Roger White and Stephen Daly

This was a short recce to plan for a future tour by Limosa holidays.

22 October

Three Hen Harrier at the main tower hide at Buckow. No Great Bustards in sight here but 36 in a rape field near Buschow, and a group of 12 males near Haage. 2000 Lapwings and 200 Golden Plover nearby. Numerous Common Buzzards and Cranes around.
Short stop at some woodland near Nennhausen – a good woodpecker site but only Great Spotted (no Black or Middle Spotted). At Linum ponds in the late afternoon, thousands of Cranes, White-fronts and Bean Geese arriving for the roost. 50 Great Egrets.

23 October
Not much to see at Große Graben Niederung. Mainly Greylags in the fields. Yellow Hammers, Reed and Corn Buntings. a distant Buzzard and Great Egrets. No further raptors until the approach to Gülpe where there was a Rough-legged Buzzard at last. Misty view of the lake from the main hide. Variety of duck here including a Redhead Smew. A Goshawk flew in. nearby. There were two White-tailed Eagles on the left in trees. One gave great views as it flew past us in front of the hide. Lot of small birds in the woodland here (as usual) They included Crested Tit, Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Bramblings. Left the hide at 1300. Went round to north bank of the lake. 3 Rough-legged Buzzards, Fieldfares. On the way to Strohdene were excellent views of 2 more Rough-legged Buzzards, and a large flock of Corn Buntings. Crossed the river towards Havelberg. Hen Harrier and two Great Grey Shrikes seen from the car. Short walk in Havelberg down to the river. On the return journey there was another White-tailed Eagle (Number 7) and a further Great Grey Shrike. 24 October
Strengsee. Good numbers of Bean Geese in the stubble and great Bearded Tit views. Whooper Swans, Great Egrets, Wigeon, Shoveler.
On the way to the airport a Black Woodpecker flew across the road in front of the car.

83 species seen. We concluded that this part of Brandenburg will provide an excellent place for Limosa and Travelling Naturalist to run short tours in October and in March..

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