage). Breeding high up in the North.

 

Edited June 15, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

256/E136.) Pied Avocet (Recurviros avosetta) / Säbelschnäbler

 

I have a soft spot for b&w birds (like the Pied Kingfisher) so this is one of my favourite waders. Love the shape of their bill as well, it´s such an unusual bird.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

257/E138.) Sanderling (Calidris alba) / Sanderling

 

Tried to sneak up on this flock (Black Sea coast) but they would have none of it.

 

[michael-ibk]

258/E139.) Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) / Sandregenpfeifer

 

Should rather be the "Uncommon" Ringed Plover in Austria where its cousin, the Little Ringed, is the default Plover. Only one sighting in Romania at Lake Techirghiol where they were breeding.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

259/E140.) Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) / Schwarzkopfmöwe

 

Not that difficult to tell apart from the Black-Headed Gulls once you see them up close.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

260/E141.) Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) / Schwarzspecht

 

Hooray, hooray, my very first Black Woodpecker, finally!

 

 

[michael-ibk]

261/E142.) Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) / Schwarzstirnwürger

 

Not as common as its Red-Backed cousin but not too hard to get.

 

[michael-ibk]

262/E143.) White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) / Seeadler

 

Common in the Delta, we saw them every day.

 

 

 

Much harder to see in Austria but I had a pretty good sighting in Seewinkel this year:

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

263/E144.) Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) / Seeregenpfeifer

 

Only one ebc-sighting, and also missed it in Seewinkel this time. Let´s see if I get another shot this year.

 

[michael-ibk]

-/E145.) Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) / Seidenreiher

 

One more duplicate from Africa, I´m actually surprised myself how much overlap there is.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

264/E146.) Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) / Sichelstrandläufer

 

Very common in Dobruja, seems to take the place of the Dunlin there.

 

 

Here with some Little Stints. (Yes, I know, what an incredibly beautiful, tidy and idyllic place. )

 

Edited June 15, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

-/147.) Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) / Sichler

 

Another one already seen in Zakouma.

 

 

Edited June 15, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

265/E148.) Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) / Star

 

An overlooked bird, they are quite pretty when in the right light.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

266/E149.) Little Owl (Athene noctua) / Steinkauz

 

One of the easier Owls to see where it occurs since they are fond of chimneys as perches.

 

 

More distant but a slightly more natural setting from Lake Kerkini:

 

[michael-ibk]

-/E149.) Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) / Steinschmätzer

 

And once again, already seen in Zakouma. The default Wheatear in Europe.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

-/E150.) Black-Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) / Stelzenläufer

 

A new acronym for you: ASIZ.