First blog entry about my birding activities in Switzerland and it's already about a Birdrace. Well, it was held yesterday. We were a group of four, André (another one), Peter, Enzo and me. We started at the Schwägalp in the mountains. Friday night we had to cycle up there (1,5hrs) as cars are not allowed by the rules. After 10 pm, the official start time, we headed out and got a calling Tawny Owl after about 20 minutes. We went to bed with a good feeling...
...which immediately changed when we got up in the morning. It was raining hard and foggy. Nevertheless we went out and started. It was birding by the hard way. Not very much activity and usually just a short call. We needed the first four hours to clean up the Thrushes and the Tits. We also had Crossbills and some Pipits, but we missed a lot of the alpine species we were heading for.
Soon we cycled down, also dipping Dipper, but at least we got a Black Woodpecker. With the train we changed to the Lake of Constance and the Rheindelta. The water level was surprisingly high and no sandbanks around, so birding was rather difficult again. Eventually we managed to see some Waders and Ducks, but we were still missing a lot of species (including Tree Sparrow). Very nice was a Sedge Warbler and two Little Egrets. The count was on 98 when the sun finally disappeard and our goal to win with about 120 species still miles away. :-C
But looking back we had a great day, working hard on our id-skills (especially with calls) and we have already decided to participate again next year.
btw, the picture shows a place where Citril Finch, Black Grouse, Siskin or Linnets are living. However, we didn't see them yesterday....
...which immediately changed when we got up in the morning. It was raining hard and foggy. Nevertheless we went out and started. It was birding by the hard way. Not very much activity and usually just a short call. We needed the first four hours to clean up the Thrushes and the Tits. We also had Crossbills and some Pipits, but we missed a lot of the alpine species we were heading for.
Soon we cycled down, also dipping Dipper, but at least we got a Black Woodpecker. With the train we changed to the Lake of Constance and the Rheindelta. The water level was surprisingly high and no sandbanks around, so birding was rather difficult again. Eventually we managed to see some Waders and Ducks, but we were still missing a lot of species (including Tree Sparrow). Very nice was a Sedge Warbler and two Little Egrets. The count was on 98 when the sun finally disappeard and our goal to win with about 120 species still miles away. :-C
But looking back we had a great day, working hard on our id-skills (especially with calls) and we have already decided to participate again next year.
btw, the picture shows a place where Citril Finch, Black Grouse, Siskin or Linnets are living. However, we didn't see them yesterday....
