MAY 2001
In May 2001 I have made
some obligatory excursions to Mosellan Fish Ponds being quite successful (the
highlight was White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
, I made my traditional visit to Waghäusel and went also to the Vosges to
search for Citril Finch (Serinus citrinella). In the last week
of May I went to southern France for a week of top birding ( see trip report)
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On the 1st May ( a warm day
up to 26°C) I went to the Wagbachniederung near Karlsruhe
in Southwestern Germany where I have recorded 70
species (see under TRIP REPORTS ) the "best" of them being Bearded
Tits (Panurus biarmicus) and Bluethroats (Luscinia svecica)
which are very rare in our area but regular in the Wagbachniederung.
On the 2nd May near Lisdorf
in Saarland I saw first Red-backed
Shrike (Lanius collurio).
On the 5th in Merten
first Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus).
Mosellan Fish Ponds 5th of May 2001
I have visited Videlange,
Lindre (only a short visit), Bischwald (a short visit too) and a Romersberg
Forest near Etang de Zommange.
At Videlange
37 species included 1 Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) , 1 Whinchat
(Saxicola rubetra) , first singing Golden Oriole ( Oriolus
oriolus) , Great Reed (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) , Reed
(A. scirpaceus) and Sedge Warblers (A. schoenobaenus)
. At Lindre again 1 Purple Heron (Ardea
purpurea) and one Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cachinnans
michahelis)(only very irregular in the area).
On the way from Tarquimpol
to Guermange I had an immature Black Stork
(Ciconia nigra) foraging in the meadows.
Finally in the Romersberg
Forest I saw and heard the first Collared Flycatchers
(Ficedula albicollis) of the year. One Great White Egret
(Casmrodius albus) flew over Etang de Zommange.
On my way home near Bidestroff
the first Montagu's Harriers (Circus pygargus) of the year ( 2
males and one female). At Bischwald first Common
Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) , 2 Black Terns (Chlidonias
niger) and 3 Little ringed Plovers (Charadrius dubius).
Mosellan Fish Ponds 6th May 2001
Again very cold (8°C !). I
went only to visit two sites Bischwald and Vallerange. At Bischwald
there were 1 Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) and 1 Little
Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) again but also 1 Great
Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) . Three males of Marsh
Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) were present over the reed beds and two Curlew
(Numenius arquata) flew over. At Vallerange
was very windy and cold. Nevertheless I could find one "good" bird: Slavonian
Grebe (Podiceps auritus) in nuptial plumage! One can see Slavonians in
our area mostly in winter plumage so it was a cracking view at close distance.
Besides the Slavonian there were 6 Black-necked Grebes (Podiceps
nigricollis) , and 4 Black Terns (Chlidonias niger)
there.
Warndt Forest Saarland 10th May 2001
It became warmer so I have
decided to go to the traditional spot for Woodcocks and Nightjars in the near Warndt
Forest. I was successful seeing 3 Woodcocks (Scolopax
rusticola) flying over and hearing shortly one Nightjar
(Caprimulgus europaeus).
On the 11th May I had the
first Melodious Warblers (Hippolias polyglotta) near Überherrn
Saarland.
Mosellan Fish Ponds 13th May 2001
A sunny warm day (26°C)
with one "very good bird" recorded!
I went like usual to Etang
de Lindre where I found 41 species. The best of them was one White-winged
Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) , the species I
was searching for in Lorraine since 5 years! It was together with 43 Black
Terns (Chlidonias niger) and 1 Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) and
could be observed at short distance.Other interesting species were: 4
Purple Herons (Ardea purpurea) , 3 males Garganey
(Anas querquedula) , 2 Common Sandpipers (Actitis
hypoleucos) , singing Corn Buntings (Emberiza calandra) ,
Great Reed (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Sedge
Warblers (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus).
Later in the Romersberg
Forest I had 3 displaying males of the Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula
albicollis).
Mosellan Fish Ponds 19th May 2001
At Bischwald
the usual species plus one Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
flying over and 2 Black-necked Grebes (Podiceps
nigricollis) . At Lindre none Terns but as
usual some Purple Herons (Ardea purpurea) , Black
Kites (Milvus migrans) , Great Reed (Acrocephalus
arundinaceus) , Reed (A. scirpaceus) and Sedge Warblers (A. schoenobaenus)
, 7 males Shoveler (Anas clypeata) , 5 males Garganey
(Anas querquedula) and one Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
on migration. At Videlange only regular species
including 2 Purple Herons (Ardea purpurea) ,
4 pairs Gadwall (Anas strepera), Marsh Harrier (Circus
aeruginosus), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Black
Kites (Milvus migrans).
Vosges Mountains 20th May 2001
Still in Lorraine the Vosges
Mountains lies in the Departement 88- Vosges. The highest peak in Lorraine is Hohneck
with almost 1400m. I went there (180km drive) to see some mountain species
above all the Citril Finch.
I have visited two sites : Gazon
du Faing (about 1100m - the site for Citril Finch) and Hohneck
spending about 5 hours there.
Only 21 species could be
recorded but among them Citril Finch (Serinus citrinella) (one
cracking view of one male from only 10m!), Water Pipit (Anthus
spinoletta) , Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) and Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe). Pitifully I couldn't find this time the Rock
Bunting (Emberiza cia) which I have seen there in May 1999 .
At Gazon du Faing was also
one Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra).
On my way back I visited Etang
de Gelucourt to see there 2 Black Terns (Chlidonias niger)
and 5 males and 4 females of Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
(nesting every year there).
Back home I had the first Honey
Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) migrating over our house in Merten.
On the 27th May I went to
Southern France , please see my TRIP REPORT.