September 2013
The area around Leipzig is well know for it’s large former brown coal opencast
mines. Most of them are recultivated, filled-up with water, planted or being used
for freetime activities which getting out of hand now.
In the north there is the so called Seelhausener See adjacent to the famous
lake Goitzsche.
There is nothing unusual except from huge flocks of fishing Common Terns
Sterna hirundo which used to breed in a sandpit nearby. In winter it’s a good
location to observe roosting arctic geese.
The early summer 2013 brought the area heavy rains and subsequently
a massive flood. The Seelhausener Lake burst its banks washed away a road
and after that the whole area was covered by sand – which was nice!
The area attracted in the following months loads of birds and became a real
hotspot.
Seelhausener See
Common Black-headed Gulls Croicocephalus ridibundus with Little Gulls Hydrocoloeus minutus
PFR07943, 1-00, 130801, habitat recording
Common Tern Sterna hirundo, Caspian Gull Larus cachinanns, White Wagtail Motacilla alba,
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, Common Black-headed Gull Croicocephalus ridibundus, etc.
Seelhausener See, Telinga parabolic reflector
PFR07923, 1-00, 130830, Common Black-headed Gull Croicocephalus ridibundus, JUV, AD,
agonistic calls, Seelhausener See, Telinga parabolic reflector
1CY Common Black-headed Gull Croicocephalus ridibundus vs. AD Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Mathias and I spent a lot of time there to check the flocks of gulls and cormorants
for rings, capturing pictures and sound recordings of stunning breeding birds like
European bee-eaters Merops apiaster or Black Storks Ciconia nigra and migrating
songbirds, terns and waders for our Birds-in-flight website.
Black Stork Ciconia nigra, 1CY
PFR09059, 1-00, 130801, Sand Martin Riparia riparia, calls in flight,
Seelhausener See, Telinga parabolic reflector
PFR09053, 1-00, 130801, Blue-headed wagtail Motacilla flava flava, calls in flight,
Seelhausener See, Telinga parabolic reflector
PFR07924, 1-00, 130830, Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, flock, series of calls, take-off calls,
Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula, call, series of calls,
Seelhausener See, Telinga parabolic reflector
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
PFR07931, 1-00, 130830, Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula, call, Dunlin Calidris alpina, call,
Seelhausener See, Telinga parabolic reflector
PFR09043, 1-00, 130801, Little ringed plover Charadrius dubius, calls in flight
Seelhausener See, Telinga parabolic reflector
photo credits:
Common Black-headed Gulls Croicocephalus ridibundus, Little Gulls Hydrocoloeus minutus © Mathias Putze | Green Lens
Common Black-headed Gull Croicocephalus ridibundus, Common Tern Sterna hirundo © Mathias Putze | Green Lens
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris © Mathias Putze | Green Lens
Black Stork Ciconia nigra © Mathias Putze | Green Lens
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula © Mathias Putze | Green Lens