Summer In (mainly) northern central Germany - the Drömling

Most of my summer's birding was concentrated close to home, mainly in the Drömling.  Spring had been quite remarkable, including local Hoopoes in Dorset and Wrynecks on the Steinberg above Goslar, and early summer proved quiet and unspectacular.  A couple of outings to Apelhorn near Langlesheim, where I had found Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, were also a little disappointing as I had been hoping to find some Redstarts and Hawfinches but had to make do with unbelievable quantities of Red-backed Shrikes and another Wryneck.

Northern part of Drömling

Red-backed Shrike - Apelhorn

Red-backed Shrike - Apelhorn

Male and female Red-backed Shrikes - Steinberg, Goslar

Yellowhammer - Apelhorn

It was no until late July that I was exploring the northern part of the Drömling hoping to find Montagu's Harrier nests, when I discovered 2 in a single field.  No great detective work was needed as the nests and fencing are clearly visible when the crops have been harvested.  I was overjoyed, not least because I had failed to find any harriers in the Grosse Bruch, and here were at least 2 females, 3 or 4 juvenile birds all being serviced by a single busy male.  

Male Montagu's Harrier

Female Montagu's Harrier

Juvenile Montagu's Harriers in nest 3 metres from a road!

Wryneck - Apelhorn

I returned a week later with a couple of friends keen to see the harriers, however, what really made the day was the unexpected arrival of a Hoopoe.  These birds are very rare visitors to the Drömling and occasionally breed here, so this was really exciting, especially as it seemed to be sporting a brood patch.  Climate change is causing many birds to extend their ranges north including these iconic birds.  The habitat here is ideal with light, sandy soils, plenty of dead trees and decrepit farm buildings.  Definitely one to listen out for next spring.

LSW in dead apple tree - Drömling

Hoopoe - Drömling

LSW - Drömling

Honey Buzzard - Drömling 

Our search in a village for the Hoopoe elicited an amazingly confiding Lesser Spotted Woodpecker searching for food in an old decaying orchard though no sign of the bird we were looking for.  A Honey Buzzard emerged from the wood line to climb high over the Montagu Harrier field and a Golden Oriel barreled over us.  Down towards the Schwarz Brucke we headed hoping to find some Barred and Icterine Warblers which we had seen here several times before.   However, our attention was diverted by an unusual call and the surprising white and grey flash of what turned out to be a Great Grey Shrike.  I was pretty sure that I had seen one here early in the Spring, but here was real evidence of breeding with up to 3 birds obligingly perching on dead trees.  And, if that could be bettered, a single Rosefinch emerged only to be chased off by one of the shrikes!

Great Grey Shrike - Dromling

Rosefinch - Dromling

Rosefinch - Dromling

A re-awakening interest in butterflies also commanded my attention this summer aided by a Camberwell Beauty in a forest near Dresden and of course the phenomenal influx of Painted Ladies we experienced throughout Europe.  I have to confess, however, that the myriad of blues and browns seen in continental Europe are too much for me and I have to concentrate, to begin with at least, on the more common species.  Easy to identify though were the Hummingbird Hawk Moths that were visiting our garden in Dorset.  In one week I saw about 20, more than I have seen in my entire time here on the south coast.

Camberwell Beauty - near Dresden

Painted Lady - Goslar

Hummingbird Hawk Moth - Dorset

On a slightly more ominous note, I attach a picture of the River Ohre which flows through the Drömling.  Climate change is much in the news these days and we ornithologists witness its effects by the changing patterns of bird distributions, however, to note how dry this small though arterial stream had become in somewhere as moist and special as the Drömling, is portentous to say the least.  This place owes its magnificence to its wetlands, and it would be truly catastrophic were they to dry out.

A nearly bone dry River Ohre in the Dromling

Finally, I attended BirdFair in Rutland on behalf of CABS.  A wonderful experience to see representatives of the bird watching community from all over the world (apart from Germany!) and meet up with some old friends.  I even caught site of one of re-introduced Rutland Ospreys and Red Kites.  A really positive experience and definitely to be repeated next year.

CABS stand at BirdFair

BirdFair - so much to see!