8 Yearbirds...in the city park!

Finally, today was partly sunny and unseasonably warm (~9C) and almost all the snow has melted...I had to see what was flying about! I went to the Grosser Garten (Dresden's Central Park) and took a leisurely 2-hour stroll to check out what was happening, and I was surprised a couple of times!
First there was a beautifully perched first-of-the-year (FOY) male Eurasian Sparrowhawk, with lovely rufous cheeks and breast, only shortly after discovering it, a Hooded Crow chased him away. But at least I had a nice opportunity to observe it fly, which is very sharp, quick bursts of wing beats between short periods of gliding; more reminiscent of a small Cooper's Hawk (or pigeon), than a sharpie I thought. Next surprise was a calling, and then found, FOY Green Woodpecker. She (its mustache did not have a red center) was all the way at the top of a leafless deciduous tree. I wasn't previously familiar with the Green Woodpecker's call before today, as I actually have only come across a few, but at first I thought it might have been some hawk; in fact it didn't sound completely unlike a Cooper's Hawk...a loud, startling at first, "kyu-kyu-kyuck". Then, a few moments later, a cacophony sounded as an adult Common Buzzard flew out almost eye-level, being chased by crows...these Dresden Crows were relentless today!

I learned, after initial surprise, that the bill (and eye-ring evidently) of the Common Blackbird "darken" in the winter...which I suppose means they become redder, especially at the bill base, as seen in the individual male in the above picture (click to enlarge).
Interesting also are the winter flocks of Long-tailed Tits. First of all I love these guys; they remind me of miniature Scissor-tailed Flycatchers...the most adorable birds I've seen so far! Most of the birds are actually the Northern European caudatus race, with a clean, pure white face. But today there was one Central European europaeus race, with the black nape extending in a black band across side of crown, over the eye but stopping short of the forehead (white). This is interesting because Dresden IS Central Europe, but about 99% of the birds I have seen thus far (in the past 2 weeks) have been of the northern race, and this specie is generally believed not to be migratory...hm.
Other FOY birds included: 2 pairs of Goosander (Eurasian Common Mergansers), Wood Pigeons, Great spotted Woodpecker, a male Chaffinch, and a flock of Greenfinches. The following is a full, annotated list of the species seen today:

Total number of species: 22
2011 Year list for Germany: 27
2011 Year list for Europe: 30
2011 Year list (total): 95

Mandarin Duck: 20+
Wood Duck: 1 drake, probably escape from Zoo's collection.
Mallard: x
Goosander: 2 pairs
Common Buzzard: 1
Eurasian Sparrowhawk: 1 male
Rock Pigeon: x
(Common) Wood Pigeon: 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1 male, drumming
Green Woodpecker: 3+, 1 female seen.
Eurasian Magpie: 4+
Rook: x
Carrion Crow: x
Hooded Crow: x
Great Tit: x
Eurasian Blue Tit: x
Long-tailed Tit: 5-10 caudatus race, 1+ europaeus race.
Eurasian Nuthatch: x
Eurasian Blackbird: x
Common Chaffinch: 1 male
European Greenfinch: 4+
House Sparrow: x

Misses of the Day: Mute Swan, Starling, Jay, Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Robin.

Misses this year so far: Mute Swan, Ducks, Geese (Greylag even!), Jackdaw!, European Robin!!!, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Hawfinch, Eurasian Tree Sparrow...need to kick it up a notch before March!

Nice looking Spruces in Grosser Garten; life continues in winter.