Pannonian Bird Experience

The last weekend a fair for birdwatching took place in the national park where I work right now. A more detailed description of this event can be found on: http://www.club300.at/node/24644 . I was involved in this event in several ways, partly as a guide for Carl Zeiss Sports Optics and partly at the stand of the Club 300 Austria. In addition, my pictures were used to attract people to come to the stand of Birdlife Austria:

In the exkursions we could see most of the ornithological highlights of the bird experience, including Austria's 5th Dalmatian Pelican at Graurinderkoppel/Apetlon and a singing Aquatic Warbler at Geiselsteller/Illmitz:

Other interesting observations were four Whimbrels at the 16th near Lange Lacke, a White-winged Tern at the 16th at Graurinderkoppel/Illmitz, a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lange Lacke at the 16th and a Goshawk at Geiselsteller/Illmitz at the 17th:

Furthermore, I could make fotos of Yellow Wagtails near Lange Lacke and a Wood Sandpiper at Warmblüterkoppel/Illmitz:

During the fair I also had the opportunity to talk with the Hungarian-German bird painter (http://www.stefanboensch.de/ ), who gave me some valuable advices to improve my painting skills, for instance, not immediately starting to sketch when I see a bird but to take much more time to simply watch the bird. Here are my newest pictures:

 Greyleg Geese with Goslings at Geiselsteller/Illmitz

 Great Bustard in Hansag

Kentish Plover in the evening light at Geiselsteller/Illmitz

April in Seewinkel/Burgenland 2

As I mostly only have time in the early morning and the evening, I still haven't visited all the different locations for birding in the Seewinkel. Yet I've been able to make some nice watchings: White-fronted Goose (at Östliche Wörthenlacke at the 6th), Greylag Goose (the first goslings at Zicklacke at the 5th), Barnacle Goose (7 at Östliche Wörthenlacke at the 6th) Ferruginous Duck (4 at Warmblüterkoppel Illmitz at the 9th),  Pygmy Cormorant (Warmblüterkoppel Illmitz), Bittern (calling everywhere), Purple Heron (Warmblüterkoppel Illmitz), Spoonbill (Warmblüterkoppel Illmitz), Snipe, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank (10 Warmblüterkoppel Illmitz), Mediterranean Gull (at least 35 at Östliche Wörthenlacke at the 6th), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 adult at Östliche Wörthenlacke at the 6th, probably subspecies fuscus), Caspian Tern (2 at Warmblüterkoppel Illmitz at the 10th), Common Tern (my first one for this year at the 9th at Warmblüterkoppel Illmitz), Long-eared Owl (one sitting in its nest near Illmitz), Barn-Swallow (my first for this year at the 5th), House Martin (my first for this year at the 9th), Wheatear (1 male at Geiselsteller/Illmitz at the 6th), Coal Tit (4 near Informationszentrum Illmitz at the 6th) etc.

I also made some new fotos and field sketches:

Common Teal at Albersee

 

 Barnacle Geese at Östliche Wörthenlacke

 Great Egret near Biological Station Illmitz

 Black-winged Stilt near Zicklacke

 Black-headed Gull at Westliche Wörthenlacke

 Breeding colony of Rooks in Illmitz

 Great Egret near Zicklacke

 Little Ringed Plover near Biological Station Illmitz

 Little Ringed Plover near Biological Station Illmitz

 Spoonbills near Biological Station Illmitz

First days of April in Seewinkel/Burgenland

This month I'm working in the Nationalpark Neusiedler See-Seewinkel, without doubt Austria's best place for birdwatching. Therefore I'm looking forward to many opportunities to watch, digiscope and paint birds. Here are some pictures from the first days of April:

  Common Shelduck at Illmitzer Zicksee

 Ruff at St.Andräer Zicksee

 Kentish Plover at Geiselsteller

 Black-tailed Godwit at Neubruchlacke

 Garganey near Informationszentrum Illmitz

 Black-winged Stilt near Informationszentrum Illmitz

 Kentish Plover at Geiselsteller/Illmitz

 Lapwing at Geiselsteller/Illmitz

 Lapwing and Kentish Plover at Geiselsteller/Illmitz

 Black-tailed Godwit at Neubruchlacke

Black-winged Stilt near Informationszentrum Illmitz

 

 Little Ringed Plover at Darscho

 Sunset at Darscho