After having explored some vineyards above the village of Rüdesheim am Rhein not too long ago, I made up our minds to move birding in a identical house nearer to Bonn. I learn that the world round Leutesdorf, simply north of town of Koblenz, is a superb spot for Rock Bunting, nonetheless my primary quarry within the house. Even if the elements didn’t glance too rosy it’s a very simple adventure via teach from Bonn, so I made up our minds to pay the world a morning consult with understanding that I may just pop into the teach again if the elements changed into too ghastly.
Ascending the vineyards from the teach station in Leutesdorf, I heard the unique high-pitched name and certain sufficient, a Rock Bunting was once perched at the wires supporting the grape vines. Undertaking achieved! Seeing this chicken right away after arriving jogged my memory of my contemporary Cirl Bunting sighting, additionally the primary chicken I noticed on my ultimate time out to search for buntings. This turns out like a bizarre – however welcome – flip of occasions after having failed to peer this species a number of instances within the area.
Even if I just about simply got here for the Rock Bunting, I made up our minds to walk round slightly extra, additionally hoping to get extra sightings of the chicken. The inclement climate hampered the birding rather slightly and birds gave the impression moderately inactive, however I did stumble throughout Eu Serin, Crimson-backed Shrike and Eurasian Blackcap, among others.
A large Eu Hare was once adorable to look at as smartly, a pleasing alternate from the Eu Rabbits which can be quite common in our native park. It to start with ran off, however then followed a distinct technique via crouching at the flooring and depending on its camouflage, its large eyes having a look up at me.
I additionally were given a couple of extra perspectives of Rock Buntings, together with an immature. This chicken was once very nondescript (even supposing a clearer picture would potentially display extra options!), and jogged my memory slightly of a first-winter feminine Not unusual Reed Bunting. Non-breeding or feminine buntings will also be rather difficult to ID, which makes them the entire extra thrilling since there could be a couple of vagrants strewn in there as smartly – most likely no longer in a winery within the heart Rhine valley, however thrilling species flip up each and every yr alongside the coast throughout migration season (reminiscent of on Heligoland).
I made up our minds to make a transfer when the drizzle changed into extra intense. As I used to be looking ahead to the teach at the platform, I seen a Rock Bunting calling from the winery simply 10 meters away. Humorous how every now and then you seek for birds for ages and whilst you’re in the best house, or by accident, they’re virtually too simple to peer. I skilled a great representation of this a few years in the past when I used to be touring in New Zealand with my circle of relatives. One night time, my dad alerted me to the presence of a Weka (a flightless rail) and I frantically scrambled up a trail, tripping dramatically at the means however nonetheless managing to peer the chicken. Over the following few days, I noticed, that the hassle was once pointless, as Wekas have been just about in the back of each bush, even stealing socks from us and different hikers and campers. My circle of relatives nonetheless incessantly rings a bell in my memory of that sighting when I am getting fascinated by birds.