Caleys' Bird Diary

Starting with our most recent entries:

May 2010: On Mayday there were quite a number of Golden Orioles to be heard across the Old Rhein at Altenrhein. Seeing one of them is a birthday present I'm looking forward to....

April 2010: It was unusually charming to see five Yellow Wagtails (4 males) together at the water's edge in Arbon. Other migrants spotted in our area included a Green Sandpiper, Linnets, Serins, and a solitary Oystercatcher - a species we'd never seen before in Switzerland. There's a pair of Mandarin ducks at Arbon. It's lovely to have the Swallows, House Martins and Swifts back, as well as Common and Arctic Terns. Once a winter orni-restaurant, our house is now a summer residence, or rather hatchery-cum-nursery, esp. for Swifts.

Easter Weekend 2010: The spring concert is in full swing. Highlights: our first Swallows and Alpine Swifts, a Green Woodpecker, a Northern Wheatear, Firecrests (a treat to be able to observe and listen to one close at hand), delightfully enchanting Blackcaps and Garganeys.

Winter 2010 (Jan-March): Highlights of this winter (between having other things on our minds!) have been the following: Redwings on our window-sill, Bramblings at Altenrhein, more than 100 Whooper Swans together in the Austrian Rhein delta, more than 100 Wigeons at Arbon (Seepark), more than 50 Common Snipes in Arbon bay (these latter figures exceed all our previous five winters in the area), further great opportunities to observe Crested Tits from close range, Greater White-fronted Geese and Hooded Crows at Klingnau, a Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammers in mid-March (Thurgau, Seerücken), and the first waders en route northwards. What have we forgotten?

January 2010: The New Year is underway, and there are swarms of little birds about. The ones we've been able to see at close hand have been Siskins. The icily cold weather is keeping our private ornitho-restaurant for winter residents very busy - it's the many hungry blackbirds that give us the most work - and pleasure.

December 2009: Siskins are about again. Crested Tits too (probably the first we've seen this year). On Christmas Day (if I remember correctly), we were surprised by Sanderlings at Alterhein - though I could have sworn their beaks were a little too long for Sanderlings and yet without any clear bend in them. Our big Christmas treat was seeing Water Rails in the little stream beside Klingnauersee on Boxing day - the first we've ever seen! Thre next day there were Bramblings at Altenrhein.

November 2009: Another first sighting for us in this area appeared to be a juvenile female Bar-tailed Godwit - a late lone migrant (3rd Nov.). Three weeks later it was a treat to see Common Crossbills (on Gäbris, the first for some time).

October 31st 2009, the cliffs under Ebenalp: Here, at long last, we had our first proper sighting of a Wallcreeper - looking for insects and finding them in crevices and under ledges of the rock face. If only we had been able to watch it for longer (the many climbers there may have disquieted it).

October 2009: This year's migrants included species we've never spotted here before: there were not only those (relatively) Common Sandpipers, but also Wood Sandpipers and Marsh Sandpipers to observe (at Altenrhein and near Rohrspitz). Little Ringed Plovers were a further treat. The biggest highlight, however, was the Ruff - which we could observe in pairs - twice! In the Rheindelta there were still (migrant) Swallows to see in late Oktober. And on a day trip to Poschiavo there were Swallows of some kind or other (hardly Swifts) whizzing around above and landing on the roof of the church steeple. Meanwhile many of our winter guests were arriving - including Snipes. There were also wonderful views of Kingfishers. And it had been a long wait so see a Manadrin again.

September 2009, Swiss Alps (GR): What a joy it is see the (Spotted) Nutcracker, especially from close range! We also had several good sightings of Golden Eagles. Unfortunately, we were unable to identify everything we saw and/or heard. But we could recognise flocks of (Common) Linnets.

July 2009, back at Rorschach: The Swifts were still here till 22/07, swirling round our house from time to time. We miss them terribly when they're gone.

July 2009, Isle of Man: It was great to see Peregrines to the East of the Sound (being harassed by other birds) and lots of Choughs in various places, at Peel esp. Black Guillemots, on Jurby Beach well over 100 Curlews and (?) a Long-billed Dowitcher in the distance, at the Point the Ayre the Gannets and - as it seemed - more Artic Terns than usual.

July 2009, near Wolverhampton: On my early morning walks I was treated by the songs and appearances of Yellowhammers, Skylarks, Whitethroats and - among others - a Mistle Thrush.

Late June 2009, at/near Minsmere GB: Here, at long last, there were Bullfinches and Turtle Doves to be seen and heard, Linnets too. To my dismay, the Scrape was dried up, keeping the birds further away from most of the hides and making it a bad season for some species. Alas, no Little Terns. But still Avocets. My highlights: a Spoonbill, Grey Plovers, Mediterranean Gulls, a Bittern in flight, and - even visibly - Cetti's Warbler!

17th June 2009, back in Switzerland: How exciting, after the four-hour climb up Säntis from Schwägalp, to be rewarded just under the summit with a very first encounter with Snowfinches! (I have to assume they were not Snow Buntings.) All that beautiful white that's visible in flight!

May 2009, in Wales: At Cemlyn Nature Reserve, Anglesey, there were not only countless Terns to see, but also a pair of Whimbrels. At South Stack, Anglesey, the first Puffins of the year were hard to find – at some distance. At Ynys-hir (RSPB Rerserve on the west coast of Wales) we enjoyed hearing and observing Common Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers and especially Wood Warblers.

Spring 2009: The highlights included at least hearing Nightjars and a Nightingale (in the Rhine delta). Also surprise sightings in June of a Bittern or Little Bittern(?) at Greifensee. On Ebenalp again the elusive Ring Ouzel.

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Birds seen   (#215)   first sightings during 2009 and special memories in bold print

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