Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis: heard calling in the reeds of the Rhinedelta, in the Seewinkel, and very common indeed at Crna Mlaka. One pair was also seen on the lake at the top of the Hochtannbergpass.
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus: Very common both at the Rhinedelta and Crna Mlaka.
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea: up to 20 seen from the ferry to and from Vis, along with 4 mooching round the island from Rt Polivalo, near Rukavac, in the evening.
Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan: just one seen from Vis at Rt Polivalo on an evening seawatch.
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis: a reasonable sized colony is present at the Rhinedelta, and up to 80 at Crna Mlaka. Small numbers also seen along the Croatian coast, particularly round the islands
European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii: one seen from Novalja, Pag, and several seen around Vis.
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus: a pair seen in the evening of the 3rd at the Rhinedelta, also 3 seen each day at Crna Mlaka.
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax: 11 seen in the evening of the 19th at Crna Mlaka, and 27 the next morning.
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides: 2 around the small fishponds at Crna Mlaka on the 19th.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta: 4 at the Mexicopuzta (Hungary) on the 15th, and up to 19 at Crna Mlaka.
Great Egret Ardea alba: 10 around the Seewinkel on the 15th, 4-5 at Crna Mlaka.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea: Common around Vorarlberg, the Seewinkel, and at Crna Mlaka, and 4 at Plitvice Lakes.
Black Stork Ciconia nigra: up to 12 at Crna Mlaka.
White Stork Ciconia ciconia: odd birds seen here and there - three in Vorarlberg, a nest on the roadside in Slovenia, one at Crna Mlaka.
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus: one adult on the Rhinedelta on the 8th.
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia: 23 resting at the Mexicopuzta on the 15th.
Mute Swan Cygnus olor: common at the Rhinedelta, also in the Seewinkel and at Crna Mlaka.
Greylag Goose Anser anser: common in the Seewinkel.
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna: one at the Oberstinkersee on the 15th.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos: common in most wet areas.
Gadwall Anas strepera: up to 20 seen at the Rhinedelta, one pair seen at Crna Mlaka on the 19th.
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata: common in the Seewinkel.
Common Teal Anas crecca: small numbers present in the Seewinkel at the Mexicopuzta.
Garganey Anas querquedula: quite common around the Seewinkel.
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina: up to 400 around the Rhinedelta, also rather common in the Seewinkel, especially at the Mexicopuzta and round Lake Neusiedl itself.
Common Pochard Aythya ferina: one female at the Rhinedelta, up to 60 at Crna Mlaka.
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca: one female (possibly a hybrid) at the Mexicopuzta on the 15th, around 400 at Crna Mlaka - in fact the commonest duck there!
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula: up to 15 at the Rhinedelta, plus a pair at Crna Mlaka.
Common Eider Somateria mollissima: one immature male still hanging round at the Rhinedelta.
Goosander Mergus merganser: up to 40 at the Rhinedelta; part of the flock of moulting adults that summer here.
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus: up to 4 at the Krummltal (Hohe Tauern).
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla: one adult at the Mexicopuzta on the 15th, up to 3 at Crna Mlaka.
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos: Three soaring at Warth on the 9th, then three subadults and one adult seen at the Krummltal.
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus: three seen in Croatia - two on Pag, one at Sparadici.
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus: one immature (apparently 2nd yr.) dark phase at Warth, Vorarlberg on the 9th.
Black Kite Milvus migrans: we saw up to 35 coming to roost at the Rhinedelta. There were also a number of birds around Crna Mlaka, including some very recently fledged juveniles.
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus: very common around the Seewinkel.
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus: one stunning male hunting on Pag, near the town of Pag on the 21st.
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo: common through Austria and inland Croatia.
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus: only two seen, both at 2000m+ in the Alps.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus: odd birds seen down the Croatian coast.
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus: fairly common throughout, although less frequent along the coast of Croatia.
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo: singles seen at the Bangser Ried on the 6th and at Wörth on the 13th.
Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae: one flock of 14-16 birds floating around by Podstra'je, in the south-eastern corner of Vis, also 2-3 at Ravno, on the south-western corner.
Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix: up to 12 males lekking around the Furkajochpas.
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix: one singing behind the Fubacherbucht on the 5th, one singing at the Mexicopuzta on the 15th and one 'somewhere on the Dalmatian coast' on the 22nd.
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus: only three seen in the Seewinkel and one on Vis.
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus: heard occasionally at the Rhinedelta, seen in large numbers at Crna Mlaka.
Common Coot Fulica atra: common through Austria and at Crna Mlaka.
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta: common in the Seewinkel.
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus: 48 seen in the Seewinkel on the 15th; quite a successful breeding season!
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius: a couple of pairs holding territory on the Rhinedams, also plenty hanging around the Seewinkel.
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus: seen regularly in the Seewinkel.
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus: very common in the Seewinkel, otherwise singles seen around the lowlands of Vorarlberg and at Crna Mlaka.
Little Stint Calidris minutus: a flock of 18 in full breeding plumage on the right Rhinedam on the 8th.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola: one or two present on the Mexicopuzta on the 15th.
Common Redshank Tringa totanus: common in the Seewinkel, 6 at the lagoons just south of the town of Pag.
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus: up to 50 in full breeding plumage in the Seewinkel.
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis: one adult picking around the Mexicopuzta on the 15th.
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa limosa: common through the Seewinkel.
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata: 13 on recently cut fields behind the Fußacherbucht on the 5th.
Ruff Philomachus pugnax: one injured female at the lagoon on the Rhinedelta on the 5th.
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundis: breeding colonies on the Rhinedelta and at the Seewinkel, but also a handful of non-breeders on Pag and a juvenile at Plitvice Lakes.
Common Gull Larus canus: one pair of adults hanging around the Black-headed Gull colony on the Rhinedelta.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus: 2-3 first summer birds seen at the Rhinedelta but only one adult seen at the Seewinkel on the 15th!
Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans michahellis: a small number of michahellis hanging around the Rhinedelta included one ringed on the French/German border. There were also a number (again michahellis) in the Seewinkel, and plenty scattered along the Croatian coast.
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis: four fishing distantly just to the south of Novalja on the evening of the 20th.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo: a large breeding colony is present on the Rhinedelta, a few breeding birds also found in the Seewinkel, and up to 10 were feeding at Crna Mlaka.
Black Tern Chlidonias niger: odd flocks were feeding in the Fußacherbucht on most visits, peaking at 58 on the 5th. We also found 5+ at the Mexicopuzta, 4+ on fishponds by Zagreb and 2 at Crna Mlaka.
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus: one at the Rhinedelta on the 8th, then around 3-400 at Crna Mlaka.
Rock Dove Columba livia: apparent 'real' Rock doves were seen on the coast of Croatia on Pag and Vis, although there were also feral birds present on the same islands.
Stock Dove Columba oenas: odd birds seen through the lower areas of Austria.
Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus: fairly common through Austria.
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto: common through Austria and Croatia, especially near towns and villages.
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur: common through Austria and Croatia, although generally away from houses.
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus: common throughout.
Little Owl Athene noctua: one on a barn roof just south of the town Pag.
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus: up to 3 heard churring and one seen hunting at St Egyden, south of Vienna.
Common Swift Apus apus: common everywhere.
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus: a number feeding around the coast with Common Swift on Vis, probably some around Primo'ten, although we had no binoculars at the time.
Alpine Swift Apus melba: fairly common along the Croatian coast, we saw them mostly in the evening and early morning feeding at lower levels.
Hoopoe Upupa epops: one feeding happily on a horse paddock near the Mexicopuzta.
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis: one heard at Crna Mlaka on the 19th.
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster: seen down the coast of Croatia, we found they were generally associated with wet areas.
European Roller Coracius garrulus: a pair in south Steiermark on the way through to Croatia.
Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius: one heard near Vienna on the 16th, one at Plitvice Lakes on the 27th.
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major: found everywhere.
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos: one male seen briefly near Vienna on the 16th.
Skylark Alauda arvensis: common inland in Croatia, through eastern Austria and in the low areas of Vorarlberg.
Crested Lark Galerida cristata: very common down the Croatian coast wherever there was agriculture to clear the maquis.
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla: one found on the left Rhinedam on the morning of the 10th.
Sand Martin Riparia riparia: just one seen at the Rhinedelta on the evening of the 3rd.
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris: a small colony at the entrance to the road tunnel just west of Warth, Vorarlberg, as well as a few birds around the Krummltal on the first cliffs after the path leaves the woods.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: common throughout.
House Martin Delichon urbica: common throughout.
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris: common down the coast of Croatia wherever there is open scrubby vegetation.
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis: one singing still at the Bangser Ried on the 6th.
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta: pretty mush ubiquitous above the trees in the Alps.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba: common throughout Austria and inland in Croatia.
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava flava: odd singles seen at the Rhinedelta and in the Seewinkel. One female in Croatia (at Crna Mlaka) turned out to be flava rather than feldegg.
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea: common through the Alps.
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes: common through the Alps.
White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus: 2+ seen up the Saminatal, one juvenile seen up the Krummltal.
Dunnock Prunella modularis: common through the Alps.
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris: one 'probable' on the Widderstein on the 4th, around 4 on the cliffs between the Ragazer Blanken and Sünser Spitze, common around the Nordkette.
Robin Erithacus rubecula: common in the woods around the Alps.
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos: pretty much silent by this time of year, but birds were still singing at Crna Mlaka and in the Seewinkel. A small number were also seen in the scrub on Pag.
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus: one male watched singing in the car park at the base of the Nordkettenbahn.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochrurus: common throughout Austria.
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe: fairly common in the Alps.
(Eastern) Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica melanoleuca: scattered birds were seen along the Croatian coastline, the best being a group of 3 families by the bridge from Pag to the mainland.
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra: two males singing still in the Alps, plus one seen near Innsbruck.
Stonechat Saxicola torquata: fairly common in the lower areas of Austria, a few pairs were also seen at Crna Mlaka and Plitvice lakes.
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush Monticola saxatilis: one flyover male at the Widderstein didn't really provide 'tickable views', but a couple of songflighting males at the Kanisfluh did!
Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius: seen regularly down the Croatian coast.
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus alpestris: common in the birch scrub and scattered pines of the Alps, particularly up the Krummltal.
Blackbird Turdus merula: common everywhere.
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos: common in the woods and forests through Austria and Croatia.
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus: fairly common through the forests of the Alps.
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris: common in Vorarlberg, especially round the Rhinedelta.
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia: one still singing at the Bangser Ried on the 6th.
Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides: up to 6 still singing at Crna Mlaka.
River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis: 3 singing in the early morning of the 20th at Crna Mlaka.
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus: common in the Seewinkel and at Crna Mlaka.
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus: common at the Rhinedelta, where Sedge is almost absent, also common through the Seewinkel and Crna Mlaka.
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus common in the wet areas throughout.
Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris: up to 12 singing at the Bangser Ried on the 6th, some singing in the scrub at Crna Mlaka.
Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina: at least 2 around the Rhinedelta on the 5th, one probable seen briefly at Crna Mlaka on the 19th.
Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta: one of the pair at the Rhinedelta seen on the 5th, another 2 seen on Pag on the 21st.
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida: one seen well on Pag, near Novalja in the evening of the 21st.
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin: very common in the scrubby woodlands of the Rhinedelta.
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla: common everywhere except the coast of Croatia.
Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis: 3 seen on Pag near Kolan in the early morning.
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca: occasional birds seen in the Alps, generally near the treeline
Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis: just one seen in Croatia. We didn't look hard enough!
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala: scattered down the coast of Croatia, particularly common on the islands.
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans: odd birds seen along the Croatian coast.
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus: common through the Alps.
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita: common through the Alps and inland Croatia.
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix: still two singing at Plitvice Lakes on the 27th.
Goldcrest Regulus regulus: fairly common in the Alps.
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata: seen irregularly in the lowlands of Austria and inland Croatia.
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis: two calling near Vienna on the 16th.
Great Tit Parus major: common everywhere.
Coal Tit Parus ater: common through the Alps.
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus: common in Austria, also seen in small numbers at Crna Mlaka and Plitvice Lakes.
Crested Tit Parus cristatus: fairly common through the Alps and in lower areas of Vorarlberg.
Marsh Tit Parus palustris: seen irregularly in Vorarlberg and at Plitvice Lakes.
Willow Tit Parus montanus: two at Plitvice Lakes on the 27th.
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus: a few seen feeding through the woodlands of the Rhinedelta.
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea: one in the trees on the left Rhinedam, a couple at the Bangser Ried on the 6th and one calling at Plitvice Lakes.
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria: one on rocks opposite the huts up the Krummltal on the 12th.
Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris: single birds seen at the Rauriser Urwald, in the Hohe Tauern, and in the Vienna woods on the 16th.
Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla: just one seen, at Plitvice Lakes on the 27th.
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio: fairly common throughout Austria and Croatia.
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator: common down the Croatian coast, especially on the islands.
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor: just one seen near Split on the 24th.
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica: common throughout, except the Croatian coast.
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius: common through the Alps, although rarely more than one bird at a time.
Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes: odd birds seen throughout the Alps, generally singles, although 5-7 seen at the Kanisfluh on the 9th.
Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus: they'll find you in the Alps.
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix: common through the Seewinkel and all of Croatia.
Carrion Crow Corvus corone: common through most of Austria west of Vienna.
Common Raven Corvus corax: common through the Alps, as well as on the Croatian coast.
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris: common throughout.
Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus: one adult came in to roost with the Common Starlings at the Rhinedelta on the 3rd.
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus: fairly common everywhere except the higher forests in the Alps.
House Sparrow Passer domesticus: common everywhere.
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis: fairly common down the coast of Croatia, especially on Pag.
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus: common inland in Croatia and all through Austria.
White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis: seems to be common, albeit widely spread in the highest areas of the Alps - we found them wherever there was snow and rocky areas together.
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs: common everywhere.
Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina: common in lower-lying areas, but also present in small numbers high up in the Alps.
Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret: common in the higher areas of the Alps, especially in dwarf pine and birch scrub.
Eurasian Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis: common everywhere.
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris: common everywhere.
European Siskin Carduelis spinus: common in the Alps.
Citril Finch Serinus citrinella: one at the Kanisfluh sitting on telephone wires by the Gasthof.
European Serin Serinus serinus: common throughout eastern Austria, lower areas of Vorarlberg and Croatia.
Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula: seen occasionally in the forests around Vorarlberg.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes: not many seen at this quiet time, although a few were flying around at Crna Mlaka.
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus: 2 males singing in Warth (one adult, one subadult).
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus: common breeding bird around the Rhinedelta and the Seewinkel. One seen at Crna Mlaka on the 19th.
Ortolan Emberiza hortulana: 2 males seen at a site near Innsbruck.
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella: common throughout Austria and inland Croatia.
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus: quite common down the coast of Croatia, but replaced inland by Yellowhammer.
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala: rather common down the Croatian coast.
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandrella: common through eastern Austria and the drier areas of the west, also quite common inland in Croatia.
188 species in total.
Other species of interest:
Mammals: Alpine Marmot, Muskrat (Rhinedelta), Fox, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Alpine Chamois, Alpine Ibex (Kanisfluh), Pine Marten (Crna Mlaka), probably Savi's Pipistrelle (Pag), Stoat (Pag), Bottle-nosed Dolphin (ferry to Vis).
Herps: Alpine Salamander, Yellow-bellied Toad, Fire-bellied Toad, Common Frog, Sand Lizard (Rhinedelta), Hermann's Tortoise (Pag), Balkan Green Lizard (Plitvice), Italian (Pag) & Dalmatian Wall-lizards (Greba'tica).
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle (Plitvice), Common Winter Damselfly, White-legged Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly (Plitvice), Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Crna Mlaka), Scarce & Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Green-eyed Hook-tailed Dragonfly (Plitvice), Golden-ringed Damselfly, Norfolk Hawker (Plitvice), Emperor Dragonfly, Lesser Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Scarce Chaser (Plitvice), White-tailed Skimmer (Crna Mlaka), Black-tailed Skimmer (Crna Mlaka), Ruddy Darter (Plitvice), Red-veined Darter, Scarlet Darter (Crna Mlaka).
Butterflies included: Swallowtail, Scarce Swallowtail, Large, Small, Green-veined & Mountain Green-veined Whites, Orange Tip, Cleopatra, Wood White, Ilex & Blue-spot Hairstreaks, Little, Holly, Idas, Mazarine, Common, Chalk-hill and Meleager's Blues, Duke-of-Burgundy Fritillary, Southern White Admiral, Large & Small Tortoiseshells, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Map, Cardinal, Queen-of-Spain, Lesser Marbled, Pearl-bordered, Small Pearl-bordered, False Heath & Marsh Fritillaries, Marbled White, Balkan Marbled White, Woodland Grayling, Grayling, Great Sooty Satyr, Mountain Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Pearly Heath, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown, Large Wall Brown, Grizzled, Chequered, Marbled, Lulworth, Essex and Large Skippers!
We found Croatia was a fine place for a holiday, although relatively expensive in parts. The birds earlier on in spring should be better, and looking at the EBBC atlas there should be Rock Partridge, Rock Nuthatch, Calandra and Short-toed Larks, a good range of owls, including Ural, all the woodpeckers, Lesser Spotted Eagle and Sombre Tit as well. We were hampered by making a last-minute decision to go there, and by not having found any information about where to go when we arrived. The coast further south towards Serbia looks very interesting, but is a very long drive from Vienna! We met a few birders from Switzerland and Germany around the Rhinedelta area, and the usual hordes of tourists in the Seewinkel, but saw no-one birding throughout Croatia (bliss!). As far as Austrian specialities went, having spent the past year in the country we didn't make much effort to see special birds (Great Bustard, Collared & Red-breasted Flycatcher, Saker, Imperial Eagle, crakes, Moustached, Barred, River Warblers, etc. etc.) as we needed to concentrate on Alpine birds. April-mid May would be a much more successful time, so we shall perhaps try then next time!