July 2010
In the mid of May 2010 I was part of a short birding-tour to Austria
and Hungary. We visited the famous Wienerwald, Neusiedler See
and the Fertö-Hanság Nemzeti Park in northern Hungary.
At the end of our six-day trip we had 140 bird species at our list but
I recorded only a few of them. The weather conditions were not the best
– a strong breeze was blowing nearly all time.
Our mission to observe the famous Ural Owl Strix uralensis in the
depth of the Wienerwald failed. There are too few of them in that
area to guarantee an observation.
Many thanks to our guide Richard Zink for showing us around and
introducing the Ural Owl project!!
But I was lucky anyway, the area inhabits some species I was curious to
watch for a long time – first of all the beautiful Eurasian Hoopoe
Upupa epops. This species is quite rare in Germany and especially in the
eastern part they occur almost restricted to special protected or military
areas – without public access.
100524, Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops, song, Neusiedler See, Austria
Near Illmitz (Neusiedler See) I had the chance to make recordings of
a few waders from a short distance. Not far from the trail around the
lake Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus and the Black-winged Stilts
Himantopus himantopus were breeding.
100524, Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, excitement call, Neusiedler See, Austria
100524, Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, excitement call, Neusiedler See, Austria
In a hedge two birders found a singing Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria.
What a coincidence – I had my equipment by my side!
100524, Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria, song, Neusiedler See, Austria
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
photo credit:
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops © Mathias Putze | Green-Lens
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops © Mathias Putze | Green-Lens