During my second journey to the island “Greifswalder Oie” in December 2008
I found a complete new situation there. No migrating birds; on the whole island
where only a few songbirds. A pair of Ravens Corvus corax made their display flights,
a straying flock of Hooded Crows Corvus corone cornix, and 5 or 6 clicking
Water Rails Rallus aquaticus. But on the costline and at the water where a lot of seabirds.

A sleeping place of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo are located in the little wood.
It´s wonderfull to hear and see a flock of them, sitting down and clamouring through
the trees. There´s no stupid hunter or fisherman who attacks the birds…

17. December 2008, Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
 

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One day a small flock of Bohemian Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus strayed around.
This should be an small foretaste for the weeks after my return home. Up to 150
individuals migrated through my hometown Leipzig in January 2009. But unfortunately
at bad acoustic surroundings…

19. December 2008, Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus
 

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After one week I finally managed to record the long call of a Water Rail Rallus aquaticus.
Prior to this the individuals hid within blackberry bushes and were clicking all the day,
but rarely “cried” their pig-like long calls.

26. December 2008, Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
 

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After a short daylight period I had enough time to collate my recordings. Another recording
of a Deer Capreolus capreolus giving a alarm call is a nice one I found.

27. September 2008, Deer Capreolus capreolus, alarm call
 

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Every Autumn during the last years I tried to go to a wonderful
place called “Wildenhainer Bruch” at the “Dübener Heide”
(near Leipzig, FRGermany). There´s a watching point from which you
can hear at this time Cranes, Red Deers, different Orthoptera´s or
watch a Sea Eagle without disturbing.
This Autumn I only managed to make this single recording.

27. August 2008, Red Deer Cervus elaphus, Common Crane Grus grus and Pholidoptera griseoaptera. 

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© Snapshot by Marcus Held

Meanwhile waiting for the call of Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris a Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus
came closer and called “alarm” as it noted us… Nearby a Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos.

22 June 2008, Schladebach near Merseburg, Sachsen-Anhalt (FRGermany), 11pm
 

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