Lake Constance (of the Bodensee in German) is a large lake on the border of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The place could be very fashionable amongst vacationers of those and lots of different nations, with in depth vacationer infrastructure in place in most cities across the lake. Nonetheless, some glorious birding can also be available at a number of spots, with waterfowl, waders, and a few passage migrants being significantly attention-grabbing.
I used to be visiting prolonged members of the family within the space and used the chance to discover a number of components of the lake for the primary time. I didn’t have the prospect to go to a number of of the well-known birding websites, however nonetheless received a great impression of the birds that may be discovered within the space. Sadly, the climate was very dangerous – chilly, moist, and darkish – which means that I used to be additionally not capable of get good sightings of the (moderately few) birds that I did see.
A pleasant sighting was of a small group of Eurasian Tree Sparrows in some gardens bordering farmland on the fringe of the lake. This species is declining in Germany and though it’s not uncommon, my sightings have normally been distant or transient. The birds appeared very torpid, permitting shut statement of their plumage – moderately extra vibrant than their shut cousins, the Home Sparrows.
I did see fairly a number of species of waterfowl, together with Eurasian Teal, Northern Shoveler, and Purple-crested Pochard. Nonetheless, my major quarry was Ferruginous Duck, which I’ve by no means seen earlier than and was recorded right here repeatedly over the previous couple of weeks. I ultimately noticed an odd duck amongst some Frequent Pochards and Tufted Geese. This hen, significantly the mix of darkish plumage, whitish-yellow eye, and invoice and head form, was very uncommon. The windy situations and distance of the hen prevented me from acquiring good views, however I suspected a hybrid Ferruginous Duck x Frequent Pochard. I managed to take some file pictures, and these made me extra assured that that is what it’s. Nonetheless, I’m no duck hybrid skilled by any means and it could be one thing else.
No matter this duck species, I used to be pleased to seek out such a complicated hen, though a part of me was pissed off that if it certainly was a Ferruginous x Pochard hybrid, I used to be solely half a genome away from a lifer. I trying ahead each to my first Ferruginous Duck and exploring the various birding websites round Lake Constance extra extensively.