Listing Through Life

picus (king of Latium, who married the beautiful nymph and songstress Canens and was changed into a woodpecker by the spiteful Circe, whose affections he had spurned) viridis (green)

Tuesday, April 18, 2019 — 6:25 pm

Boblingen, Germany — Alter Friedhof (Old Cemetery)

I located this striking bird by its woodpecker-like calls. It was on a branch in a large tree, hidden in the shadows. It’s well named, with a green back and light underparts with a green tinge. Its rump was yellow. It had a red cap and a black and dark red face.

It flew off not long after I spotted it. I followed and soon found it on the ground among the graves. As I watched, it hopped out into the path, giving me a great look.

I didn’t spot another one, but at least I got good looks at the one I did see.

aegithalos (tit) caudatus (tailed)

Tuesday, April 18, 2019 — 6:25 pm

Boblingen, Germany — Alter Friedhof (Old Cemetery)

This is a funny little bird with a long tail, black eyebrows, and a pinkish wash on its belly and side. I only saw it for a second, managed to snap two quick photos, and then lost track of it. I never saw another one.

erithacus (winter bird that changed into the redstart in summer) rubecula (red breast)

Tuesday, April 18, 2019 — 6:20 pm

Boblingen, Germany — Alter Friedhof (Old Cemetery)

This was a bird I really was hoping to see. It hopped onto a bare branch in a large bush and sang its disjointed jumble of a song. After a minute or so, it disappeared into the bush. Early settlers in North America gave the American Robin its name because its orange breast reminded them of this European bird.

I also saw Robins on the two mornings I walked through the woods by Panzer Kaserne. On the last day, two of them seemed to be following me, flying through the woods and singing not far off for 15 minutes or so.

fringilla (finch) coelebs (origin unknown)

Tuesday, April 18, 2019 — 5:56 pm

Boblingen, Germany — Alter Friedhof (Old Cemetery)

Our daughter made it her goal for the day to keep us awake until bedtime. This obviously wasn’t going to happen if we just sat around her apartment. So she took my wife to the PX and shooed me off to a cemetery about a mile down the road.

This was an odd experience because everyone there was German, and I was the only birder. I acted as respectfully as I knew how and minded my own business. Apart from some weird stares, there were no incidents.

I’d just entered the cemetery when I heard a bird singing an incessant song in a large tree. It allowed close approach, and I soon identified it as a Chaffinch. It was a medium-sized finch, with warm pinkish and gray plumage and black and white wings.

About 20 yards away, I spotted a female on a tombstone.

Chaffinches are one of the more common birds in Europe. My experience backs this up. I saw them pretty much everywhere I went, including Murren, Switzerland and the WWI battlefield we visited in France.

turdus (thrush) pilaris (to deprive of hair)

Tuesday, April 18, 2019 — 3:10 pm

Waldenbuch, Germany — Ritter Sport Museum

A small stream ran along the parking lot, lined with bushes. I had reunited with my family, and we were walking toward the car when I spotted a Fieldfare on the ground in the shade under the bushes. Its shape and actions screamed thrush. Its back was warm brown, its head gray, and it’s chest and the sides of its belly speckled.

At least two hung out around the Panzer Kaserne post. I’d hear them making their odd clacking sound as they flew. It sounded a little like a kid dragging a stick along a picket fence. One landed on the wire fence along the post right in from of me. It would have been a great photo, but there were signs every 30 yards or so informing me that taking photos was illegal and could get me in considerable trouble.