Diary 2008
Sightings and records 2008
(See here for exact locations of the places below)
30/12/2008
Cerkniško jezero & Rakov Škocjan (SLO) ARCTIC TRIP
At Cerkniško jezero only a Great Grey Shrike. From the motorway some Fieldfares in flock. The commonest bird was the Mistle Thrush.
The temperatures were low (from -5 to -2 degrees) so bw was quite unproductive. This was a tipical icy day. The insides of some local caves were frozen and there were very, very nice natural ice sculptures! Never seen so much ice in one day! The Cerknica lake was also for 80% frozen, giving us an arctic impression.
See here for icy pictures: ice 1, ice2, ice3, ice4, ice5, ice6, ice7, ice8.
29/12/2008
R.N. Valle Canal Novo/Marano Lagunare (UD) + Isola della Cona (GO)
Short trip to some local marshes. Only this the interesting result: Whooper Swan - 2x at Valle Canal Novo (the two resident ones), White-fronted Goose - 150x at Isola della Cona (GO), Tundra Bean Goose (ssp. rossicus) - 1x at Valle Canal Novo among Greylag Geese, Goldeneye - 15x at Isola della Cona, Merlin - 1x female near Belvedere/Aquileia (GO), Black-tailed Godwit - 2x still present at Isola della Cona, Med Gull - 10x at Banco Mula di Muggia/Grado (GO), Woodlark - a small flock on the fields near Belvedere/Aquileia (GO).
Tundra Bean Goose (by DomenS)
Also here.
Check out this new website: Stazione Biologica Isola della Cona!!
23/12/2008
Mount Grmada/Ermada - Duino (TS)
Afternoon spent on the karstic rocky hills looking for Chamoises. Seen 2x Chamoises - 1x male very well and close. Also: Black Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Marsh and Coal Tit, Crossbill.
These days in the garden also Cirl Buntings in small flocks. On sea regular BN Grebe and a single Sandwich Tern.
21/12/2008
Lisert + Valle Cavanata + Isola della Cona (GO)
Today interesting species include: Red-throated Diver - 1x at Lisert, Black-throated Diver - 4x in Averto canal (1x in pseudo-breebing plumage), Red-necked Grebe - 1x in Averto canal, Pygmy Cormorant - 2x at Isola della Cona, Snow Goose - 1x at Cona, White-fronted Goose - 100x in flock at Cona, Pink-footed Goose - 1x still present at Isola della Cona, Pochard - 2x, Tufted Duck - 3x, Goldeneye - a flock (20x) on the sea at Valle Cavanata, Red-breasted Merganser, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk - 1x at dusk hunting (succesfully) a bat!!! Golden Plover - 49x in flock at Isola della Cona, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit - 2x at Cona, Common Gull, Turtle Dove - 1x at Cona, Yellowhammer - 1x first winter at Lisert. + Alpine Chamois - 2x on the Mount Grmada (Duino-TS).
Golden Plovers above and below at Isola della Cona
The two Chamoises (the second is that brown thing on the right)
All pictures by DomenS, other pics: turtle dove, sparrowhawk here, GP here, redngrebe here, diver here.
See here for some new uploaded rarity photos in FVG; River Warbler - 3rd for Italy!
14/12/2008
Barcola (TS)
This morning it was raining, so I decided to control the garden in search of local specialities. Not so exciting species, but it was quite fine: Sparrowhawk, Cirl Bunting - 2x, Crossbill - a small flock, mix Chaffinches-Greenfinches, Goldcrest - 2x females, Coal Tit - 1x, Blue Tit - they are not so common at this time... Then Hawfinch - 2x, Chiffchaff - 1x with the "abnormal" juvenile call, Blackcap - 1x.
Yesterday on the sea again a Black-throated Diver (this time with a big caught fish, trying to eat it) and two Crossbills in the garden.
12/12/2008
Barcola (TS)
2.55 pm - Brambling - 1x female arrived in flight with a Chaffinch.
Bramb (By DomenS)
8/12/2008
Barcola (TS)
Today on the sea a Black-throated Diver. In the garden perching on a fir, a mixed flock of Crossbills and Greenfinches. Also Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk, Goldfinch, Green Woodpecker. Chaffinches are now very common as are Black Redstart (also seen 10x in group... mainly females).
GreenWood (by DomenS)
7/12/2008
Lisert - Monfalcone (GO) - A.ST.O.R.E.-FVG bird trip
Red-throated Diver - 2x, Black-throated Diver - 1x, BN Grebe - "industrial quantities", Red-breasted Merganser - 10x?, Hen Harrier - 1x female, Stock Dove - 11x in a flying flock, Bearded Reedling - some males in extensive reedbeds, Penduline Tit, Great Grey Shrike - 1x, Brambling, Cirl Bunting - 2x, Rock Bunting - some. Off topic: some *Alpine Chamoises (Rupicapra rupicapra)* seen with the telescope from Lisert on the Mount Grmada (Duino-TS)!!!!** Regular visitors at this site. Also Black Redstarts - males with very white wing patches - siberian type?
Isola della Cona (GO)
Black-throated Diver, White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose - 1x still present in flock with Greylag Geese (since 3 weeks ago), Red-breasted Merganser - 2x, Hen Harrier - 2x males, Lapwing - 200x?, Spotted Redshank, Woodcock - 1x seen in flight at dusk, Snipe.
Cirl Bunting at Lisert
BN Grebes at Lisert
Photos by DomenS
3/12/2008
Barcola (TS)
Seawatching from my bedroom's window produced a Red-throated Diver! The bird was swimming and diving at sea then it took off and flew in direction of Triest (east). Another first record for my house bird check-list!
Past days on sea also: Great Crested Grebe - 1x, Black-necked Grebe - 1x. In the garden a single Brambling.
See also this nice video of a Moussier's Redstart in Malta.
24/11/2008
Barcola (TS)
Brambling - this morning at 7.20 in the garden. Slightly irregular bird at this levels. The weather is not so good and on the Karst is snowing...
23/11/2008
Isola della Cona (GO-Italy) MEGA TWITCH
"...and surprise, surprise... pink legs!" (Paul Doherty's DVD Birds of Britain and Europe).
Yeah! ***Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)*** succesfully twitched at Isola della Cona. The goose was in flock with 500 Greylag Geese. Sleeping, swimming, sometimes also calling. Firstly a bit difficult to find (all the geese were sleeping). This is the first record for Friuli Venezia Giulia and maybe the 9th for Italy!
Also interesting in the Gorizia's county: Red-necked Grebe - 1x in Averto canal, Pygmy Cormorant - 2x at Isola della Cona, Flamingo (escaped!) - Valle Cavanata, Greater White Fronted Goose, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Merlin - 1x female near Fossalon, Little Stint, Black-tailed Godwit - 2x at Isola della Cona, Bar-tailed Godwit - some at Banco Mula di Muggia, Sardinian Warbler - 1x at Cona.
Pink-footed Goose (All photos by DomenS)
22/11/2008
Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)
By the way to Pordenone I visited a small village called Santa Maria di Sclaunicco (UD). There I found some Long-eared Owls (more or less 10x) roosting on a pine tree. This place is known as a hot spot for the species.
From the motorway I also saw: Lapwing and a flock of Rooks near Latisana (UD).
In my garden (Barcola - TS) also: Goldcrest and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker!
Latest news from Isola della Cona (GO): in a flock of Greylag Geese is present also a Pink-footed Goose!! Tomorrow I'll go to twitch it.
Long-eared Owl (By DomenS)
20/11/2008
Barcola (TS)
This morning from the my house's window I heard a Rock Bunting singing. This is only the second record for my garden.
Seawatching from the coast with a south wind was very unproductive. Only 2x Shags.
16/11/2008
Isola della Cona, Valle Cavanata, Valle Artalina (GO)
Shit! Today we missed 2 great lifers: Flamingo and Lanner!! The Flamingo was for some days at Isola della Cona, the Lanner was seen today morning at Valle Cavanata. Ok! Otherwise was quite good: Cattle Egret, Snow Goose - the juv. still present at Isola della Cona, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, other Ducks, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier - 2 females, Sparrowhawk, Merlin - 1x male seen near Grado, Water Rail, Grey Plover - in Valle Artalina, Lapwing, Dunlin - a nice flock in Valle Artalina, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Snipe - 10 in flock at Isola della Cona, Woodpigeon - big flock near Grado, Little Owl - 1x seen in flight and then landing on a cypress near Valle Cavanata, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler - 1x heard near Grado, Goldcrest, Penduline Tit - a small group at Isola della Cona, Reed Bunting.
What a strange kind of heron...
Photos by DomenS
Cerkniško jezero and Rakov Škocjan (Slovenia) (By Igor Maiorano & other EBNers)
At the Cerknica lake my friend found: Middle Spotted Woodpecker - 1x, Pygmy Owl!! - 1x, Great Grey Shrike - 11x! and a Trumpeting Northern Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula) (See here for calls), Merlin, Red-breasted Merganser, Redwing - flock 20x.
At Rakov Škocjan: 1x Middle Spotted Woodpecker.
Also 4 Red Deers (Cervus elaphus) with 1x male.
Barcola (TS)
The past days: some Crossbills, Cirl Bunting, Coal Tits, Serin... In the evening a bit of moonwatching in total produced 7 bird silhouettes (probably passerines - thrush size) flying over the moon's face.
9/11/2008
Isola della Cona (GO) - A.ST.O.R.E. - FVG bird trip
Flooded path in the wood, so I had a wee bit wet and muddy shoes! Otherwise it was good: Black-throated Diver - 1x, Cattle Egret - surprisingly in good numbers - 20x? (they will winter?), Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) - 1x juv. in flock with Greylag Goose, probably escaped! Large numbers of ducks on the sea (mainly Wigeons), also some Pintails. Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier - 1x female, Sparrowhawk, Merlin - 1x in flight, Water Rails - singing (maybe screaming is better!), Grey Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Spotted Redshank - 4x, Greenshank, Curlew, Snipe - in relatively large flock (for the species) - 20x perhaps?, Ruff - 1x, Skylark, Crested Lark?, Meadow Pipit, Sardinian Warbler - 1x calling (a resident bird), Cetti's Warbler, Goldcrest, Brambling, Siskin, Reed Bunting.
Also some Tree Frogs (Hyla arborea) singing!
Snow Goose (By DomenS)
3/11/2008
Planinsko Polje + Cerkniško jezero + Rakov Škocjan (Slovenia) - Mega Bird Trip
A very productive organised birding trip to the Cerknica lake and the vicinity. We went in group (7 birders), mainly led by Enrico Benussi. These the species (only the most interesting):
Cormorant - a group of 51x ind. flying above Rakov Škocjan, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier - 1x female at Cerkniško jezero, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Merlin - 1x male at Cerkniško jezero, Water Rail, Lapwing - in flock (40x) at Cerkniško j., **Ural Owl (Strix uralensis)!!!** - 1x seen very well from the road at Cerkniško j. in a mixed wood (12.00 am). First perching (very close to us!!) and looking for prey, then also flying around. Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) - 2x males very territorial at Rakov Škocjan, Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus)!!! - 1x at Rakov Škocjan in mixed wood (same place as the second Middle Spotted Woodpecker), Skylark, Woodlark, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Dipper - 1x hunting in a stream near Planina, Stonechat, Willow Tit, Bearded Tit - 19x in flock (males and females) at Cerkniško j., Great Grey Shrike - 2x at Cerkniško j., Nutcracker - 2x at Rakov Škocjan, Brambling, Linnet, Siskin, Bullfinch - at Cerkniško j., Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer.
Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) by Igor Maiorano
As I said before: very nice birding day!
31/10/2008
Valle Cavanata, Banco Mula di Muggia - Grado, Isola della Cona (GO)
Wet day around birding produced: Black-throated Diver - 1x, Black-necked Grebe, Shag - 2x in an inland canal (connected to sea), Cattle Egret - 19x, Greylag Goose - 450x feeding + other flocks, Shelduck - 2x, Hen Harrier?, Kentish Plover - 10x?, Lapwing - 50x?, Dunlin - 100x, Little Stint - 4x, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Curlew, Snipe, probable Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus)! - 1x flying, Med Gull, Crested Lark.
Jack Snipe by Michael Warren - Birding World 21 (9)
25/10/2008
Banco Mula di Muggia - Grado & Isola della Cona (GO)
At the wader roost near Grado (Map here): Dunlin - 500x?, Kentish Plover - 20x, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)- 1x among Dunlins, Crossbill, Siskin, Linnet.
Isola della Cona: Great Egret, ducks (Shoveler, Pintail, Teal, Shelduck...), Water Rail - singing, Lapwing, Spotted Redshank - 2x, Greenshank - 1x, Water Pipit, Willow Warbler - 2x, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Firecrest - 1x, Siskin.
Past days in the garden also: Serin, Crossbill, Song Thrush...
22/10/2008
Barcola (TS)
This morning in the garden, while watching a Firecrest, I saw a Ring-necked Parakeet flying high and calling. First record of this exotic species in the local patch!
Yesterday I went for a short bw walk to the Mount Stena (Trieste), but nothing interesting. Only the common migrants: Crossbills, Serins, Meadow Pipits, Thrushes (Mistle & Song), Willow Warblers, Buntings and the entire european population of Black Redstarts (this means lots of Black Redstarts!).
20/10/2008
Miramare park - Trieste
Gull-watching morning in the marine natural reserve Parco di Miramare. Among the Black-headed and Yellow-legged Gulls also: Common Gull, Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) - 1x juv. regular at this site, Herring Gull - 1x, Shag. Then some first winter visitors: Black-throated Diver - 3x at sea (my earliest record of the species!) , Red-necked Grebe - 1x.
Shag (By DomenS)
Barcola (TS)
In my garden only some common migrants (Song Thrushes, Siskins, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers), but in these days the Starlings are forming even bigger and bigger flocks. Sometimes I hope for a Rose-coloured Starling...
...or among Thrushes one of these.
17/10/2008
No birding today, but I found this nice video on the net:
Birdwatching in Central Park ...... have a look ;-)
12/10/2008
Barcola (TS)
Not exactly a good morning to do seawatching!
While watching this big sailboat race (above), I saw also some birds: Siskin, Woodpigeon - 47x in migrating flock, Cirl Bunting - 2x, Hawfinch, Song Thrush, Crossbill. On the sea apart from these boats also 7x Shags.
Hovering in the sky also some helicopters... The new Zeiss scope is working well in digiscoping!
Hawfinch
Photos by Domen S.
10/10/2008
Piazza della Liberta' - Trieste
7.20 am - A Peregrine hunting in the city's centre!
Škocjanski zatok - KP (SLO)
Morning birdwatching in the DOPPS's natural reserve (see here). Species: Greenshank, Skylark, Water, Meadow & Tree Pipits, Song Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Penduline Tit, Great Grey Shrike, Siskin, Crossbill.
We visited also the ringing station and in the mist nets we found: Dunnock, Robin, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed and Sedge Warbler, Blue Tit, Blackcap and Hawfinch.
The Great Grey Shrike (above) and a Sedge Warbler caught in the net (below) (By Domen S)
5/10/2008
Čičarija - Western Croatia (Rijeka)
Afternoon-evening spent in Ural Owl searching with some friends (Enrico Benussi, Cristian Trani and Emily Prall) in one of the wildest places of Croatia. Unfortunately no Ural Owls, but only some local species: Goshawk - 1x, Tawny Owl - 1x singing, Meadow & Tree Pipit, Common & Black Redstart, Song & Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Ring Ouzel, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Tit, Siskin, Bullfinch.
Mammals: Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes).
Sep-Oct 2008
Barcola (TS)
In the past days in the garden only some common migrants: Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Fly, Redstart, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat. On 30th Sep. a migrating Swallow's flock - counted 64 inds.
Here a video of the Pied Flycatcher:
28/9/2008
Banco Mula di Muggia - Grado (GO) View Larger Map
High tidal wader roost: Grey Plover, Kentish Plover, Sanderling - a few, Dunlin - a very large flock (maybe 500x?).
Valle Cavanata (GO) View Larger Map
Dunlin - 10x, Curlew Sandpiper - 10x, Little Stint - 7x, Spotted Redshank - 40x or more, Snipe - 6x, Ruff - 8x.
Isola della Cona (GO)
Wood Sand, Curlew - lots at Alberoni, Mediterranean Gull - few, Lesser Whitethroat - 1x, Willow Warbler - 1x, Pied Flycatcher - 1x female, Red-backed Shrike - 2x females.
22/9/2008
Barcola (TS) - garden (View Larger Map)
In the afternoon apart from some Lesser Whitethroats, Garden Warblers and Redstarts, I watched at a strange warbler. I only saw a brown bird twitching the tail downwards and flicking the wings, like an Olivaceous Warbler... Boh, I let it go! Maybe it was only a stupid Garden or another warbler. Eventually identified as UFO.
The only picture I could take of the redstart (By Domen)
21/9/2008
Lisert-Monfalcone (GO) View Larger Map; Valle Cavanata (GO); Banco Mula di Muggia (GO); Isola della Cona (GO) - Italy
All-day trip to some of the most intresting hot-spots for waterbirds in the region. So, today's birdwatching produced: Great Egret, Shelduck, ducks (always the same ones) + a Garganey, Common Eider - 1 male at Lisert, Honey Buzzard, LRP, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sand, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Common Snipe, Ruff, Common Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Black Tern, Sand Martin, Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler. This is all!
Med Gull
Photos by Domen S
19/9/2008
Barcola (TS)
18.05 pm: A female Common Redstart in the garden - first autumn record for this year.
16/9/2008
Grado's lagoon & Banco Mula di Muggia (GO)
Crazy afternoon in the Grado's lagoon...low tide and very far waders. These some of the species: Grey Plover - also in breeding plumage!, Kentish Plover - lots and lots, Sanderling - 2x, Dunlin - 50x or more, Curlew Sandpiper - 2x among Dunlins, Spotted Redshank, Curlew.
14/9/2008
Barcola (TS)
8.15 am: A Red Kite (Milvus milvus) flying above Barcola under a strong north-east wind (17 degrees! - nice cold temperature for this time). First record for the garden and for me ever!!
11/9/2008
Barcola (TS) - Italy
Sadly these days nothing to see in the garden apart a strange influx of Coal Tits. Mainly I see them in cold winters! Probably they are juvs.
Seawatching from my house's window: only Shags, Gulls, Sandwich Terns, ships and... floating rubbish. We are waiting for Grebes and better times!!
1/9/2008
Barcola (TS)
Garden migration birdwatching: Goshawk - 1x juv. being mobbed by Hooded Crows, Honey Buzzard - 12x soaring in group above Monte Grisa, Whinchat - 1x female.
31/8/2008
Barcola (TS)
11.40 am - 5x Crossbills in the garden. Nice observation for a summer time! A3 for my garden check-list!
30/8/2008
Barcola (TS)
7.37 am - Willow Warbler in the garden.
Isola della Cona (GO)
Black-winged Stilt - 4x, LRP, Ringed Plover - 4x, Greenshank - 56x!!, Wood Warbler - 2x, Pied Flycatcher - 2x and the other local things...
28/8/2008
Isola della Cona (GO)
Some migrants today in the marshes, as well as the regular visitors: Little Bittern (pefectly posing!), some others herons, Shelduck - 2x, Bar-headed Goose - 6x!, some eclipse ducks, Wood Sand, Green Sand, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew - lots (around 100 or more!), Snipe, Ruff, Mediterranean Gull, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Northern Wheatear - 1x male, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat - 3x, Reed Warbler - 1x, Pied Flycatcher - 1x female.
25/8/2008
Barcola (TS)
Today's garden birdwatching produced:
-Northern Wheatear - 1x female
-Whinchat - 1x
-Red-backed Shrike - 1x! (I need to change the status of the RBS on my garden list!)
-Lesser Whitethroat
Monte Grisa (TS)
In the afternoon a quick visit to the karstic cliffs of Mount Grisa. Only three good species: Alpine Swift, Honey Buzzard (light morph juv.), Blue Rock Thrush.
20/8/2008
Isola della Cona (GO-Italy)
Today a little bit less bird movement, but some nice species: Little Bittern, Night Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, lots of ducks in eclipse plumage, Black-winged Stilt, Honey Buzzard, LRP, Little Stint, Wood and Green Sands, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler, Red-backed shrike. Then a Yellow-legged Gull with a caught fish (see the picture below) and some species that tried to steal the prey: Grey Heron, Little Egret, Night Heron, Moorhen, Lapwing, and another Yellow-legged Gull. Lots of rivals!
Other photos here.
18/8/2008
Barcola (TS)
Today the first migrating Red-backed Shrike in my garden. An adult female catching insects from a perch. This is the first record for my garden bird check-list!
17/8/2008
Barcola (TS - Italy)
Finally the first signs of the autumn migration! A male Lesser Whitethroat in my garden... Punctually like every year, always on the same bushes and trees.
16/8/2008
Valle Cavanata and R.N. Foci Isonzo (GO-Italy)
Today afternoon only a couple of "good" species: Grey Plover, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Black and Whiskered Terns, Bee-eater, Sand Martin and Northern Wheatear: a female - the first seen on migration!
The main problem: high tide - no waders!
10/8/2008
Mount Stena and Mount Cocusso's moors - TS (Italy)
View Larger Map
From 7.00 to 11.30am I went to the karstic heatlands of the mount Stena and mount Cocusso. First only some passerines, then from 10.30am also some interesting raptors. Here the species:
Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus): seen twice, flying and hovering, Goshawk: 1x juv. mobbed by Jays, Kestrel: the local male, Honey Buzzard: 2x ind. flying above the mount Cocusso, Black Woodpecker, Skylark, Whitethroat, Coal Tit, Crested Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Raven: 4x, Cirl Bunting, Rock Runting.
Some pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdpictures
7/8/2008
Isola della Cona (GO - Italy)
Afternoon waders birdwatching in the inland marshes of the river Isonzo's estuary. See here:
View Larger Map
The most interesting speceies: Little Bittern - 1, Night Heron - 5x or more (Ads & juvs), Cattle Egret - 400x, Purple Heron - 3x, Spoonbill, Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) - 3x, Bar-headed Goose-1x, Honey Buzzard - 1x, Goshawk - 1 juv trying to catch herons and ducks, Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sadpiper - aroud 20x or more, Green Sandpiper - 1x, Common Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank - 50x more or less.... (some in the breeding plumage), Greenshank - 5x or more, Black-tailed Godwit - 3x, Curlew, Common Snipe - 5x, Ruff, Black Tern - 2/3x juvs, Bee-eater - lots, Reed Warbler, Red-backed Shrike.
Spotted Redshank
Green Sandpiper
Other shots here.
All photos by Domen
23/7/2008
Barcola (TS) - Mixed wood - local patch
In the morning a little bit of birding on the local patch. Just the commonest wood species, but I could also confirm the breedeing success of the Crested Tit. I saw also the local pairs of Rock Buntings and the Raven's couple. Lots of young Blue Tits, also some Marsh Tits, Nuthatches, Short-toed Treecreepers and two flying Little Brown Jobs...
July 2008
Croatia (islands of Krk, Rab and Pag)
During a (non-birdwatching) holiday around the North Adriatic islands, only a couple of 'good' (interesting) species: Scops Owl, Wryneck, Cirl Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Subalpine Warbler, Shag, Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) (breeding on Rab island), Spotted Flycatcher, Turtle Dove, Sardinian Warbler. In the sea around the Kornati islands I saw also some Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
Ride the wave! Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Pallid Swifts (Apus pallidus)
All pictures by Domen S.
27/6/2008
Lisert - Monfalcone (GO)
From the motorway a soaring Honey Buzzard...
19/6/2008
Ljubljansko barje and Cerkniško jezero - SLO
Something interesting at Ljubljansko barje:
- Grey-headed Woodpecker, Lesser spotted Woodpecker, Crested Lark, a singing male Grasshopper Warbler and... surprise, surprise a singing River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis)!
At lake Cerknica (Cerkniško jezero) we saw:
- A singing Bittern in the middle of the day!, Red-footed Falcons, Hobbys, some singing Barred Warblers (at Dolenje Jezero), Sedge and Marsh Warblers and a singing Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) (near Martinjak).
