OrnithoLogical

17/05/2020

These two moments of a day are the most magical to me...

Warm light creates incredible conditions to photograph and a special atmosphere.
Nature looks so magnificent at dawn and dusk that I want to share with you my morning and evening wildlife experiences.

17/05/2020

SHORT-EARED OWLS ARE GETTING CLOSER!
Recently I had a wonderful view of these owls really close to the boardwalk in the Lawki Marsh within the Biebrza National Park! 🦉

A couple was flying around hunting, displaying, and resting really long - until at least 8 am. That was my closest observation of this amazing species... They are so agile in flight - they turn and dive immediately after noticing a movement ( = potential vole). It was truly incredible to watch these birds in flight so close for so long 💚

It looks like there are at least 2 breeding pairs in this area this year (the 3rd one possible).

08/05/2020

These two moments of a day are the most magical to me...

Warm light creates incredible conditions to photograph and a special atmosphere.
Nature looks so magnificent at dawn and dusk that I want to share with you my morning and evening wildlife experiences.

08/05/2020

Look who I met at dawn today!

This young Moose (Elk) with growing antlers seemed really tame. I stopped my car 10 m from him and he basically didn't react. He just looked at me and continued his breakfast as if nothing had changed...

I think he may be the offspring of one of the tame females from the Biebrza Marshes ("Matylda" was the most famous) because such behavior is rather rare in this species.

06/05/2020

This evening, right before the sunset, I got surprised by two flocks of divers (loons) migrating to the north - 22 and 70 individuals!

They were on their journey back to the breeding grounds in northern Europe. Unfortunately, it was too far to identify the species.

You don't see them that often in such flocks, so I was lucky to spot them 👌

06/05/2020

05/05/2020

First Aquatic Warblers (Acrocephalus paludicola) arrived in their territories in Biebrza National Park!

I heard 2 singing males a few days ago and today at least 5 of them. Luckily, one showed up! They usually sing from the lower parts of the sedges, so I'm glad that this one decided to warm up in the morning sun a little higher on a willow branch 💚

04/05/2020

The Black Woodpecker - competition of two females.

It is generally a males' duty to compete for the territory, and this behaviour is not so common in females. But as we can see, it happens from time to time, just like in real life ;)

03/05/2020

I recorded a few minutes from mother-owl life on the nest.
It's a rather boring life. Not much to do and many mosquitos flying around...

This female is checking on her eggs, changing positions, and looking around.

29/04/2020

Look who I found today - Long-eared Owl on the nest❗️

Honestly, it's my first time when I found this species nest. It was surprisingly close to a house and low (about 4 m above the ground). Owls took over the Collared Doves' nest... That's what they do sometimes 🦉

And the male is still singing around his female. Hope they will reproduce successfully!

I will certainly follow this pair. Ethically of course!

29/04/2020

Short-eared Owls in a patrol flight (hunting technique) and in interaction with each other. I think it was a little partner's "fight", but it could be the territory fight as well.

These owls have been here since March 20 and it looks like they are nesting in Biebrza Marshes this year!

Breeding of this species takes place here every few years and their presence strongly depends on the water level. If the fen mires are dry (like this year), these owls have good reproduction conditions.

28/04/2020

White Storks landing on the plowed field in the sunset.

These birds often use an opportunity to follow a tractor and forage on uncovered or killed small animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, earthworms), even at the end of the day.