First spring flowers and bird arrivals
Tuesday, March 14, 2012
On Tuesday we went with our clients to Záhorie. On our way we stopped at the Devín Castle, where we looked for Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria), but were not lucky enough. We neither saw Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus), which regularly collects food at the castle rock.
Than we went to the National Nature Reserve Devínska Kobyla, where we visited an important paleontologic site Sandberg, where our guests admired numerous fossils. Here we could feel that the spring is coming – we heard Skylark (Alauda arvensis) singing. We also heard singing Yellowhammers (Emberiza citrinella). In the vicinity we saw many Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) on their spring migration, while some of them also sang. Apart from Skylark we were pleased by Ravens (Corvus corax) and Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus). We went to the near forest, where we saw first spring flowers – Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) and Hepaticas (Hepatica nobilis). Shortly before our departure we observed one Red Kite (Milvus milvus), flying over the Morava River.
Further we continued to the Morava River floodplain, where we observed more Red Kites (Milvus milvus), Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo), and were especially pleased by the observation of juvenile White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). We also registered White Wagtails (Motacilla alba), also a sign of oncoming spring. Our guests liked the observation of Greylag geese (Anser anser) and Garganey (Anas querquedula). On surrounding trees we saw many traces of beaver (Castor fiber), which are very abundant at Záhorie in present.
Afterwards we moved to site of sand dunes near Lakšárska Nová Ves, surrounded by pine forest, so typical for this region. There, the nature was still in winter mode, so we did not see any flowers, we just heard Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) singing. On meadows nearby we saw two individuals of Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus). On our way back, in sand we saw footprints of a marten.
List of observed species:
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Garganey (Anas querquedula)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Ardea alba / Egretta alba)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Coot (Fulica atra)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus / Larus ridibundus)
Common Gull (Larus canus)
large gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major / Picoides major)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Common Magpie (Pica pica)
Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula / Corvus monedula)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Raven (Corvus corax)
Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus / Parus cristatus)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus / Parus caeruleus)
Woodlark (Lullula arborea)
Common Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Serin (Serinus serinus)
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris / Chloris chloris)
Siskin (Carduelis spinus)
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
