I spent a weekend in Munich just lately to go to my girlfriend and my brother. As South Germany at all times has completely different birds on provide to the realm round Bonn, I needed to take my digicam with me. Whereas I normally solely take my binoculars on journeys the place birding isn’t actually an element however I simply need to be certain that. I’m certain each birder is aware of that feeling when some hen flies previous and also you suppose to your self, “I used to be eager about whether or not to take my binoculars and in the long run determined to not – I simply knew I might remorse it. Subsequent time I’ll positively deliver them”. Nevertheless, 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 had been nowhere to be seen. Nevertheless, the climate was spectacular (it felt like summer season!), and we merely loved taking a stroll and mendacity down on the garden. The waterbirds had been enjoyable to observe, as they usually are at this park, and all the usual species had been there notably Mallard, Widespread Pochard and Tufted Duck (you might need observed I point out Tufted Geese rather a lot in my posts – I’m undecided why however I actually like this species!) and Goosander. I used to be a bit shocked to see a number of Barnacle Geese – they weren’t ringed however they need to’ve been escapees since they had been very tame. A number of Pink-crested Pochards had been additionally enjoyable to observe, though I felt a bit ridiculed once I was very comfortable 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 some place else.
We additionally went on a stroll alongside the Isar river simply South of Munich, which was additionally very pleasurable. 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, Widespread Chaffinch, and Nice Noticed Woodpecker, and heard a Black Woodpecker.
Again in Munich within the night, I used to be comfortable to return throughout a number of Widespread Goldeneyes that had 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 observe.
Sadly the sunshine was dangerous and the Widespread Goldeneyes had been fairly distant (I knew that I ought to’ve taken my bins!). On the identical time, I used to be comfortable that I had my digicam, as these had 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 might feed them…) meant that I had few causes to not take pictures.
