I visited the Havelland today with experienced birders from Portland, Oregon (USA) and Cambridge (England)

The weather was ideal – sunny and cloudless and temperatures between 0 and -2 Grad Celsius.

The estimated 20,000 northern geese in the area kept their distance. We saw skeins of Bean Geese and Whitefronts high in the sky or at long distance; or in the middle of the Guelper Lake. With one exception we saw no flocks relatively close on the ground.

The highlights:

North and south of of Buschow village (by kind arrangement of Heinz Litzbarski who runs the Brandenburg protection project) 2 groups of Great Bustard. The first of some 16 males grazing in a rape field. Their female counterparts, some 25 – 27 in number were grazing to the south of the village.

From the observation tower/hide near Garlitz we observed, i.a.:6 Grey Herons amongst a flock of grazing cows 6 -10 Common Buzzards – mostly on the ground or on low posts (these were the forerunners of the large number of individuals we saw in the course of the day – mostly at very close range. The first Rough-legged Buzzard of the day. A useful study aid for further identification. Two large flocks of Fieldfares and smaller flocks of Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers. Here, as elsewhere, we saw many groups of finches with Greenfinch most commonly represented.

Near Nennhausen Male Hen Harrier hunting over the meadows.

Hohennauener Lake Family groups of Goosander and many ducks, mostly mallard.

The Grosse Grabenniedrungen (on the bridge – the extremely dry summer has left it’s mark and here, as overall, the water meadows were dried up) 1 Rough-legged Buzzard, Several small groups of Whooper Swans on the ground and flying. Here again the lack of water everywhere, which usually provides the geese and swans with a form of security, meant that we were unable to ‚scope’ swan or geese flocks. Usually one can reckon on Bewick’s Swan among the Whoopers. We heard a rumour of one Red-breasted Goose in the area. Between Parey und Guelpe 12:30 Uhr 1 Great Grey Shrike hovering. A great sight which we enjoyed at no great distance for 3 – 4 minutes 1 Rough-legged Buzzard.

Guelper Lake 1 Sabine’s Gull (Black-headed, Herring and Lesser-blackback also present (SK) At least 5,000 Geese in the middle of the Lake. Lots of ducks (about 1,000 nad more) including Mallard, Goldeneye, Wigeon and Tufted.30 Whooper Swans on the fields south of the lake. In the woods bordering the lake many mixed troops of Chickadees (sorry – Tits) long tailed with Goldcrest. Also Short-toed Treecreeper and several Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Sadly our attempt to drive the direct route to the North of the Guelper Lake was thwarted as the road was closed. It would be nice if local birders could report such problems, in a popular birding area, in the Internet. I hope that the re-opening of the road can be announced.

I decided, in order to get to the Common Crane roost (usually several hundred) near Vehlgast, to drive south to cross the River Havel in Rathenow and then travel north on the Saxony-Anhalt bank. I hoped for one or two nice sightings along the Have water meadows. Although these, as reported above, were completely dry, we were not entirely disappointed and saw:

A flock of Bean Geese, with some Whitefronts, on the Ground near Strohdene A final Rough-legged Buzzard and a Great Grey Shrike.

Sadly the dusk fell very rapidly and we didn’t get to see the Cranes (although there are still a couple of hundred in the artea according to other reports). We called it a (successful) day and drove back to Berlin

David Conlin (local), Daniel & Mary Marks (USA), Mark Hows (England)

*PS Daniel and Mary were new to Europe (Dan had been in Paris for a day once before) so both had some lifers; and birds such as northern Long-tailed Tit Greenfinch and Tree Sparrow were (almost) as exciting as the Great Bustard.