Spring in northern Germany

What would the world be, once bereft
Of wet and of wildness? Let them be left,

O let them be left, wildness and wet;

Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet.

From Inversnaid (1881) by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Much anticipated after a long, cold winter spring migration spluttered into action late, a phenomenon experienced across much of Europe.  Many species were delayed, reduced in number and in poor condition for breeding.  At least the weather got better and remained warm and very dry right the way through to the summer.  I concentrated on four sites: the reed beds and ponds at Frose south east of the Harz, the Groβe Bruch, a low lying area of meadow and grass land straddling the former DDR/W German border, the Drömling north-east of Wolfsburg and Goslar itself.  As ever, there were disappointments and achievements manifested in birds long sought and eventually seen.

Frose and Osmarsleben

Red-crested Pochard, Frose

Garganey, Frose

Bittern, Frose

Frose in the spring is wonderful.  Few places, perhaps only the Drömling, can offer the array of species one can see here.  Taking a couple of friends from the Rhineland, we saw a fly-by Bittern, Red-crested Pochards, several Garganey, Hobbies, Marsh Harriers, Great Reed, Marsh, Sedge, Reed, Savis and Grasshopper Warblers.  Significantly, we found no Bluethroats, a species I am yet to see this year; Frose normally supports two breeding pairs.  The low lying fields opposite the reserve remained flooded and held decent numbers of waders including Wood Sandpipers and Redshanks.  A couple of White Storks were also present.  Several Cuckoos were also around, there being plenty of potential foster species to exploit.

Bee-eater, Osmarsleben

Bee-eater, Osmarsleben

Near abandoned Bee-eater colony, Osmarsleben

A visit to Osmarsleben, 15km south of Frose, confirmed that our local Bee-eaters are in trouble.  I managed to see only a handful of birds at three sites confirming their dramatic decline over 3 or 4 years.  The only reason I can think of for this decline is a lack of insect food caused probably by the local use of neonicotinoid pesticides.  Impossible to prove, but what else could be the reason for this catastrophic decrease.

Western section of the Groβe Bruch

Grasshopper Warbler, Groβe Bruch

Hobby, Groβe Bruch

Montagu's Harrier, Groβe Bruch

The Groβe Bruch last year was fantastic, mainly on account of our breeding Montagu's Harrier whose nest sadly failed.  Despite this we keenly awaited their return hoping for a successful second attempt. Sadly and despite hours of searching only occasional sightings were achieved - a female on several occasions always in different locations, and a male seen twice in the same location.  With no young to feed I suspect the birds were in the area but were less active spending much more time stationary in the grass and therefore nigh on impossible to see.  

White Stork, Groβe Bruch

Red-backed Shrike, Groβe Bruch

On a more positive note, however, I located two Grasshopper Warbler territories, a female Golden Oriel and suspected breeding pair of Hobbies.  On two occasions I visited in the evenings listening for Corncrakes but heard nothing.  The farmers cut the grass much earlier this year rendering most of the habitat, which had been ideal, unsuitable.  They also sprayed the area, what with I am not sure but it can hardly be conducive to nature.  Finally, much of the area was covered with manure, a process that increases the nitrogen content of the soil thereby affecting its biodiversity.  Furthermore, drainage into the local water courses leads to their eutrophication, resulting in excessive growth of aquatic weeds and algae.  Perhaps a reason for there being relatively few 'wet' species inhabiting the profusion of ditches that exist here.  Despite the presence of White Storks, I have never seen or heard a frog or seen a single Grass Snake; the former are presumably eating mice and other prey.

Blue-headed Wagtail, Groβe Bruch

Red-backed Shrike and grassland, Groβe Bruch

Tree Sparrow, Groβe Bruch

A handful of Cranes remained in the area throughout the spring and early summer and White Storks seemed to have had a successful breeding season and were far more plentiful than last year.  One, possibly two, pairs of Corn Buntings bred, Cuckoos were pretty common and Marsh Warblers did their usual stuff from the shrubs and bushes.  Last but not least, a brief sighting of a pair of flying Turtle Doves.  So not all doom and gloom. 

The Drömling

Red Kite with mouse sp, Kusey, Drömling

White-tailed Eagle, Kusey, Drömling

Icterine Warbler, Drömling

We visited the Drömling during a morning of torrential rain which eventually stopped.  First up was Kusey and the Schwarze Bruck in the north of the area.  We succeeded in both target species, namely Ortolan Bunting, which unfortunately we only heard, and a Barred Warbler seen in exactly the same location as last year.  

Swallowtail Butterfly, Drömling

Black Kite, Drömling

We also heard a Wryneck in dispute with a Woodpecker and witnessed 2 dozen kites, Red and Black plus a White-tailed Eagle, taking advantage of a farmer mowing a field.  Mice must have been everywhere!  The central area of the Drömling provided my first Icterine Warbler - delighted - a beautiful Golden Oriel a Black Stork but, for the second year running, no River Warbler.

Black Stork, Drömling

Barred Warbler, Dromling

Closer to home, I managed to photograph some of the beautiful Wood Warblers which inhabit our local beech woods filling the air with their sybaritic call.  I also managed to photograph one of our many Serins which inhabit the town's roofs and tree tops.  This bird conveniently perched on our neighbour's TV aerial delivering its never-ending burst of high energy song.  It also gave me much pleasure to locate 3 pairs of Red-back Shrike and Yellowhammers breeding on the Steinberg where I walk the dog every day.  Red Kites seemed to be everywhere - over the town, from the garden as well as in the Oberharz proper.  Wonderful!

Juv Red-backed Shrike, Steinberg, Goslar

Wood Warbler, Steinberg, Goslar

Yellowhammer, Steinberg, Goslar

Spring has merged into a summer sloth and birds are now more difficult to see.  All in all though not a bad effort.  It was extremely disappointing that the Montagu's Harriers did not return to breed in the Groβe Bruch.  It was also sad to see how the farmers intensively farmed the meadows; after all the feature is supposed to be an environmentally sensitive and protected site.  

Steinberg, Harz abiove Goslar

High Brown Fritillary, Harz

Red Kite carrying nest material, Steinberg above Goslar

Positively, I was delighted to find my first Icterine Warbler deep in the Drömling, and predictably I saw several more after that!  Finally, being able to photograph and observe my local Wood Warblers and Red-backed Shrikes so close to home on the Steinberg gave me perhaps the most pleasure.