Again, the traveling did not go as planned. Not, as in the journey to Geifswald, because an engine had broken down. Also not, as during the sailing, because of storm. This time, because there was trouble on the railroad track and the train had to do a detour at Herford.
As I wrote, on 6 October 2016 we arrived in the harbour of Peenemünde in east Germany. We walked to a park not so far away. There, we saw in the bushes various goldcrests, like the one on this photo; looking for insects to feed on. October is autumn migration time for goldcrests. Many arrive then in Germany from northern or eastern Europe.
Peenemünde was notorious in World War II for its base of V1 and V2 nazi weapons. We had passed the big military building; now a museum.
Past the park, we walked to the shore. Great cormorants resting along the water. Behind us, mainly coniferous trees; with, again, goldcrests.
The great cormorants were still there. But by then, a white-tailed eagle kept them company. Just like October is migration time for Europe’s smallest birds, goldcrests; it is also migration time for these sea eagles, the biggest birds of northern Europe.
A bit later, the eagle flew away.
But the cormorants stayed.
We went back to the ship. Tomorrow, on 7 October, we would sail the Baltic Sea. So, stay tuned!
After 5 October 2016, on 6 October, we sailed from Kamp village on the Stettiner Haff lagoon in Germany. As there was storm, we did not sail further than the estuary, not continuing on the rough Baltic Sea. Already inland, there were white waves.
At 7:45, our ship departed. Great cormorants flying.
In October, migrating cranes arrive here; as we had already seen. This morning, again flying cranes.
We pass Grosser Wotig island. When we passed it north to south a few days ago, this wetland island was mainly land. Now, however, when we pass the island from the south to the north, the storm means that many reed beds and the lower parts of fences are under water. Cormorants and other birds can still use the upper parts for resting.
However, storm meant we never went to Rügen, let alone Greifswalder Oie.
Even in the inland river harbour of Kamp village, the storm brough many waves and much rain. So, after 4 October, on 5 October the ship stayed at Kamp.
Songbirds are migrating to the south this month. We see scores of goldfinches.
We walk on an old railway track. In Adolf Hitler’s days, trains here went to PeenemündeV2 missile base. After the war, the rails were removed, and a footpath remained.
Many great cormorants sitting in leafless trees. And hundreds of them fishing together in the water.
We arrive back on the road. Not many cars, but still they are dangerous for the many caterpillars crossing. They are pale tussock caterpillars. The Dutch name for this species is meriansborstel, Merian’s brush; named after famous seventeenth century naturalist and painter of insects Maria Sibylla Merian.
We arrive back in Kamp.
At 18:05, to the cranes again. Many arrive for sleeping; including juveniles. Behind them, barnacle geese.
Still the morning of 4 April 2016 near Kamp village in Germany. After we had seen many cranes, and also many great white-fronted geese, wake up and fly from their sleeping quarters to places for eating, we walked back to Kamp. On both sides of the road, marshy areas with bulrush plants.
As this blog reported, on 3 October 2016 our ship had arrived in Kamp village in Germany. In the evening, we had seen many Eurasian cranes and geese on autumn migration arrive to sleep in the wetlands. Next morning, we went there again, around sunrise.
Gradually, the cranes woke up.
Some of them started to fly in the morning light.
More and more cranes started flying from their sleeping quarters to places where they might find food …
… and yet more cranes …
… and yet more cranes.
Though many cranes flew away, for the moment many stayed as well.
As the sun rose further, more cranes started flying …
… encouraging others to fly as well.
Stay tuned, as there will be more on this blog about 4 October 2016 near Kamp village!
There is a ‘ghost net‘ problem in this part of the Baltic. There is a project to get these ghost nets out of the sea.
However, storm warnings prevented us from going north. Instead, we went first, before the storm started, east on the sea; then south, on the quieter waters of the Peene river.
A two-years-old sea eagle flies. Then, an adult of that species. Sea eagles (or white-tailed eagles), the biggest birds of central Europe, nest here. But many of the eagles here now are on autumn migration from the north-east to the south-west. Like the smallest birds of Europe, goldcrests; and many other species.
We pass an artificial island where scores of great cormorants rest.
Then, a sea eagle flies to the island. The cormorants leave. Only a hooded crow stays.
After the eagle had landed on the island, some of the cormorants came back.
Along the Peenestrom, three sea eagles sit on a tree. A herring gull swims.
Dear Kitty. Some blog 