Showing posts with label Red Squirrel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Red Squirrel. Show all posts

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Syrian in central Europe

Just got back from the Mikulov in the Czech Republic, where I joined the Euro Bird Portal meetings, that were part of a EBAA / PECBMS workshop, hosted by the Czech Society for Ornithology. The meetings were very good and productive. It is great to know that there is such a dedicated and talented team across Europe, completely engaged in applying monitoring data into conservation. I feel privileged to be part of this family.
Mikulov is a sweet little town in southern Moravia, and I enjoyed walking through its streets and parks. I had little time for birding with Nick from BTO. Nick was very keen to see Syrian Woodpecker. I was, ehmm, less bothered about the woodpecker but just enjoyed a nice walk that was quite birdy in fact. And I did appreciate his enthusiasm to see the woodpecker. Nick managed to double score with a couple of peckers that showed well! Bring it on! Otherwise there were quite many finches around, including Hawfinch, Brambling and Siskin.

Red Squirrels are lovely animals – not easy to see in the UK but common in central Europe:


Hawfinch

Syrian Woodpecker 
  

The park in Mikulov by the cemetery - birding hotspot...