10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2012

It also used to be a rather common bird in the South of Germany, but the German population has crashed and collapsed (almost?) If it still breeds in Germany at all, which it might do, it is so rare by now that pairs do not get reported to anywhere except to the relevant nature conservation authorities. What on earth?

Cattle 117

Cattle Germany Iran Breeders 117

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2019

And of course, there are Cattle Egrets ( Bubulcus ibis ) and several species of cowbirds that rarely stray too far from livestock. Changing tastes in beer, now leaning towards more modern flavors imported from Britain and Germany – as well as the privations of two world wars – only seemed to seal the fate of saison.

Vermont 118

Vermont Belgium Farming Europe 118

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

I could immediately tell them it was an Egyptian Goose – an invasive species in Germany but not at Kruger. Apparently, in some regions where Cattle Egrets do not primarily associate with cattle but with other animals, their name in the local language changes accordingly.

Elephants 147

Elephants Birds Congo Africa 147

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2019

We are entering the mixed colony of 11 species ( Grey , Squacco , Purple and Black-crowned Night Herons ; Great , Little and, recently, Cattle Egrets ; Eurasian Spoonbill (below) and Glossy Ibis ; Pygmy and Great Cormorant ). These visits are strictly regulated and the birds are habituated to people, showing no reaction to our presence.

Greece 189

Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 189

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2014

Germany: extensive trips comparable to 2013. I will also likely scale back on my birding madness in Germany, and might therefore see less species than I did in the last two years. The biggest surprise is a small group of 4 Snow Buntings, very unusual for the Mediterranean coast but apparently not unheard of in the Camargue.

2014 145

2014 France Germany Indonesia 145