A nice long weekend in early June visiting friends over in Baden-Württemburg, Germany, with many thanks to all for the kind hospitality.
The weather was fine, dry and comfortable temperatures for birding (ca. low 20Cs).
Waghäusel, officially known as Wagbachniederung, essentially a wetland habitat located in the rift Valley a few kms east of the Rhine in between Karlsruhe and Mannheim. Characterised by reedbeds, water meadows and basins this is a well known birding site.
Given the visit in early June many of the song birds either didn't show or were elusive. Hawfinch near the reserve entrance nice to see. Bluethroats eluded us, a Savi's Warbler 'reeled' from the reedbeds but didn't show and Marsh Warblers were very elusive in the nettlebed habitat before the 'Bluethroat' benches. Cuckoos called all over the place, but didn't see one. As in previous visits the hedgerows held Nightingales and Blackcaps and several Turtle Doves 'purred'. Red-backed Shrikes present across the reserve, and the tree-lined edge of the west and northern sides of the reserve held both heard only Short-toed Treecreeper and Golden Oriole.
Nevertheless, the areas of water reliable as always for seeing a variety of birds including both Red-crested Pochards and Common Pochards, other duck species and several Black-necked Grebes and Great Crested Grebe. A Kingfisher took the opportunity to fish from the western side and a few Purple Herons showed well about the reserve, with a wandering Great White Egret noted. Little Ringed Plovers and at least 3 Black-winged Stilts present and a mass of Black-headed Gulls plus a flyby of both Yellow-legged Gull and, more surprisingly, a Lesser Black-backed Gull. A 1st summer Little Gull played hide and seek when swimming amongst the Black-headed Gulls. As found last year a Black Kite made many unsuccessful attempts of raiding the Black-headed Gull colony. Other raptors included Marsh Harriers, Buzzard and Kestrel throughout, with a Hobby that didn't want to linger. Two sets of Raven sightings, one flying south early on during the visit, plus 4 together flying to the east of the reserve later in the afternoon. Many White Storks soaring over the reserve and the occasional visit by a group of Swifts.
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| Black-winged Stilt |
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| Black Kite |
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| Black Kite |
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| Red-backed Shrike |
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| Purple Heron |
Weingartenermoor, the wet woodland nature reserve north east of Karlsruhe along the eastern edge of the rift valley hosts a bird hide overlooking a marsh fringed lake. The walk through the woodland and along the boardwalk to the bird hide produced many singing Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Chaffinches and several Great Spotted Woodpeckers. The lake was calm and yielded expected species such as Cormorant and Coot, a few ducks and with Yellow-legged Gulls wandering about (adult and 3rd summer). A Spoonbill was in the area and showed briefly but actively as it flew in to feed in the shallows.
Saalbachniederung Bruchsal, the grassland area with flooded gravel pit located a few kms to the south of Waghäusel. Great Reed Warblers sang but as Spring progresses they were more hidden than as found when visiting several weeks earlier in past years. The same could be said for Reed Warbler, and a Marsh Warbler sang from deep within the nettles. On the water were many ducks, Egyptian Geese, Mute Swans and not forgetting over 20 Category C equivalent Ruddy Shelducks. The shore held several Little Ringed Plovers and a Green Sandpiper. A Yellow-legged Gull was in the area. A most acrobatic Hobby entertained us on the way in, Kestrel around and several Black Kites and Buzzards up above. A pair of Honey Buzzards glided by and White Storks were either in the air, attending nests or feeding in the grasslands. A Large Tortoiseshell butterfly seen and nice views of Queen of Spain Fritillaries.
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| Grey Heron and White Stork |
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| Queen of Spain Fritillary |
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| Large Tortoiseshell |
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| Honey Buzzard |
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| White Stork |
Elsewhere in Baden-Württemburg - suburban birding dominated by Black Redstarts singing from the rooftops, but where were the Serins? Countryside walks produced a nice variety of species, lots of highlights including Bee-eater sightings and Red-backed Shrikes were both widespread and territorial. Honey Buzzard seen and Red Kite seemed to be more numerous than Black Kite. White Storks commonplace and a Yellowhammer sang in the open. Redstarts sang from the canopy and the woodlands were dominated by Chiffchaff, Blackcaps and Blackbirds. Squeaky gates betrayed the presence of Long-eared Owls with an adult seen hunting at dusk, a time that Jupiter, Venus and Mercury could be seen in the western sky on a couple of clear evenings. A Tawny Owl flew from a woodland one evening and, back in the daytime, Lesser Purple Emperor butterflies showed well just before the end of the visit plus a brief look at the large Poplar Admiral.
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| Honey Buzzard |
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| Bee-eater |
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| Lesser Purple Emperor |
