In the beginning .... the Groβer Graben

This Blog is my sister's idea.  She thought it might be quite amusing - and perhaps interesting - for me - an Englishman - to document my bird watching exploits in eastern Germany.  I am currently unofficially commissioned to find Montagu's Harriers in the north east Harzvorland - sehr selten and part of the schützen effort.  My efforts so far have concentrated on the Groβer Graben (roughly translated as the 'Big Ditch'), a 45km long linear east-west wet meadow landscape bordered either side by arable land.  Having now made 5 or 6 excursions, it appears that the further east I go, the better and more numerous in terms of quantity and type the birds become.  Anyway, here's a list of what I've found so far:



Der Groβer Graben

Garganey (3), Grey Heron, White Stork (2), Black Kite (7), Red Kite, Marsh Harrier (6), Montagu’s Harrier ( 1 F), Buzzard, Kestrel, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Stock Dove, Cuckoo (3), Black Woodpecker (1), Skylark, Swallow, House Martin (2), Meadow Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Nightingale (6), Bluethroat (2), Whinchat (2), Stonechat, Wheatear (7), Fieldfare, Grasshopper Warbler (3), Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap (2), Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Jay, Carrion, Crow, Raven, Starling, Tree Sparrow (10), Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting (2).

I've missed a lot of more common species but this give a flavour.   I think my Harrier was passing north as I've, so far at least, seen none since.  Never mind, for the time being at least, I'll keep looking.  Its early days and there's plenty of mid-continental European landscape to cover. 
 

Bluethroat - Groβer Graben.