An unusual November guest
Friday, November 9, 2012
During autumn you can see how nature changes. Trees are loosing their leaves, animals prepare for winter and many bird species begin their long journeys. Some of them regularly migrate across Slovakia in higher numbers, others just occasionally. We got an information that one of these occasional guests have chosen its route through Bratislava. When we learned that Black-throated Loon (Gavia arctica) can be found on Veľký Draždiak Lake (former gravel pit located in the middle of the largest residential district in Bratislava) we knew where we will be next morning. It was good oportunity to monitor waterbirds in Petržalka as well. We went along Chorvátske rameno Channel. We saw there some Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and few Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) flew overhead. As we came to Draždiak we immediately start to look for Loon. We set up our spotting scope, found it on the opposite side of the lake. We assured us with identification and realized that it will wait for us. We decided to count waterbirds on the surface of the lake and to check the swans if any of them ringed is ringed. Local Mute Swans are used to be fed here so we decided to use this method as well. Few breadcrumbs thrown on the bank and they were out of the water. In a few minutes we found five birds with rings. We note down their numbers.
We checked the lake for other birds and note down the numbers of Mute Swans, Coots (Fulica atra) and Black-headed Gulls. To our surprise there was only one Mallard on the entire lake. After that we focused ourselves on the Loon again. We found out that it swimms all over the lake and it dives under water frequently for a long periods of time. I tried to make some documentation video but it was always one step in front of me. We moved along the lake and later we have several good opportunities to observe it.
Just few minutes of walk from this site there is a smaller lake named Malý Draždiak. Beside two fishermen we didn’t see any bird so we moved aside to small wetland. If you forget the noise from the nearby road you can discover a little bit of wild nature directly in the heart of Petržalka. Swan family was swimming on the water surface, Coots were feeding and we spotted two Little Grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis). We checked the bank vegetation and discovered two Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus).
Black-throated Loon (Gavia arctica) – It is a typical inhabitant of arctic and subarctic regions.
It is breeding on large, deep, fisholding freshwater lakes of Great Britain, Scandinavia and northern Russia. In non-breeding season it can be found along the coasts of North and Baltic sea. Most of its European population also winters there. Small number of birds winters in Mediterranean and Black sea whereas some birds migrate through Central Europe. There are also several records of wintering Black-throated Loons on large Slovak lakes and dams.
List and numbers of observed bird species:
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) – 35
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) – 15
Black-throated Loon (Gavia arctica) – 1
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) – 2
Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) – 2
Coot (Fulica atra) – 51
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus/Chroicocephalus ridibundus) – 75
unidentified woodpecker (Dendrocopos sp.) – 1
Jackdaw (Corvus monedula/Coloelus monedula) – 1
Great Tit (Parus major) – 5
Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus/Cyanistes caeruleus) – 2
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) – 1
Blackbird (Turdus merula) – 4
