Guided Excursion With Zoology Students
Saturday, December 1, 2012
On Saturday, December 1, we set up a guided excursion for zoology students from the Faculty of Natural Sciences. We decided to visit two different natural habitats. First of them were fields below Bratislava. This region is known for regular presence of wintering population of Great Bustard (Otis tarda). In this part of year man can spot also some flocks of migrating Geese or Swans. And with little bit of luck man can observe some birds of prey. As we were approaching to the spot from which we wanted to check if Bustards are there, we observed Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) as it flew over our heads heading to the north. This sight was a good sign. 
We found big flock of Great Bustards feeding and roosting in the field. Many of the students have seen their first ever Bustards, so the atmosphere of our excursion was pleasant from its very beginning. For us it is always joy to observe this magnificient bird species that is endangered in Central Europe. The flock consisted of 171 birds.
The other target site was large water reservoir on the River Danube. Our transfer to this place was interrupted by Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) that was sitting on a tree next to the road. We stopped immediately on the side of the road and took several photos. Then we moved next to the Danube. We observed several Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) and Great Egrets (Ardea alba/Egretta alba). We explained the difference between Great and Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo and Microcarbo pygmeus / Phalacrocorax pygmeus). Our largest bird of prey – White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) flew over our heads. It was juvenile bird as we observed its dark wedge-shaped tail. Despite windy and chilly weather we spotted several duck species – Gadwall (Anas strepera), Teal (Anas crecca), Wigeon (Anas penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). We were talking with students about the importance of this site that is known as migration stopover and wintering site for thousands of waterfowl. We need to mention the sighting of one Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) as the large part of its population migrates to the south and only few tens of birds remain wintering in Slovakia. While we were observing Smews (Mergellus albellus / Mergus albellus) and Goosanders (Mergus merganser) flock of 77 White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) flew northward.
We were pleased with the interest of students in birdwatching as they enjoyed chilly Saturday in nature. They were very keen to learn how to identificate birds in flight or to be able to find different duck species in a large mixed flock. We hope that they will join us on our next walks and excursions and it will attract their friends and fellow-students.
List of observed bird species:
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Teal (Anas crecca)
Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Smew (Mergellus albellus / Mergus albellus)
Goosander (Mergus merganser)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis / Podiceps ruficollis)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Ardea alba / Egretta alba)
Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmeus / Phalacrocorax pygmeus)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
Coot (Fulica atra)
large gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
Jackdaw (Coloelus monedula / Corvus monedula)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus / Parus caeruleus)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris / Chloris chloris)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
