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…
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, December 17th, 2008:
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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…
Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus, December 19th, 2008:
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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.
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus, December 26th, 2008:
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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.
Deer Capreolus capreolus, alarm call, September 27, 2008:
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