I spent a weekend in Munich just lately to go to my girlfriend and my brother. As South Germany all the time has totally different birds on supply to the realm round Bonn, I needed to take my digital camera with me. Whereas I normally solely take my binoculars on journeys the place birding isn’t actually a component however I simply wish to be certain that. I’m positive each birder is aware of that feeling when some hen flies previous and also you assume to your self, “I used to be fascinated with whether or not to take my binoculars and ultimately determined to not – I simply knew I’d remorse it. Subsequent time I’ll undoubtedly carry them”. Nonetheless, my most important thought was that maybe we might check out the Tawny Owls which roost in some bushes within the Nymphenburger Schlosspark within the metropolis, as they’re very shut (no bins wanted!) and I want to take good pictures of this species.
We did go to the park however sadly the owls have been nowhere to be seen. Nonetheless, the climate was spectacular (it felt like summer time!), and we merely loved taking a stroll and mendacity down on the garden. The waterbirds have been enjoyable to look at, as they typically are at this park, and all the usual species have been there significantly Mallard, Frequent Pochard and Tufted Duck (you may need observed I point out Tufted Geese loads in my posts – I’m unsure why however I actually like this species!) and Goosander. I used to be a bit shocked to see a couple of Barnacle Geese – they weren’t ringed however they have to’ve been escapees since they have been very tame. A couple of Purple-crested Pochards have been additionally enjoyable to look at, though I felt a bit ridiculed once I was very completely happy to see them (having beforehand solely ever seen them at nice distances) they usually swam as much as me as I took a photograph. I’ve had a number of of those moments once I notice {that a} species is quite common and tame at a spot after I had been very excited once I beforehand noticed that species after some effort for the primary time elsewhere.
We additionally went on a stroll alongside the Isar river simply South of Munich, which was additionally very pleasant. Along with a lot of Goosanders, I noticed Bar-headed Goose, Mandarin Duck, Yellow-legged Gull, White Wagtail, Gray Wagtail, White-throated Dipper, Eurasian Wren, Frequent Chaffinch, and Nice Noticed Woodpecker, and heard a Black Woodpecker.
Again in Munich within the night, I used to be completely happy to come back throughout a couple of Frequent Goldeneyes that have been actively in courtship. The male randomly stretched his neck after which threw his head backwards over the again, whereas producing an odd nasal sound – nice enjoyable to look at.
Sadly the sunshine was dangerous and the Frequent Goldeneyes have been fairly distant (I knew that I ought to’ve taken my bins!). On the similar time, I used to be completely happy that I had my digital camera, as these have been the primary acceptable pictures I took of this species. I used to be shocked at what number of pictures I had taken on the weekend – normally the identical quantity as on a week-long journey. However I actually loved the good climate and the photogenic birds (unsurprisingly as most of them thought I’d feed them…) meant that I had few causes to not take pictures.