As my dad and mom dwell in Bonn in Germany, I’ve been birding just a few instances in some spots surrounding the town when visiting them over the previous few years, together with the Siegaue (riverine and grassy habitats) and the Siebengebirge (primarily forest). Having lately began an internship in Bonn, I hoped to have some extra time to discover the environment for some birding alternatives. Sadly, the internship turned out to be extra busy than anticipated and to this point, I’ve not been capable of discover any new areas. Nonetheless, I sometimes had the possibility to take a stroll within the fairly Rheinaue park, a fairly intensive inexperienced house alongside the Rhine, which though primarily internet hosting frequent birds, is a welcome alternative to look at birds when the time is just not there for a correct birding outing.
The lakes normally have fairly just a few waterbirds, with Mute Swans and Egyptian Geese, Greylag Geese, and Canada Geese being plentiful. At one time I counted over 60 people from every goose species from a single spot. This appears fairly ridiculous and I’m undecided of their impact on the soil and different organisms (a minimum of there isn’t any want for mowing the lawns). Very not often, Barnacle Geese are additionally seen feeding on the garden, in all probability on passage. Different commonplace waterfowl together with Tufted Duck, Widespread Pochard, Little Grebe and Nice Crested Grebe are additionally round. Black-headed Gulls are additionally frequent, and typically a Widespread Gull can also be round. I’m nonetheless ready to be shocked by a rarer species, akin to Better Scaup (which have been seen by others).
Raptors are additionally round sometimes, and I’ve seen Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and Widespread Kestrel. I’ve additionally heard Tawny Owl and Eurasian Eagle Owl at night time. By way of passerines, I the park can be fairly fascinating. Though typically solely frequent species are in proof, I all the time get pleasure from watching Lengthy-tailed Tit, Nice Noticed Woodpecker, Eurasian Inexperienced Woodpecker, Eurasian Siskin, Widespread Chaffinch, and Eurasian Nuthatch. I’ve seen Hawfinches just a few instances however sadly, it’s onerous to get an excellent take a look at these shy birds. I nonetheless hope to sooner or later get a pleasant photograph of this species, as their coloration and invoice are simply wonderful.
I’ll attempt to get exterior extra usually and to discover extra areas round Bonn. I received to know just a few days in the past that a completely loopy hen within the type of a Wallcreeper was present in December and which appears to nonetheless be current on the Drachenfels. That is on the identical location as a neighborhood Rock Bunting inhabitants, which I additionally by no means received to see. The considered seeing each species, however significantly the Wallcreeper, is slightly mouthwatering so I’m aiming to go to this location this weekend.