With spring bird activity in full swing, visiting what has by now more or less become my “local patch”, the Rheinaue Park in Bonn, was much more fun than in the winter months (although the park was sometimes very productive, see an earlier post). I was very happy every time I heard the songs of the migrants that had just arrived. The resident species took advantage of their head start and had already started singing and defending territories. Having interned in a research project studying the call of the Common Chaffinch two years ago (see my post on that time here, and the paper we published on that research in the Journal of Ornithology), this has become one of my favourite sounds of spring. Hearing this song while cycling to work each morning was a great way to start the day.
Ubiquitous birds in the park were Ring-necked Parakeets, Great Spotted and Eurasian Green Woodpeckers, and Common Woodpigeon. This was not much of a change to the winter, but observing these species closely reminds me of how attractive they are, regardless of their abundance.
With territorial and breeding activity peaking, the songs of many species resounded from the trees and bushes. This included Common Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great, Blue, and Long-tailed Tits, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, and Common Starling. Most species can be found throughout the park, although it appears that the Common Firecrest is most reliably seen in the conifers next to the rose garden and a playground.
The lakes hosted most of the species that were already present in winter, but some interesting new arrivals included Eurasian Oystercatcher and Wood Sandpiper, while Grey Wagtails were also around regularly. A big enjoyment was watching Barn Swallows, Common House-Martins, and even a Sand Martin hawking insects low over the water with breakneck speed and impressive agility. They were quite approachable, probably as they had to focus mainly on regaining energy just after having returned from sub-Saharan Africa.
A few weeks later, many birds were still singing but a noticeable shift could be observed towards feeding of offspring, with many birds stuffing their bills full of food before returning to the nest. Fieldfares and European Robins were especially obvious. For the former, it seemed that caterpillars that had fallen off the foliage from trees above and onto the ground made for easy meals, as this was their main prey item.
While none of the species observed were uncommon or unexpected, it was nonetheless a big pleasure to be surrounded by so much bird activity after several grey months that were largely devoid of eventful birding experiences. With all the vegetation finally being green, the temperatures rising, and the sun usually shining, being outside was much more fun. Birding in other areas was even more fun, such as the nearby heath Wahner Heide, which I wrote about in my last post. I am glad to get to know a few more birding sites outside of Bonn, as the area seems to offer much more than initially meets the eye.
My Zone Is Birding 
A beautiful spring showcase of your birds 😊
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