Iciness birding in Bonn typically seems to be reasonably bleak, however I will be able to’t in reality whinge with the Wallcreeper that spent a number of weeks simply out of doors the town. Now that this chook has apparently moved on, I needed to in finding different species to distract me, however thankfully that was once no longer too laborious. Including to a put up in January on birding in Bonn in wintry weather, I’ve had the risk to get out on a couple of extra birding walks right here and there within the town on weekends. Thankfully, I didn’t handiest see the usual species, however was once additionally rewarded with much less common species. Maximum particularly, a gaggle of 5 Better Scaups was once found in probably the most massive ponds within the Rheinaue city park, the place they have been provide for some time. They have been scattered amongst massive numbers of Tufted Geese and in particular Commonplace Pochard, making a lively crew of diving geese that was once a laugh to observe. That is handiest my 3rd sighting of the species, and the second one time I’ve observed men, which I’ve to mention do glance far more sexy with the greenish sheen to the top that units them except for their tufted cousins.
The primary time I noticed this species was once on the London Wetland Centre. Any other birder didn’t imagine me after I advised him in regards to the scaup as we did not relocate the chook, however he were given his revenge via recognizing a Nice Bittern, which was once the chook for which I visited the wetland within the first position. I overlooked the bittern in flip, and now have by no means observed one to at the moment. In all probability the scaups are dangerous good fortune for me, however I’m positive I’ll get my bittern someday.
They might no longer were totally dangerous good fortune even though, as every other particular species within the type of Commonplace Crane entertained me over the previous few weeks. Whilst this species will also be observed continuously as they go overhead right through passage in overdue autumn and early spring, I’ve by no means observed such massive numbers of cranes when one night flocks of many hundred people stored passing overhead for no less than part an hour. It’s normally stated that they fly in a V-formation, however obviously the cranes themselves take this to be extra of a coarse guiding principle than a strict rule, as they have been flying in all forms of formations. No longer that I thoughts – if truth be told the reworking and evolving shapes in their flight formations have been nice a laugh to observe, just a little like clouds converting form from the air currents (despite the fact that in fact manner cooler since they’re birds, duh!).
On a number of extra days smaller teams flew overhead as neatly, with their atmospheric trumpeting calls interrupting the chaotic sounds of the town. It’s encouraging that those birds migrate so early within the 12 months, contributing to the first light refrain in in the end marking a close to finish to wintry weather. I’m very a lot taking a look ahead to the arriving of migrating passerines so as to add their tune repertoires to the thrushes, Eurasian Robins, and Commonplace Chaffinches who’re already in complete swing with their songs within the morning.