Grosse Bruch - Winter

All things considered, it has been a mild winter even with a couple of significant falls of snow.  I've posted about the Grosse Bruch several times, most recently when I wrote about the Wiesenweihe, or Montagu's Harriers, that bred near Hornburg last summer.  Sadly, because of a bout of cold and very wet weather, the nest failed and we are left with hoping that they return in a few weeks.  I wasn't sure what the Grosse Bruch would be like in winter - open, wet and cold with little in the way of cover.  The antithesis of its summer bounty.

The Grosse Bruch east of Hornburg.

Grosse Bruch - 1 Feb 18.  Note the surface water.  2 x Great White Egrets in the background.

Prior to this winter I had only seen one Rough-legged Buzzard and even then it had to be pointed out to me!  The species was therefore high on my list of 'things to see' this winter so it was exciting to hear that the Grosse Bruch was playing host to 2 or 3 of these northern buteos.  Their identification, compared with the ubiquitous Common Buzzard, was not a difficult as I had anticipated with subtle but distinct differences in shape - more aquiline - and behaviour - often 'harrieresque'.  Plumage was also distinct though I've seen many Common Buzzards sporting dark mantle and carpal patches.  One bird in particular became quite obliging and could be reliably seen south of Hedeper, its presence often given away by habitual calling.  I was really lucky to get to watch these birds, sometimes at close quarters, and really get to observe their behaviour and plumage.  A great bird!

Adult pale Rough-legged Buzzard.

Adult pale Rough-legged Buzzard.

The second raptor that I was able to reliably connect with in the Grosse Bruch this winter 
were Hen Harriers - or rather female Hen Harriers.  I had seen a single bird in this area 3 years previously but never appreciated that some birds actually seem to winter in the valley area.  Hen Harriers can be seen throughout the map area, but are most reliably seen, slightly counter-intuitively, towards Homburg quartering the arable fields.  I have seen a maximum of 3 different female Hen Harriers in this area of the Grosse Bruch but only one male bird located at the eastern end of the map area.  Having spent the summer watching Montagu's Harriers, it was fascinating to observe and note the differences in the two species - both absolutely beautiful1

Female Hen Harrier - eastern end of map area.

Female Hen Harrier - eastern end of map area.

Of course there's more to life than Rough-legged Buzzards and Hen Harriers.  Kestrels and Common Buzzards, some of which we recognise from the summer, remained throughout the area and the occasional Peregrine added some excitement to proceedings.  Sadly, Merlins and Short-eared Owls did not seem to be present even though the habitat and availability of prey must be ideal for both species.  Great White Egrets are plentiful, large flocks of Wood Pigeon are often seen and groups of Lapwing, sometimes as large as C80 birds can also be seen.  Cranes, larges numbers of which seem to be wintering in Germany now, can also frequently be seen commuting up and down the valley

Looking into the winter sun - Grosse Bruch.  Note the standing water.

A group of wintering Cranes - Grosse Bruch.

The small bird front is a little more challenging and one needs to concentrate of the small stands of trees that abound in this area.  Gold Finches are always present and I have seen Brambling, Siskins, Redpolls and sometimes very large groups of Fieldfares.  On one occasion saw two Common Sandpipers attracted no doubt by the large pools of water lying in the meadows.

A Kestrel in the late afternoon sun - Grosse Bruch.

Puckle assisting with the navigation.

Proof that I saw a male Hen Harrier - albeit at long range. Grosse Bruch.

So, that's that.  There is still a month to go of proper winter so I have not completely abandoned hope of finding some Short-eared Owls or, even more improbably, Merlins.  But spring is just below the horizon and thoughts are beginning to turn to the Grosse Bruch's summer visitors.