On this particular outing, I decided to conquer Königstein, a small town along the Elbe, south of Dresden, under the largest rock fortification in Europe. Of course there are tourist buses that frequently escort visitors swiftly to the fortification from town, but I was there mainly to hike to it, birding and observing nature along the way. However, this trip quickly (and to my satisfaction) turned into a mixed adventure of culture and natural beauty. The now mostly-deserted (it would almost be if not for the tourists) picturesque towns along the Elbe are evidence of this region's once great affluence from mining; the rocks used to build all those Baroque palaces and churches in Dresden and Leipzig, and even Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, came from this Saxon Swiss region. After finding one of the main paths (the longer, but also more scenic one) leading up to the fortification Königstein, the church bells started ringing as it was noon (hey the train was late as everyone wanted to get out of the city on the most gorgeous day of the year so far). Here is what it sounded and looked like (I think I was humming "the hills are alive..." to myself):
Then, climbing up the mountainside in mostly coniferous forest, where I picked out at least 5 different varieties of pine cones (therefore concluding that there were at least 5 different species around), I took a short video to record the songs of Robins and Chaffinches. The closer (and thus louder) flute-like warbling is the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), and the fainter, but much more robust multi-toned "machine gun" song is a Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs). Here you go:
Other birds encountered were the typical breeders: Great and Blue Tits, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Eurasian Jays, Starlings, Common Wood Pigeons, Common Blackbirds, Eurasian Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin and European Nuthatch. Then, as I was hiking along the forest edge of a grass field, about half-way up to the fortification, my life Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) darted into the forest, right in front of me. This early time of year, and moreover that neon greenish-yellow flash made the ID unmistakeable (reminiscent of the Cloudless Sulphurs (Phoebis sennae) back home which usually show up in southern New Jersey at the end of summer in a reverse-migration from the south). Germans are straight-to-the-point, and call them Zitronenfalter (literally "Lemon butterflies"), which sounds cool, but Brimstone sounds much cooler still! (Brimstone by the way was the archaic/biblical term for sulphur, FYI).
Soon I came across an orange Nymphalid butterfly species which was fluttering quite a ways off, and then disappeared, that will remain unidentified unfortunately. My best guesses would have to be Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) or Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae). And just before reaching the final leg of the hike up the mountainside, at quite high elevation, 2 female Orange Tips (Anthocharis cardamines), with the orange tips of the forewings missing, but with greenish speckling on the underside of the wings, flitted slowly by. Its flight style is notably different from other white pierids, like Cabbage White (Pieris rapae).
Of note at the top of the fortification (besides breathtaking views) included: a Common Raven (Corvus corax) both flying and "croaking" not far off, my first White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) singing from the roof of an inticing ice cream shop (believe it or not, it was above 70 F!) and while observing some longhorn beetle species, my eyes caught sight of an owl pellet actually lying on the stone wall around the southeastern edge of the fortification:
Its small size (about 1.5 inches long, and 0.5 inch in diameter) leads me to guess that it most likely originated from a Tengmalm's Owl (Aegolius funereus) or perhaps the less common (European) Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum). I now should try to come here before dawn, or stay until the sun sets, to listen and watcing for owls, especially Pygmy Owls, since they are known to be more of a crepuscular hunter, than a night hunter like Tengmalm's. This is also the best time of year for that since they are most vocal during there prenesting season.
Back in town, before heading back to Dresden, I came across another Common Brimstone and my first European Peacock (Inachis io), an absolutely gorgeous insect, especially for the first time seeing this amazingly (and thankfully) common species:
Birds in this sunny spot near the town included more rambunctious White Wagtails (a flock of 5 actually) chasing each other and my first-of-year (FOY) Black Redstart (Pheonicurus ochruros); a nice adult male, with dark face and the white wing pannel.
Other FOY birds seen in the past 2+ weeks:
1) Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) - 3 in a field near southwest entrance to Grosser Garten.
2) Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) - small flock 4-5 "tinking" secretively at the tops of trees...it's a bird which seems to not want to draw attention to itself!
3) Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) - heard only (but still such a great sound!) at the Grosser Garten the day after the trip reviewed above.
4) Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)- actually several seen from around Dresden, including the first one a few weeks back seen from my office window at work.
At least I finally broke 100 species of birds for the yearlist (combining Europe and New Jersey lists), but still have a long way to go to my goal of 300-400, which should be easy if I get some good birding in when I'll be home in Cape May the end of August and the first half of September...ANYWAY:
Enjoy the new life blooming and singing all around, and happy spring birding to all!
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