Suddenly the Tiergarten is full of new arrivals, many of them having braved the long journey from central Africa to arrive in central Berlin. Today I saw a wonderful little common redstart, just landed, hopping around eating insects in the Englisher Garten. Two days ago I saw and heard a lesser whitethroat, who supposedly also spends his summers in Africa and was jumping around on bushes near the Spree. And today I heard the lovely song of the male blackcap and saw his lady, with a dusty red cap, eating buds on a branch.
And to top all of this off, last night I heard the song of the nightingale for the first time this year. It is hard to believe that these little birds have the strength to fly over the Sahara and immediately start belting their hearts out as soon as they land in the city. I am very grateful to them, and I’m happy that they all arrived safely.
Hi there, enjoying your blog, I am in Berlin for a few weeks and am enjoying the birds in Tiergarten, which area would you recommend is best to go if I wanted to try and see one of the Goshawks? Thanks!
Thanks Matteo! So, I found it pretty easy to find Goshawks when there was still snow on the ground, the Tiergarten was relatively empty, and the birds were extremely hungry because of the long winter. The one that I photographed for the blog was on a tree right next to the Großer Weg, which is central and well-traveled. But now, ever since the weather turned, I haven’t seen or heard a single one, perhaps because the park is now full of humans. I would suggest that you check out Treptower Park, as I’ve heard of many sightings there. Also, last year I spent an afternoon watching a family of goshawks in the Hasenheide Friedhof (unfortunately without a camera!). I haven’t been back there this year, but I think it would be worth checking out. Let me know if you see any!
Thanks for that very helpful advice Adrienne!
I have seen a few birds of prey over the last couple of days in Tiergarten, but I don’t think either of them were Goshawks, although having not seen one before I cannot be sure. I saw a bird about the size of a buzzard being mobbed by a hooded crow a couple of days ago, but I think it was a buzzard as I had seen a couple in the area circling overhead. I also saw a hawk flying fast and low over the trees, bigger than a Kestrel but I think too small for a Goshawk, my impression was it was a Sparrowhawk, which I assume you get in the park as well? I also heard a Nightingale singing in the bushes at the corner of the park near Potsdamer Platz, it took me by surprise at first but I managed to get a decent view in the end, which is a first for me. All the best, Matteo.