Last weekend saw me back in Berlin for another city trip and a much anticipated third visit to what has quickly become one of my favourite places to birdwatch. My two previous visits in October and May produced a whole range of species from Tundra Bean Geese and Cranes to breeding Red-necked Grebes, Marsh Harrier and Nightingales, so I was eager to see what else might be there in June. Reed Buntings were particularly confiding with this male singing and preening right next to the observation platform.
New species for my budding Moorlinse Buch list included a singing Icterine Warbler it took me a good 15 minutes to locate, Honey Buzzard and two heard-only Great Reed Warblers but, once again, the grebes were the stars of the show. I saw several pairs of Red-necked Grebes feeding young but these were easily outnumbered by Great Crested Grebes and their offspring, with quite a few Little Grebes also present. I don't think I've ever seen such a concentration of young/breeding grebes in such a small area. I decided to take my time and also explore the nearby Karower Teiche, where singing Golden Orioles, two Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and a family of Redstarts completed the day's list, which totalled an amazing 70 species.
I can't wait to go back again!
I can't wait to go back again!
