Zvezda & Alex are still in the game - BY #9

[xelas]

And one more bird; this is obviously a pet bird that has been taken to its daily stroll in the park ... and somehow left there .

 

 

Yellow-crowned Parrot  -  Amazona ochrocephala    

 

Qurayyat Lake Park    26-Feb-2024
 

[PeterHG]

More beautiful photos in your ‘duplicates’ batch. Great shot of the Moorhen!

[xelas]

Thanks, Peter! I have applied a bit different approach to post-processing, and I (read Zvezda ) am happier with the final results (as it is shown on my different computer screens).

Edited April 22 by xelas

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful photos from Seewinkel and Oman!

[xelas]

Two weeks after our visit to Seewinkel also Michael decided to do his annual birding trip there. On Thursday he contacted me saying that it is boring having diner alone, and as I had to pick up our Namibian visas in Vienna anyway, the decision to join him was quick and easy! Zvezda had work so she stayed home. We have had sunny days with just a tad too much wind. But Michael's expertise gave us some much sought after birds anyway.

 

Before starting to post those, here is one more from two weeks ago, taken by Zvezda:

 

BY 208  /  AT 015    

Common Shelduck  -  Tadorna tadorna

Seewinkel    14-Apr-2024
 

[xelas]

Now to my second Seewinkel trip. My gear was different, as I took this opportunity to test the old(er) body, Nikon D7200 which I intend to use in Botswana. Also the big zoom stayed home (no space in the bike's bags), replaced by 300 mm prime coupled to the TC14. 

 

I have arrived at Apetlon on Friday afternoon and we went to our first birding drive. For me it was a bit strange as for the first time I have used the passenger and not the driver position.

 

Seewinkel    26-Apr-2024
 

BY 209  /  AT 016    

Purple Heron    Ardea purpurea

 

BY 210  /  AT 017    

Sedge Warbler  -  Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

 

BY 211  /  AT 018    

Syrian Woodpecker  -  Dendrocopos syriacus

[pedro maia]

Congrats on #200 Alex!

[xelas]

40 minutes ago, pedro maia said:

Congrats on #200 Alex!

Thanks Pedro! I am missing Portugal and birding there.

[pedro maia]

1 hour ago, xelas said:

Thanks Pedro! I am missing Portugal and birding there.

We’re here.

[xelas]

Saturday we woke up really early, 5 PM is when my alarm sounded. A quick coffee and Michael was already waiting for me outside. Our first location was the long straight road that goes from Andau till the Hungarian border, then back to Tadten. It is a round trip basically, and to be taken from Andau in the morning and from Tadten in the afternoon due to the sun position. The most sought after bird here is a Great Bustard, which Zvezda got it on our previous visit. Birds of prey and Warblers are other significant birds in that area. Michael has two targets there, and we got them both!

 

Seewinkel    27-Apr-2024
 

BY 212  /  AT 019    

Barred Warbler    Curruca nisoria

 

BY 213  /  AT 020    

Common Grasshopper Warbler  -  Locustella naevia

 

BY 214  /  AT 021    

Montagu’s Harrier  -  Circus pygargus

 

 

There are many more, the total of the drive is 52 species according to the eBird checklist. Here are some I was able to capture, and are countable for Big year.

 

BY 215  /  AT 022    

European Turtle Dove  -  Streptopelia turtur

 

BY 216  /  AT 023    

Red-backed Shrike  -  Lanius collurio

 

BY 217  /  AT 024    

Great Reed Warbler  -  Acrocephalus arundinaceus

 

BY 218  /  AT 025    

European Stonechat  -  Saxicola rubicola

[xelas]

After many years of visiting Seewinkel, Michael knows about many places where a specific birds can be found. But knowing where they are don't guarantee a sighting. The owls are such creatures; they can be showing themselves out on a branch, or play hide&seek. We have good luck this time as there was another birders who did the tough job of finding them, and all we have to do was just to take as many photos as we want.

 

BY 219  /  AT 026    

Long-eared Owl  -  Asio otus

 

 

 

Michael also knew where another bird is, who also likes to play hide&seek. Finally we did find it, but not where we thought it would be.

 

BY 220  /  AT 027    

Great Bittern  -  Botaurus stellaris

 

 

Before dinner, our last target of the day was a cute Little Owl. Might be cute, but it was a no show to me. Instead I must be happy with the consolation prize.

 

BY 221  /  AT 028    

Black Redstart  -  Phoenicurus ochruros

Edited May 2 by xelas

[BRACQUENE]

Congratulations with your 200 ! A long-eared Owl I have already seen this year but not so close 

[xelas]

Seewinkel    28-Apr-2024
 

 

Sunday started sunny and with a long walk towards Seedamm. Both sides of the road has reeds and trees where we have hoped to find a special Tit. As it happens when birding with Michael, targets usually materialises, with some extra bonuses.

 

 

BY 222  /  AT 029    

Eurasian Penduline Tit  -  Remiz pendulinus

 

That birds has special skills to construct its nest.

 

 

 

BY 223  /  AT 030    

Savi’s Warbler  -  Locustella luscinioides

 

 

 

There were many cuckoos that we have heard and spot during the previous day and a half, but the one at Seedamm gave us a special show. I hope Michael will post a video he has done. These are my stills.

 

BY 224  /  AT 031    

Common Cuckoo  -  Cuculus canorus

 

[xelas]

Next stop was at the Biological Station. First we have spent some time training hard to improve our BIF skills with some of the toughest birds for this type of photography.

 

BY 225  /  AT 032    

Western House Martin  -  Delichon urbicum

 

BY 226  /  AT 033    

Barn Swallow  -  Hirundo rustica

 

 

A short walk along a patch of mature woods provided us with a glimpse of a flycatcher (the female shot was taken in the afternoon at a different location near Apetlon).

 

BY 227  /  AT 034    

European Pied Flycatcher  -  Ficedula hypoleuca

 

 

 

However the bird of the morning was one we have heard singing loud and close many times from a cover of a dense vegetation but were unable to get it in the open. To those persistent, nature smiles!

 

BY 228  /  AT 035    

Common Nightingale  -  Luscinia megarhynchos

 

 

 

[xelas]

By now we have visited (not only once) about all the known birding spots within Seewinkel birding area. Yet there was one more to walk to. A well known place for migrating birds, which 14 days ago were not yet have arrived, but now apparently a few of them have been spotted in the nests. The walk there is quite long, to our luck wind has cooled down the temperatures. And yes, we have seen the bird. Not as we wanted, flying, that will have to wait for another time or location.

 

BY 229  /  AT 036    

Red-footed Falcon  -  Falco vespertinus

 

 

As not to waste the time spent on climbing up (and down) the steep ladders of the observation tower, here are a couple of Common Kestrels in flight.

 

 

 

 

Last bird to enter the Big Year count from this trip. Definitively not the best one from this short trip but EBC, don't they?!

 

BY 230  /  AT 037    

Common Raven  -  Corvus corax

 

 

After returning to the village, we had one more visit to Dolce Vita, then Michael dropped me at my accommodation as he had to catch his train ride back to Innsbruck. For me, this was an unplanned birding trip but very productive, thanks to Michael's expert eyes and ears. And yes, having a dinner on your own is a damn boring thing to do!

[BRACQUENE]

To photograph the Common Nightingale needs indeed persistence Alex : next week in Nieuwpoort I will have another try ! Another fabulous Savi's by the way 

[PeterHG]

That was an unexpected but extremely worthwhile Seewinkel trip, Alex! Many species I am envious of and a host of excellent photos. I’ve never even come close to a Montague’s shot like yours. 

[michael-ibk]

It was great you joined me last minute Alex, a very enjoyable weekend. You got some great shots indeed, I think you are all set to use this combo for Botswana. Awesome Cuckoo, Montagu and Swallows in particular.

 

No Hoopoe?!? You know it deserves to be posted.

[xelas]

25 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

No Hoopoe?!? You know it deserves to be posted.

 

It really does! But I leave that one to you to post it! I am still angry at myself to miss it when flying off that road.

[xelas]

30 minutes ago, PeterHG said:

That was an unexpected but extremely worthwhile Seewinkel trip, Alex!

 

As it was followed by a visit to Namibian Embassy in Vienna, to pick up our visas, it was a worthwhile trip on several levels! Not to mention the ice creams at Dolce Vita ...

[xelas]

1 hour ago, BRACQUENE said:

To photograph the Common Nightingale needs indeed persistence Alex

 

Tell me (and Michael) about it!! On occasion I thought the bird is sitting on my shoulder and singing ... without seeing one feather of it! But once it sits in the open, it will give you the whole opera show, primadona in the spotlight.

[Zim Girl]

Lovely set of birds from Seewinkel, Alex.  Love the Cuckoo especially.

[xelas]

57 minutes ago, Zim Girl said:

Love the Cuckoo especially.

 

Me too!

[BRACQUENE]

2 hours ago, xelas said:

it will give you the whole opera show, primadona in the spotlight.

 

Listen to Stravinsky's Le Rossignol ( French and Russian version ) or Handel 's famous 13th organ concerto " The cuckoo and the nightingale " without forgetting the standard British song made popular by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra " A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square " 

[pedro maia]

Great cuckoo shot, among others.

 

The nightingale brings me back memories of how I nearly missed it by having the camera in the car boot…