Cranes and more in Niedersachsen and Sachsen-Anhalt

In October large flocks of cranes fly from Scandinavia over Germany to Southern Europe to get through wintertime. So, at the end of September, we were a bit too early to observe this phenomenon. Fortunately quite some cranes choose nowadays to stay in Germany or travel off-season ;-). 

Apart from these amazing creatures we were lucky to observe birds of prey like buzzards, eagles and red kites. They seem to love the vast agricultural areas with their groves and impressive solitary trees.

As you can see the September-weather was sunny enough to please insects like butterflies, the praying mantis, dragonflies and even a viper. 

Roe-deer seem to just notice and observe us.

A worthwhile trip!

    

 

 

The Extremadura revisited

Still some 1250 miles away from home, we couldn't resist to go back to the Extremadura, this special and vast nature reserve. The good news is, that on our long way there, we pass many interesting nature reserves in France. Areas such as the Brenne and marais d'Orx. We enjoyed lovely mild spring weather there, together with the many butterflies, waders and dragonflies.

In the Extremadura, our friends the birds of prey (have a look at the Egyptian vulture), were fortunately present in abundance. The "dehesas" (pastures) are, as far as we are concerned, the most intriguing landscape in the Extremadura. There seems to be no life at all, but if you take the time to look really closely, a surprising world unfolds. Colourful little birds (like the European roller), birds of prey and insects live there in perfect harmony, in one of the most pristine natural areas of Europe. 

We are grateful to have been able to experience this once again!

Small copper butterfly

Egyptian vulture

Dehesas

Crested lark

Northern banded groundling

Leaf beetle on purple viper's bugloss

Oatplant

Algerian psammodromus

Stag beetle

Highway in Northeast Spain

Iberian spoonwing

European bee-eater                      European roller                         Woodchat shrike

Eifel autumn

The sad thing about autumn (& winter) is, that I miss my favourite creatures, the insects. Most of them are hidden somewhere in the deep, others died after they reproduced..., that's their circle of life.

On the other hand, the coloring and falling of the leaves is also an annual process and can be very beautiful.

So, we enjoyed that natural phenomenon and saw some birds like the kingfisher, the eurasian teal and thousands of cranes! They are flying this time of year from Scandinavia to Spain. We were lucky that their route went over the Eifel in mid-November. See for yourself.

Spring in France!

We think that spring is the best season to go to France. Temperatures are pleasant (20 - 23 degrees C.), and nature is waking up enthusiastically. 

We found ourselves for ten days in central France, especially in the Loire region. We saw some ten orchid species and twenty-seven different types of butterflies and of course many other insects and flowers; wonderful to experience! 

In our few days in Switzerland we found, high up in de mountains, many typical alpine flowers, such as the Soldanella alpina. From our hotelroom in the "Gantrisch Naturpark" I could observe every morning and evening, the magnificent red kite, resting and hunting for mice, a beautiful and interesting sight.

As you can see in my pictures, we look back on a wonderful nature experience.

Calopteryx splendens

Anacamptis pyramidalis

Chiasmia clathrata

Onobrychis viciifolia

Lygaeus equestris

 

Ardea purpurea

Lysandra bellargus

Anax imperator

Vulpes vulpes

The top of an alp

Soldanella alpina

Milvus milvus

Cranes, grues, Kräne, kraanvogels!

For some reason or other, we can't get enough of cranes.

So, in migration season, we went to the "Moorerlebnis (moor experience) im DümmerWeserland" to admire these beautiful and impressive birds.

They came with their offspring all the way from Scandinavia to Germany to forage. After that they'll fly on via France to Spain.

The weather was, unlike some years ago, particularly pleasant. Sometimes even beautifully misty and fairytale-like in the morning. And cranes all over the place! Apart from them we noticed of course other birds and also lots of mushrooms, flowers and some dragonflies.

Again we look back on a wonderful experience of being part of true nature!