Birdwatching at Devínske jazero

Sunday, April 1, 2012, Birds Day

1. of April as a Birds Day was established in 1900 by Oto Herman (1835 – 1914), a significant Slovak naturalist. On this day he organized an event for schools “The Day of Birds and Trees” in Austro-Hungarian Empire. We also decided to organize an event to remind this day and went to the Devínske jazero. Despite not very friendly weather we recorded 72 species of birds.

We met in the morning at the Bratislava main train station and took a train to Devínske jazero stop. Accompanied by songs of Skylarks (Alauda arvensis), we continued towards the Malina River. Although the weather was not very good, we moved on. On our way we saw flying several Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) as well as Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus). We saw Robins (Erithacus rubecula), Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebes) and heard Chifffchaffs (Phylloscopus collybita). Near the football field we were surprised by Coal Tit (Parus ater), and were lucky to saw also Black Kites (Milvus migrans) and Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo).

Behind the River Malina we observed Northern Goshhawk (Accipiter gentilis), and White Stork (Ciconia ciconia). We had good luck since the pathway was not flooded as it often is, so we followed the cyclopath further to the Vysoká pri Morave. Along the way we admired the work of a beaver. Suddenly we were surprised by April weather, as it started to snow. We were lucky also during this “real April weather” since we saw a adult White-tailed Eagle (Halaeetus albicilla). On our small detour to one of the oxbow lakes we frighten away several individuals of Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). On the oxbow lake we observed one Small Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) and besides Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) also Teals (Anas crecca).

Our aim was site near the River Morava, from where we had a good view to the large water body in Austria. There we saw all species of genus Anas occurring in Slovakia and Greylag Geese (Anser anser). After a while we recognized also Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) and several White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons). Our biggest surprise was an observation of one individual of Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) among approximately 150 geese. Further we recorded Little Ringed Plovers (Charadrius dubius) and Ruffs (Phylomachus pugnax) . While observing waterbird at the other side of the river, Black Woodpeckers (Dryocopus martius) and Grey Woodpecker (Picus canus) landed on trees behind us.

After some time we turned back and went to the train stop Devínske jazero. On our way we saw Red Kite (Milvus milvus) and Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita). Since we had some time to the train departure we went to a buffet and after a while we went back to Bratislava.

List of observed species:

Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Bean Goose (Anser fabalis)
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata / Spatula clypeata)
Pintail (Anas acuta)
Garganey (Anas querquedula)
Teal (Anas crecca)
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis / Podiceps ruficollis)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Ardea alba / Egretta alba)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Coot (Fulica atra)
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus / Larus ridibundus)
Common Gull (Larus canus)
unidentified 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)
Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)
Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Common Magpie (Pica pica)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Raven (Corvus corax)
Coal Tit (Periparus ater / Parus ater)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus / Parus caeruleus)
Common Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola / Saxicola torquata)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
unidentified Pipit (Anthus sp.)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Serin (Serinus serinus)
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris / Chloris chloris)
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Comments are closed.