BIRDING IN LORRAINE
.
APRIL 2001
In April 2001 I have
managed to undertake 6 longer excursions to the fish ponds in the Departement
Moselle 57 and one excursion to the Mosel Valley in Saarland (Western Germany).
There were no
"crackers" to report but some nice views of returning migrants and
some rarer species in our region.
Mosellan Fish Ponds 1st April 2001
At Etang du
Bischwald there were still some duck ( Wigeon (Anas
penelope) , Teal (Anas crecca) , Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck
(Aythya fuligula), Pochard (Aythya ferina)) but not as many as
expected. Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) were very busy in the
heronry. The raptors were represented through Black Kite (Milvus
migrans), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) and one male of Marsh
Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) . One Black Swan (Cygnus
atratus)(escape) could be also recorded. Singing Chiffchaff
(Phylloscopus collybita) and Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) were seen
and heard.
Near Grostenquin
was one Red Kite (Milvus milvus).
At Etang de
Besville there were many Gadwalls (Anas strepera)
and some Shoveler (Anas clypeata) also one singing male of Stonechat
(Saxicola torquata).
A lot of duck species were
seen at the most famous birding spot in Moselle at Etang de Lindre
: Shoveler (Anas clypeata) , Goldeneye (still 2,1) (Bucephala clangula)
, Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) , Pochard ( Aythya ferina), Mallard (Anas
platyrhynchos) , Garganey (3,1) (Anas querquedula) , Wigeon (Anas penelope),
Teal (Anas crecca), Pintail (Anas acuta) , Gadwall (Anas strepera) and one pair
of Red-crested Pochards (Netta rufina).
Three Grebe
species were present too: Little (Tachybaptus ruficollis) , Great-crested
(Podiceps cristatus) and about 10 Black-necked (Podiceps
nigricollis).
The most interesting record
was one adult Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) among
hundreds of Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) . One Common
Gull (Larus canus) in 2nd year was also present.
Only a few passerines were
singing: Field Larks (Alauda arvensis) , Reed Bunting (Emberiza
schoeniclus) , Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) and Song
Thrush (Turdus philomelos) . The Rooks (Corvus frugilegus)
were busy in their colony in Lindre Basse, the White Storks
(Ciconia ciconia) (they come from the Stork Station in Lindre Basse
and are not migrating in winter) on their nests too.
A little surprise was a
sighting of one adult Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) (they
return usually in the mid-April).
Midweek 2nd-7th April
On 3rd April first Swallow
(Hirundo rustica) and on 6th first Firecrest (Regulus
ignicapillus) , both in Merten. Serins
(Serinus serinus), Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) , Black Redstarts (Phoenicurus
ochruros) are singing.
One female Sparrow-Hawk
(Accipiter nisus) seen in Merten.
Mosellan Fish Ponds 8th April 2001
At Etang du
Bischwald some interesting raptors: 1 Osprey (Pandion
haliaaetus) , 1 Red Kite (Milvus milvus) . Common Buzzard
(Buteo buteo), Black Kite (Milvus migrans) and Marsh Harrier (Circus
aeruginosus) (male and female) also present. Only a few ducks (Mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos) , Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) , Pochard (Aythya ferina) )
and Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) . First Sedge
Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) was singing.
A pair of the White
Storks (Ciconia ciconia) ( probably wild birds ) on their nest.
At Etang de
Lindre in Tarquimpol almost
the same regular species like a week ago (only the Pintails (Anas acuta) were
not there). Singing Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
and quite rare bird in our region Savi's Warbler (Locustella
luscinioides) (on migration). Almost none waders, only one Black-tailed
Godwit (Limosa limosa) !
On the same day near Überrhern
in Saarland first singing Grasshopper Warbler
(Locustella naevia).
Dillinger See Saarland 13th April 2001
First House Martins
(Delichon urbica) , first singing Willow Warblers
(Phylloscopus trochilus) and Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia
curucca).
Mosellan Fish Ponds 14th April 2001
Extremely cold for the
season : only 4°C at noon! I have visited only two sites : Bischwald and
Vallerange..
At Bischwald
nothing new but 29 species recorded. The most interesting of them being: Garganey
(1,1) (Anas querquedula) , Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus
schoenobaenus) , singing Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)
and two White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) on their nest.
Vallerange was "better" this day and
gave 35 species including 4 Black-necked Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis)
, 2 Red-crested Pochards (Netta rufina) , 1 Red Kite
(Milvus milvus) , the first Hobby (Falco subbuteo)
and first singing Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos).
Mosellan Fish Ponds 16th April 2001
First I have visited a site
in Benestroff where 1997 a booming male of Great
Bittern was present. This year (like 1998,1999,2000) it could not be recorded
there though the site has not changed at all. Some Sedge Warblers
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) were singing there and a female Marsh
Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) was seen over the reed bed.
Further I have visited as
usually Etang de Lindre in Tarquimpol where I have
recorded 46 species almost all of them "regulars" there. The most
interesting were: 1 Osprey (Pandion haliaaetus), 1 Redshank
(Tringa totanus) , 2 Little Ringed Plovers (Charadrius dubius)
(the only waders!- what a year! The water level in the ponds was too high and
there were a lot of vaste areas of inundated meadows across the land so there
were no wader concentrations on the usual spots), 1 Hobby (Falco
subbuteo) and a pair of Purple Herons (Ardea purpurea).
Mosellan Fish Ponds 22th April 2001
On an inundated meadow near
Lelling there were some birds including 3 males of Garganey
(Anas querquedula) but absolutely none waders again! At Bischwald
the first Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) of the year (very late). At
Etang de Lindre 39 species among them: first Swifts
(Apus apus) , first Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) singing,
3 Hobbys (Falco subbuteo)(hunting insects
over the water together with swifts and swallows), 2 Shelducks
(Tadorna tadorna) , 2 Purple Herons (Ardea purpurea) and
still a pair of Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula).
Mosel Valley near Besch Saarland 28th April
2001
Still quite cold with only
10°C. I went to the Mosel Valley searching for a waders
on inundated meadows and arables but with only little success: one Greenshank
(Tringa nebularia), two Green Sandpipers (Tringa ochropus)and
one Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) could be
recorded. A lot of Nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos) , Willow
Warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus) were singing in the willow bushes
between the old gravel pits.
On my way home on the
French side near Burg Esch I saw one Great
Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor).
At afternoon walking with
our dogs in the Forest of Houve near Creutzwald
I had first Wood Warbler ( Phylloscopus sibilatrix)
and Pied Flycatcher ( Ficedula hypoleuca) (grey male).
Mosellan Fish Ponds 29th April 2001
At least warmer then
yesterday (16°C). At Bischwald one Whimbrel (
Numenius phaeopus ) flying around and searching for the suitable
roost.
At Lindre
3 Black Terns ( Chlidonias niger) and at least 15 Little
Gulls (Larus minutus) (mostly adult). A lot of Swifts (Apus
apus) , House Martins (Delichon urbica) and Swallows
(Hirundo rustica) hunting insects above the water. Together with them
again 3 Hobbies (Falco subbuteo) . At Videlange
first Great Reed (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Reed
Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) , two late Pintails (Anas
acuta) and two Great White Egrets (Casmerodius albus).