Sunday 26 June 2011

Cerkniško jezero - Saturday 25th June 2011



Had some enjoyable birding yesterday on the Cerkniško jezero (Slovenia) in the company of Nikolaj Noel Christensen. The area held the usual fantastic summer mixture of great birds: 2 singing Quails, at least 4-5 COMMON ROSEFINCHES singing in bushy areas around Dolenje Jezero (some seen), Grey Wagtail, Common Whitethroat, 1 male Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, pair of White Storks at Martinjak, 1 ad WHITE-TAILED EAGLE soaring above Dolenje Jezero, 1 singing Wryneck, Linnet, Ashy-headed Yellow Wagtails, Sedge Warbler, 2-3 Tree Pipits, at least 2 singing male BARRED WARBLERS in bushy area near Dolenje Jezero (seen a female + males in flight), 1 singing Marsh Warbler, Great Crested Grebe, 2 Short-toed Eagles hovering and "hanging" (one over Otok, the other near Martinjak), 3 Honey Buzzards, 1 Hobby (Otok), Great Reed Warbler heard, 1 Bittern heard singing from Otok, 1 Great Egret, Whinchat, Skylark.
Before arriving to the lake area we stopped at Planinsko polje where another Quail was singing + some Red-backed Shrikes and Grey Wagtail.
The area just out of Postojna held the usual breeding colony of Crag Martins plus a Honey Buzzard. Also 2 White Storks were at Razdrto.
Pics above: doc shot of the Common Rosefinch and Short-toed Eagle.