I spent a weekend in Munich just lately to go to my girlfriend and my brother. As South Germany at all times has completely different birds on supply to the realm round Bonn, I needed to take my digicam with me. Whereas I often solely take my binoculars on journeys the place birding is just not actually a component however I simply need to ensure that. I’m certain each birder is aware of that feeling when some hen flies previous and also you assume to your self, “I used to be serious about whether or not to take my binoculars and in the long run determined to not – I simply knew I might remorse it. Subsequent time I’ll undoubtedly deliver them”. Nonetheless, my foremost thought was that maybe we might check out the Tawny Owls which roost in some timber within the Nymphenburger Schlosspark within the metropolis, as they’re very shut (no bins wanted!) and I wish to take good images of this species.

We did go to the park however sadly the owls have been nowhere to be seen. Nonetheless, the climate was spectacular (it felt like summer season!), and we merely loved taking a stroll and mendacity down on the garden. The waterbirds have been enjoyable to look at, as they usually are at this park, and all the usual species have been there notably Mallard, Widespread Pochard and Tufted Duck (you may need observed I point out Tufted Geese loads in my posts – I’m undecided why however I actually like this species!) and Goosander. I used to be a bit shocked to see just a few Barnacle Geese – they weren’t ringed however they need to’ve been escapees since they have been very tame. A couple of Crimson-crested Pochards have been additionally enjoyable to look at, though I felt a bit ridiculed once I was very completely satisfied to see them (having beforehand solely ever seen them at nice distances) and so they swam as much as me as I took a photograph. I’ve had a number of of those moments once I notice {that a} species is quite common and tame at a spot after I had been very excited once I beforehand noticed that species after some effort for the primary time some other place.

We additionally went on a stroll alongside the Isar river simply South of Munich, which was additionally very gratifying. Along with a lot of Goosanders, I noticed Bar-headed Goose, Mandarin Duck, Yellow-legged Gull, White Wagtail, Gray Wagtail, White-throated Dipper, Eurasian Wren, Widespread Chaffinch, and Nice Noticed Woodpecker, and heard a Black Woodpecker.

Again in Munich within the night, I used to be completely satisfied to return throughout just a few Widespread Goldeneyes that have been actively in courtship. The male randomly stretched his neck after which threw his head backwards over the again, whereas producing an odd nasal sound – nice enjoyable to look at.

Sadly the sunshine was unhealthy and the Widespread Goldeneyes have been fairly distant (I knew that I ought to’ve taken my bins!). On the identical time, I used to be completely satisfied that I had my digicam, as these have been the primary acceptable images I took of this species. I used to be shocked at what number of images I had taken on the weekend – often the identical quantity as on a week-long journey. However I actually loved the good climate and the photogenic birds (unsurprisingly as most of them thought I might feed them…) meant that I had few causes to not take images.