Birding

Jochen’s 2015 Year List

December 31, 2014 by Jochen 4 Comments

Outlook and goals for 2015

I started year-listing three years ago, with previous listing ambitions having been limited to my life list. While it’s been a fun ride, and while I certainly will continue to keep year lists for the time being, it seems appropriate to quickly reflect on the three reasons I gave way back in 2012 to get involved in the game:

  1. Show Corey how the cow eats the cabbage (revenge for him seeing a Grace’s Warbler in NY on Jan 1st during a time when I was scarcely seeing anything but House Sparrows)
  2. Re-connect with many common or regular WP birds I hadn’t seen in many years through sheer neglect, focussing on regular German species.
  3. Take advantage of upcoming business/birding trips abroad which might lead to rather high year totals (after scarcely getting over 250 for quite some years).
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So, how did I do in the last three years?
I have beaten Corey three times in a row and now consider the Grace’s Warbler incident avenged.
During the last three years, I managed to see the vast majority of regular WP birds I had seen pre-2012, with very few regular German species left (e.g. Red-breasted Goose and Capercaille). Major European gaps are now limited to species whose ranges are restricted to areas I haven’t been able to visit, e.g. northern Scandinavia, mainland Spain, or Turkey. Therefore, I also consider this mission to be accomplished.
Two year lists of over 550 and one exceeding 600 are amazing by my standards, and the only time I reached comparable numbers was during the 1990s when I frequently visited Scandinavia and southern Africa. I guess that goal is also reached, with a very bright outlook onto the future.

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The ability to look back on the last three years of year-listing with a deep feeling of satisfaction certainly has implications on my targets for 2015, which I thus define as follows:

  1. In order to allow myself more freedom in my birding endeavors, I will actively NOT try to beat Corey.  I will also not try to beat Corey subconsciously.
  2. To have at least some numerical motivation, I’ll try and surpass 500 species again.
  3. After neglecting my participation in ornitho.de (the German equivalent to eBird) in the second half of 2014, I will try and enter more than 8,000 observations in 2015.
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The outlook for 2015 is rather bright again, albeit slightly less definite than in the previous years. The year started out fine on the beautiful and birdy island of Mallorca. I have an invitation to visit Indonesia again in October or November, and family trips are fixed for the Black Forest in February, NE Germany in August, and Mallorca as a very likely destination in late December once more.  Kazakhstan might happen again, and I hope to make it to a new destination either in S Asia or in Africa, but that’s not so likely.

The overall lay-out and structure of this year list follows the previous lists from 2013 and 2014.

gannet plunging

Diving into a new birding year!
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The birding diary

January

Jan 1: We start the year slowly in Sant Elm, Mallorca. “Slowly” however means that I observe Gannets, Shags, Audouin’s Gulls and Red Crossbills without even leaving the bungalow. Oh, birding Mallorca sure can be nice. After a long breakfast, we take a walk to a former watch tower just north of Sant Elm. I fail to find the hoped-for Balearic Warbler (none during the entire trip), but the local Osprey, a blue rock Thrush and a brookei-Peregrine make this failure less painful. In the afternoon, we visit Palma with friends. The biggest attraction for me of course is not the cathedal but the 4 Booted Eagles I see en route… Birders!
Jan 2: Another very quiet day on Mallorca spent only in Sant elm and with our friends in Peguera.
Jan 3: A fine long birding day. We traverse the island towards the Safari Park near Sa Coma. Near Manacor, two Spotless Starlings are the first i see since 2001. The Safari Park is also quite interesting, with large numbers of common passerines (e.g. Serin, Meadow Pipits) and no less than 16 Hoopoes, clearly taking advantage of the many “pellets”. After the Safari Park, we visit the beach at Port d’Alcudia and are amazed: the entire tourist infrastructure there is abandoned for the winter and resembles old Ghost Towns from the Wild West. The beach is great, with an Audouin’s Gull and a surprise Arctic Diver. After some time on the beach, the family grants me a short stray into the famous S’Albufera reserve, and we walk along the canal at the entrance. Sadly no Knob-billed Coot, but Purple Swamphens show very well, my first after 2001.
Jan 4: We drive north towards the large bay at Port de Pollenca to give our son a last day at the beach. Birding along the route and the beach is quite nice, with some Booted Eagles again, Sandwich Terns, and many Crag Martins. A visit to Cala St Vincente sadly does not reveal any Balearic Warblers, but the sea produces many goodies, most notably a group of 8 Balearic Shearwaters which can be seen nicely from the short.
Jan 5: An early morning’s departure for the airport. En route, I spot one of the largest flocks of Starlings I have seen, measuring approximately 1.3 km in length. My estimate of 130.000 is likely a vast underestimate. The drive along the German autobahn from Frankfurt to Heidelberg produces my first woodpecker of the year: a Black Woodpecker. Corey is not going to like this…
Jan 6 to 12: In line with my wanting to take it slow this year, I only do “light” birding from my office window, balcony etc. and therefore add only a few common garden birds to my year list. The grey weather doesn’t help.
Jan 13: Finally a sunny day in Heidelberg, after yet another long period of 100% cloud cover. I spend the day looking out of my office windows … er … working really hard. Nothing special, but it is nice to see a landscape in colours on such a spring-like day.
Jan 14: A short visit to a site in the Odenwald nearby. Due to the clouds and the rain, there is not much pleasure in birds to be found, just some common “firsts”.
Jan 17: Running some errands in downtown Heidelberg leaves me with enough time to quickly check the banks of the river Neckar. The usual feral waterfowl assemblage is joined this time by a flock of more than 200 Black-headed Gulls, which I scan – fruitlessly – for anything special. A Goosander on the river is a nice surprise.
Jan 19: Our landscape is covered in powdered sugar, a mixture of hoar frost and frozen fog. Upon entering my office and glancing out of my window, I notice a “Starling” with a strange flight style. A peek through my binoculars confirms this is a lone Waxwing, a very sweet bird for a non-influx year!
Jan 23: A rather strong snow storm crushes our plans of visiting Frankfurt. Dropping a few parcels off at the post office leads to my first of the year Long-tailed Tits.
Jan 24: The darkness continues, and we rejoice at every minute we can see blue skies or even – gasp! – the sun. During an epic snow ball fight with my son in the fields south of Pfaffengrund, I observe a small flock of Skylarks – firsts for the year – and some Meadow Pipits, both of which aren’t bad for January.
Jan 26: A nice day of “office birding” thanks to a Black Woodpecker flying by less than 20 m outside my window and a large flock of Linnets.
Jan 28: Around noon I depart for a two-nights business trip to Hannover and arrive there just in time to twitch a Ruddy Duck on the Große Koldinger See. Another highlight is a huge female Goshawk fighting with and dwarfing a Common Buzzard! Possibly the most impressive Goshawk I’ve ever seen.
Jan 29: A boring office day at Hannover yields a few Herring Gulls outside the windows.
Jan 30: The drive back allows me to check for a dodgy Red-breasted Goose that had been hanging around with Greylag and Egyptian Geese near the Silbersee Roxheim. It isn’t there anymore, which I don’t really mind as I’d prefer to see a non-dodgy one after such a long time.

blue tit germany

The Blue Tit is the best winter bird in the world – even on cloudy days

February

Feb 05: A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker outside my office window, at less than 5 m, is the best one in quite a few years.
Feb 08: A very peculiar change in the colour of the sky has occurred during the last two days. We are occasionally seeing hints of an unearthly blue through the greyness, and these spots of blue are lacking the familiar structure and pattern of our usual carpet of clouds. I guess it’s the end of the world as we know it… Anyway, a short visit with family and friends at the Lingentaler Hof includes a short walk through the adjacent forests and fields and also short bursts of sunlight through spots of blue skies, and last but not least some nice first-of-year tits and yellowhammers, all of which are sadly heard-onlys.
Feb 09: We fade to grey – again…
Feb 11: Still, grey skies dominate. A Red Kite, my personal “sign of spring”, flies by the office.
Feb 15 – 20: A short family holiday in Trichtingen, 20 minutes south of Stuttgart, mostly spent at our vacation home with short walks in the immediate surroundings and a short trip to Stuttgart zoo. Beautiful days with a feeder on the balcony, Bullfinches, Willow Tits, Lesser Redpolls etc.
Feb 24: Back at the office, a nice day reaches its climax with 14  bramblings flying through. Not the millions at the known roosts near Lörrach or in Hessen, but I am not complaining.
Feb 25: during an “official” visit to the nearby Leimen quarry, I finally see my Eagle Owl of the year – more than expected but nice nonetheless.
Feb 26: An uneventful day trip to Wetzlar for a meeting with no time for birding but a very early Black Kite over the Autobahn near Mannheim.

euro robin

This very confiding European Robin was one of the great feeder birds we had during our week at Trichtingen.

March

Mar 05: The weather has improved and the first clear signs of spring are showing up, e.g. my first Chiffchaff for Germany a few days ago here in Leimen. Today, a Middle Spotted Woodpecker flew by my office. Not unexpected but good nonetheless.
Mar 09: It seems the dark age has come to an end, and it is not so infrequent now to see blue skies over Heidelberg. On my drive home from work, two cranes fly low towards the north. Nice but not exceedingly rare for the Heidelberg area.
Mar 18: Slow month, but a short vacation (probably to northern Italy) is not too far off. Today, the weather is spectacular, with clear blue skies and spring-like temperatures reaching close to 20°C. Very good migration outside my office window, with quite some nice raptors and a first-of-year Woodlark.

euro kestrel

We had joy, we had fun, we had Kestrels in the sun
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April

Apr 02: Our plans to rent a caravan and head off to northern Italy for 10 days are thwarted when we all – the entire family – are down with influenza! Well, effing great: instead of Short-toed Snake-eagles and a try at one of my last European potential lifers (stone partridge), we spend 10 days at home in bed trying to survive and not kill each other in a bout of cabin fever.
Apr 08: While I am sick, I may as well spend a day at the office to send a few urgent reports out. Well, the first swallow of the spring – Barn Swallow of course – is some miniature consolation for missing out on the birds of northern Italy.
Apr 09: Since this is the first day none of us has fever, we quickly pack our things and go on a spontaneous short trip to Prague to get at least something out of this year’s Easter holidays. Due to our departing in the afternoon, we only make it to Nürnberg on our first day, where we spend the night in a hotel near the inner city.
Apr 10: We arrive in Prague around noon and visit the castle area and inner city, afte enjoying some Pilsener goulash and Urquell beer.
Apr 11: A day at the wonderful Prague zoo, where I get to see my first-ever Shoebill (yes, of course it doesn’t count – but it is such a cool bird) and my first-of-year Common Redstart.
Apr 12: We depart Prague around noon, stop over at Amberg for lunch, and are back in Heidelberg at 17:00, very tired after such an exhausting short trip, but happy we were able to do anything at all this Easter.
Apr 13: first day back at the office, and a nice spring day it is, too. blackcaps are singing in force, the trees are in bloom, and this year’s birding has been so ridiculous that I really need to do something about it. Luckily, my field survey period will start soon, and times are bound to change for the better. The last 3 weeks have been way too depressing…
Apr 17: Finally, finally, finally … some birding! I quickly visit the sand dunes near Sandhausen to look for a reported Ortolan Bunting and find two! Very sweet species for this neck of Germany. Afterwards, I lead a guided tour near Nussloch which also yields a few first-of-year migrants, most notably heard-only Wrynecks. Birding sure feels good!
Apr 20: A business trip to Schelklingen allows for a quick visit of the Gundelfinger Moos, which is just brilliant. In the best weather imaginable, I find year bird after year bird. An evening tour near Schelklingen is also great, with a calling Long-eared Owl (the first in many, many years) and a breeding Eagle Owl.
Apr 21: Before departing back towards Heidelberg, I visit the Schmiechener See which also has amazing birds in equally amazing weather, with the highlight being a Jacksnipe spooked by a hunting Red Kite.

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Statistics and maps
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species 2015.

ornitho2015.

germany mid april.

birding sites world.

The almighty list

The list for species seen in the WP will follow the taxonomy of Clements (as provided on the site www.club300.de) while I will add species seen outside (e.g. hopefully in Indonesia) to the bottom of the list in the order that is most convenient (most likely order of appearance in a field guide), just like I did in 2014.
Abbreviations for German “Bundesländer” (states, provinces, whatever…):
BW: Baden-Württemberg
BY: Bayern
HE: Hessen
MV: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
NI: Niedersachsen
RP: Rheinland-Pfalz
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  1. Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  2. Greylag Goose Anser anser: Port de Pollenca, Mallorca, Spain, 4 Jan
  3. Canada Goose Branta canadensis: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 17 Jan
  4. Mute Swan Cygnus olor: Mosbach, BW, Germany, 14 Jan
  5. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 5 Jan
  6. Ruddy Duck Tadorna ferruginea: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  7. Gadwall Anas strepera: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  8. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos: Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  9. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  10. Garganey Anas querquedula: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  11. Common Teal Anas crecca: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  12. Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  13. Common Pochard Aythya ferina: Großer Koldinger See, NI, Germany, 28 Jan
  14. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula: Großer Koldinger See, NI, Germany, 28 Jan
  15. Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula: Großer Koldinger See, NI, Germany, 28 Jan
  16. Smew Mergellus albellus: Großer Koldinger See, NI, Germany, 28 Jan
  17. Common Merganser Mergus merganser: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 17 Jan
  18. Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis: Großer Koldinger See, NI, Germany, 28 Jan – my fist in Europe
  19. Grey Partridge Perdix perdix: Kriegsheim, RP, Germany, 15 Jun
  20. Common Quail Coturnix coturnix: Münsingen, BW, Germany, 18 May
  21. Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 4 Feb
  22. Arctic Diver Gavia arctica: Port d’Alcudia, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  23. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis: Vohenstrauß, BY, Germany, 10 Apr
  24. Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena: Binz, MV, Germany, 10 Aug
  25. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus: Großer Koldinger See, NI, Germany, 28 Jan
  26. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  27. Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea: Cala St Vincenc, Mallorca, Spain, 4 Jan
  28. Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus: Cala St Vincenc, Mallorca, Spain, 4 Jan
  29. Black Stork Ciconia nigra: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 26 Apr
  30. White Stork Ciconia ciconia: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 16 Jan
  31. Northern Gannet Morus bassanus: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  32. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo: Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  33. European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  34. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  35. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea: Wagbachniederung, BW, Germany, 4 May
  36. Great Egret Ardea alba: Port de Pollenca, Mallorca, Spain, 4 Jan
  37. Little Egret Egretta garzetta: Port d’Alcudia, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  38. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  39. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  40. Osprey Pandion haliaetus: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  41. European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus: Leimen, BW, Germany, 13 May
  42. Red Kite Milvus milvus: Leimen, BW, Germany, 11 Feb
  43. Black Kite Milvus migrans: near Mannheim, BW, Germany, 26 Feb
  44. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla: Gasin, MV, Germany, 8 Aug
  45. Western Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus: Port de Pollenca, Mallorca, Spain, 4 Jan
  46. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus: Adlum, NI, Germany, 21 Sep
  47. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus: near Port de Pollenca, Mallorca, Spain, 4 Jan
  48. Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis: Großer Koldinger See, NI, Germany, 28 Jan
  49. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo: south of Frankfurt airport, HE, Germany, 5 Jan
  50. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus: near Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  51. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus: near Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  52. Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus: Leimen, BW, Germany, 9 Sep
  53. Merlin Falco columbarius: Adlum, NI, Germany, 21 Sep
  54. Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo: Sandhausen, BW, Germany, 17 Apr
  55. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  56. Water Rail Rallus aquaticus: Schmiechener See, BW, Germany, 21 Apr
  57. Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla: Schmiechener See, BW, Germany, 18 May
  58. Spotted Crake Porzana porzana: Schmiechener See, BW, Germany, 4 May
  59. Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  60. Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  61. Eurasian Coot Fulica atra: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  62. Common Crane Grus grus: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 9 Mar
  63. Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus: somewhere in BW, Germany, 29 Apr
  64. Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus: somewhere west of Prague, Czech Republic, 12 Apr
  65. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula: Wagbachniederung, BW, Germany, 28 May
  66. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  67. Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus: Hannover, NI, Germany, 6 Jun
  68. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos: Schmiechener See, BW, Germany, 30 Apr
  69. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus: Burglengenfeld, BY, Germany, 17 Jul
  70. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus: Schurrsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  71. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  72. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola: Schurrsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  73. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  74. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata: Schurrsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  75. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa: Schurrsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  76. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres: Binz, MV, Germany, 10 Aug
  77. Ruff Calidris pugnax: Schurrsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  78. Jacksnipe Lymnocryptes minimus: Schmiechener See, BW, Germany, 21 Apr
  79. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago: Schurrsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  80. Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola: Michelstadt, HE, Germany, 24 May
  81. Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus: Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  82. Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus: St. Tropez, Cote d’Azur, France, 30 Dec
  83. Audouin’s Gull Ichthyaetus audouinii: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  84. Common Gull Larus canus: Weinheim, BW, Germany, 5 Jan
  85. Herring Gull Larus argentatus: Hannover, NI, Germany, 29 Jan
  86. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  87. Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans: Malchow, MV, Germany, 15 Aug
  88. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus: Binz, MV, Germany, 10 Aug
  89. Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus: Binz, MV, Germany, 9 Aug
  90. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia: Binz, MV, Germany, 9 Aug
  91. Common Tern Sterna hirundo: Schurrsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  92. Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis: Port de Pollenca, Mallorca, Spain, 4 Jan
  93. Common Pigeon Columba livia: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  94. Stock Dove Columba oenas: Leimen, BW, Germany, 12 Feb
  95. Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  96. European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur: Wagbachniederung, BW, Germany, 4 May
  97. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  98. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 5 Jan
  99. Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus: Mooswaldsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  100. Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo: Leimen, BW, Germany, 25 Feb
  101. Tawny Owl Strix aluco: Blaubeuren, BW, Germany, 4 May
  102. Long-eared Owl Asio otus: Schelklingen, BW, Germany, 21 Apr
  103. Alpine Swift Apus melba: Lörrach, BW, Germany, 11 Jun
  104. Common Swift Apus apus: Sandhausen, BW, Germany, 17 Apr
  105. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  106. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster: Neuenburg am Rhein, BW, Germany, 29 Apr
  107. Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops: around Manacor, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  108. Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla: Nussloch, BW, Germany, 17 Apr
  109. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor: Leimen, BW, Germany, 5 Feb
  110. Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius: Leimen, BW, Germany, 5 Mar
  111. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 11 Jan
  112. Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius: south of Frankfurt airport, HE, Germany, 5 Jan
  113. European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis: Leimen, BW, Germany, 7 Jan
  114. Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus: Leimen, BW, Germany, 14 Apr
  115. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio: Münsingen, BW, Germany, 18 May
  116. Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus: Wetzlar, HE, Germany, 22 May
  117. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 13 Jan
  118. Eurasian Magpie Pica pica: south of Frankfurt airport, HE, Germany, 5 Jan
  119. Western Jackdaw Corvus monedula: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 11 Jan
  120. Rook Corvus frugilegus: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 11 Jan
  121. Carrion Crow Corvus corone: south of Frankfurt airport, HE, Germany, 5 Jan
  122. Hooded Crow Corvus cornix: Binz, MV, Germany, 9 Aug
  123. Northern Raven Corvus corax: Port de Pollenca, Mallorca, Spain, 4 Jan
  124. Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus: Wagbachniederung, BW, Germany, 4 May
  125. Crested Lark Galerida cristata: Waghäusel, BW, Germany, 4 May
  126. Thekla Lark Galerida theklae: around Palma airport, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  127. Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 24 Jan
  128. Woodlark Lullula arborea: Leimen, BW, Germany, 18 Mar
  129. Sand Martin Riparia riparia: Schurrsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  130. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: Leimen, BW, Germany, 8 Apr
  131. Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris: Port d’Alcudia, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  132. Common House Martin Delichon urbicum: Nussloch, BW, Germany, 17 Apr
  133. Marsh Tit Poecile palustris: Mosbach, BW, Germany, 14 Jan
  134. Willow Tit Poecile montanus: Lingentaler Hof, BW, Germany, 08 Feb
  135. Coal Tit Periparus ater: Lingentaler Hof, BW, Germany, 08 Feb
  136. European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus: Trichtingen, BW, Germany, 16 Feb
  137. Great Tit Parus major: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  138. Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  139. Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus: Nussloch, BW, Germany, 17 Apr
  140. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 23 Jan
  141. Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea: Mosbach, BW, Germany, 14 Jan
  142. Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris: Trichtingen, BW, Germany, 16 Feb
  143. Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla: Großer Koldinger See, NI, Germany, 28 Jan
  144. Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes: Leimen, BW, Germany, 7 Jan
  145. White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus: Blaubeuren, BW, Germany, 4 May
  146. Common Goldcrest Regulus regulus: Leimen, BW, Germany, 7 Jan
  147. Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  148. Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  149. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  150. Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita: Safari Park near Sa Coma, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  151. Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  152. Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta: Neuleiningen, RP, Germany, 15 Jun
  153. Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina: Bensheim, HE, Germany, 25 May
  154. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus: Wagbachniederung, BW, Germany, 4 May
  155. Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  156. Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 18 May
  157. Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus: Plessenteich, BY, Germany, 19 May
  158. Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia: Schelklingen, BW, Germany, 30 Apr
  159. Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla: Leimen, BW, Germany, 13 Apr
  160. Garden Warbler Sylvia borin: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  161. Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca: Schmiechener See, BW, Germany, 21 Apr
  162. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  163. Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis: Leimen, BW, Germany, 14 Apr
  164. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata: Bensheim, HE, Germany, 25 May
  165. European Robin Erithacus rubecula: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  166. Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 20 Apr
  167. Bluethroat Luscinia svecica: Hannover, NI, Germany, 6 Jun
  168. European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca: Hannover, NI, Germany, 3 May
  169. Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis: Schurrsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  170. Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus: Prague zoo, Czech Republic, 11 Apr
  171. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  172. Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  173. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra: Schmiechener See, BW, Germany, 30 Apr
  174. European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  175. Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe: Hannover, NI, Germany, 1 May
  176. Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus: Schelklingen, BW, Germany, 20 Apr
  177. Common Blackbird Turdus merula: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  178. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 28 Jan
  179. Redwing Turdus iliacus: Leimen, BW, Germany, 2 Mar
  180. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  181. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus: Leimen, BW, Germany, 19 Jan
  182. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris: Sant Elm – Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  183. Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis: S’Albufera, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  184. Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  185. Grey-headed Wagtail Motacilla thunbergi: Clauen, NI, Germany, 21 Sep
  186. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  187. White Wagtail Motacilla alba: Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  188. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis: Safari Park near Sa Coma, Mallorca, Spain, 3 Jan
  189. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis: Nussloch, BW, Germany, 17 Apr
  190. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 7 Sep
  191. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta: Schurrsee, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  192. Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus: Leimen, BW, Germany, 20 Jan
  193. Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella: Lingentaler Hof, BW, Germany, 08 Feb
  194. Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana: Sandhausen, BW, Germany, 17 Apr
  195. Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus: Mooswaldsee NW, BY, Germany, 20 Apr
  196. Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra: Heidelberg, BW, Germany, 14 May
  197. Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  198. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla: Leimen, BW, Germany, 24 Feb
  199. European Greenfinch Chloris chloris: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  200. Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  201. Lesser Redpoll Acanthis cabaret: Trichtingen, BW, Germany, 16 Feb
  202. Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus: Großer Koldinger See, NI, Germany, 28 Jan
  203. European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  204. Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  205. European Serin Serinus serinus: Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  206. Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula: Trichtingen, BW, Germany, 16 Feb
  207. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes: Leimen, BW, Germany, 19 Jan
  208. House Sparrow Passer domesticus: Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain, 1 Jan
  209. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus: Trichtingen, BW, Germany, 17
Written by Jochen
Jochen Roeder was born in Germany and raised to be a birder. He also spent a number of years abroad, just so he could see more birds. One of his most astounding achievements is the comprehension that Yellow-crowned Night-herons do not exist, as he failed to see any despite birding in North America for more than two years. He currently lives near Heidelberg, one of the most boring places for a birder to live, a fact about which he likes to whinge a lot. When he is not birding or trying to convince his teenage son that patiently scanning some fields for migrants is more fun than staring at a smartphone, he enjoys contemplating the reasoning behind the common names of birds. He first became famous in the bird blog world on Bell Tower Birding.